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Brownies: Their Book

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<hr style="width: 65%;" />[19] <h2>THE BROWNIES ON BICYCLES.</h2> <div class='poem2'><div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i019a-o.png" width-obs="74" height-obs="163" alt="O" title="" /></div> NE evening Brownies, peeping down From bluffs that overlooked the town, Saw wheelmen passing to and fro Upon the boulevard below. </div>   <div class='center'> <table class="bicycle" summary="bicycle"> <tr><td align='left'> "It seems," said one, "an easy trick, The wheel goes 'round so smooth and quick; You simply sit and work your feet And glide with grace along the street. </td> </tr></table></div> [20] <div class='poem'>The pleasure would be fine indeed If we could thus in line proceed." "Last night," another answer made, "As by the river's bank I strayed, Where here and there a building stands, And town and country-side join hands, Before me stood a massive wall With engine-rooms and chimneys tall. </div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i020.png" width-obs="361" height-obs="332" alt="Line of bicycles" title="" /></div> <div class='poem'> "To scale the place a way I found, And, creeping in, looked all around; There bicycles of every grade Are manufactured for the trade; Some made for baby hands to guide, And some for older folk to ride. </div> [21] <div class='poem'> "Though built to keep intruders out, With shutters thick and casings stout, I noticed twenty ways or more, By roof, by window, wall and door, Where we, by exercising skill, May travel in and out at will." </div> <div class='poem2'> Another spoke, in nowise slow To catch at pleasures as they go, And said, "Why let another day Come creeping in to drag away? Let's active measures now employ To seize at once the promised joy. On bicycles quick let us ride, While yet our wants may be supplied." </div> <div class='center'> <table class="hill" summary="going down hill"> <tr><td align='left'> <div class='poem2'> So when the town grew hushed and still, The Brownies ventured down the hill. And soon the band was drawing nigh The building with the chimneys high.</div> When people lock their doors at night, And double-bolt them left and right, And think through patents, new and old, [22]To leave the burglars in the cold, The cunning Brownies smile to see The springing bolt and turning key; For well they know if fancy leads </td> </tr></table></div> <div class='poem'> Their band to venture daring deeds, The miser's gold, the merchant's ware To them is open as the air. </div> <div class='center'> <table class="shop" summary="in bicycle shop"> <tr><td align='left'> Not long could door or windows stand Fast locked before the Brownie band; And soon the bicycles they sought [23]From every room and bench were brought. </td> </tr></table></div> <div class='poem'>The rogues ere long began to show As many colors as the bow; For paint and varnish lately spread Besmeared them all from foot to head. Some turned to jay-birds in a minute, And some as quick might shame the linnet; While more with crimson-tinted breast Seemed fitted for the robin's nest. But whether red or green or blue, The work on hand was hurried through; They took the wheels from blacksmith fires, Though wanting bolts and even tires, And rigged the parts with skill and speed To answer well their pressing need. And soon, enough were made complete To give the greater part a seat, And let the rest through cunning find Some way of hanging on behind. And then no spurt along the road, Or 'round the yard their courage showed, But twenty times a measured mile They whirled away in single file, Or bunched together in a crowd If width of road or skill allowed. At times, while rolling down the grade, Collisions some confusion made, For every member of the band, At steering wished to try his hand; Though some, perhaps, were not designed [24]For labor of that special kind. But Brownies are the folk to bear Misfortunes with unruffled air; So on through rough and smooth they spun Until the turning-point was won. Then back they wheeled with every spoke, An hour before the thrush awoke. </div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i024.png" width-obs="515" height-obs="536" alt="Riding bikes" title="" /></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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