Brownies: Their Book

<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</SPAN></span></p> <h2>THE BROWNIES AT LAWN-TENNIS.</h2> <div class='center'> <table class="tennis" summary="tennis"> <tr><td align='left'><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/> <span style="margin-left: 7.5em;">ne evening as the woods grew dark,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 8em;">The Brownies wandered through a park.</span><br/></td> </tr></table></div> <div class='poem'> And soon a building, quaint and small,<br/> Appeared to draw the gaze of all.<br/> Said one: "This place contains, no doubt,<br/> The tools of workmen hereabout."<br/> Another said: "You're quite astray,<br/> The workmen's tools are miles away;<br/> Within this building may be found<br/> The fixtures for the tennis ground.<br/> A meadow near, both long and wide,<br/> For half the year is set aside,<br/> And marked with many a square and court,<br/> For those who love the royal sport.<br/> On afternoons assembled there,<br/> The active men and maidens fair<br/> Keep up the game until the day<br/> Has faded into evening gray."<br/> "In other lands than those we tread,<br/> I played the game," another said,<br/> "And proved my skill and muscle stout,<br/> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</SPAN></span>As 'server' and as 'striker-out.'<br/> The lock that hangs before us there<br/> Bears witness to the keeper's care,<br/> And tramps or burglars might go by,<br/> If such a sign should meet the eye.<br/></div> <div class='center'> <table class="laugh" summary="laugh at locks"> <tr><td align='left'><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">But we, who laugh at locks or law</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Designed to keep mankind in awe,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">May praise the keeper's cautious</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">mind,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">But all the same an entrance find."</span><br/> <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/></td> </tr></table></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</SPAN></span></p> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i027.png" width-obs="562" height-obs="524" alt="The path that lay between" title="" /></div> <div class='poem'> Ere long, the path that lay between<br/> The building and the meadow green,<br/> Was crowded with the bustling throng,<br/> All bearing implements along;<br/> Some lugging stakes or racket sets,<br/> And others buried up in nets.<br/> To set the posts and mark the ground<br/> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</SPAN></span>The proper size and shape around,<br/> With service-line and line of base,<br/> And courts, both left and right, in place,<br/> Was work that caused but slight delay;<br/> And soon the sport was under way.<br/> And then a strange and stirring scene<br/> Was pictured out upon the green.<br/></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i028a.png" width-obs="298" height-obs="80" alt="Sitting on a bench" title="" /></div> <div class='poem'> Some watched the game and noted well<br/> Where this or that one would excel.<br/></div> <div class='center'> <table class="playingball" summary="playingball"> <tr><td align='left'><br/><br/><br/><div class='poem'> And shouts and calls that filled the air<br/> Proved even-handed playing there.<br/> With anxious looks some kept the score,<br/> And shouted "'vantage!" "game all!" or<br/> To some, "love, forty!"&mdash;"deuce!" to more.<br/></div> </td> </tr></table></div> <div class='poem'> But when "deuce set!" the scorer cried,<br/> Applause would ring on every side.<br/> At times so hot the contest grew,<br/> Established laws aside they threw,<br/> And in the game where four should stand,<br/> At least a dozen took a hand.<br/> Some tangled in the netting lay<br/> And some from base-lines strayed away.<br/> Some hit the ball when out of place<br/> Or scrambled through unlawful space.<br/> But still no game was forced to halt<br/> Because of this or greater fault.<br/></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</SPAN></span></p> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i029.png" width-obs="560" height-obs="577" alt="Crowd playing tennis" title="" /></div> <div class='poem'> And there they sported on the lawn<br/> Until the ruddy streaks of dawn<br/> Gave warning that the day was near,<br/> And Brownies all must disappear.<br/></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />