Brownies: Their Book

<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</SPAN></span></p> <h2>THE BROWNIES CANOEING.</h2> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="A and poem"> <tr><td align='right'> <ANTIMG src="images/i062a-a.png" width-obs="104" height-obs="104" alt="A" title="" /> </td><td align='left'>s day in shades of evening sank,<br/> The Brownies reached a river bank;<br/> And there awhile stood gazing down<br/> At students from a neighboring town,<br/></td></tr> </table></div> <div class='center'> <table class="floating" summary="floating"> <tr><td align='left'> <span style="margin-left: 18em;">Whose light canoes charmed</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 22em;">every eye,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 18em;">As one by one they floated by.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 18em;">Said one, "We'll follow, as they</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 22em;">go,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 18em;">Until they gain the point below.</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/></td> </tr></table></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</SPAN></span></p> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem and illustration"> <tr><td align='left'><ANTIMG src="images/i063a.png" width-obs="325" height-obs="161" alt="standing by a log" title="" /> </td><td align='left'>There stands a house, but lately made,<br/> Wherein the club's effects are laid;<br/> We'll take possession after dark,<br/> And in these strange affairs embark."<br/></td></tr> </table></div> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem and illustrations"> <tr><td align='left' rowspan='2'><ANTIMG src="images/i063b.png" width-obs="148" height-obs="488" alt="running" title="" /></td> <td align='left' rowspan='2'>They all declared, at any cost,<br/> A chance like this should ne'er be lost;<br/> And keeping well the men in sight<br/> They followed closely as they might.<br/> <br/> The moon was climbing o'er the hill,<br/> The owl was hooting by the mill,<br/> When from the building on the sands<br/> The boats were shoved with willing hands.<br/> A "Shadow" model some explored,<br/> And then well-pleased they rushed on board;<br/> The open "Peterboro'," too,<br/> Found its supporters&mdash;and a crew.<br/> The Indian "Birch-bark" seemed too frail<br/> And lacked the adjunct of a sail,<br/> Yet of a load it did not fail,&mdash;<br/> For all the boats were in demand;<br/> As well those which with skill were planned<br/> </td> <td align='left'><ANTIMG src="images/i063c.png" width-obs="102" height-obs="327" alt="more running" title="" /> </td></tr> <tr><td align='left'><ANTIMG src="images/i063d.png" width-obs="165" height-obs="77" alt="holding hands and running" title="" /> </td></tr> </table></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</SPAN></span></p> <div class='poem'> By men of keenest judgment ripe,<br/> As those of humbler, home-made type.<br/> And soon away sailed all the fleet<br/> With every Brownie in his seat.<br/></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i064.png" width-obs="504" height-obs="529" alt="Taking the canoe" title="" /></div> <div class='poem'> The start was promising and fine;<br/> With little skill and less design<br/> They steered along as suited best,<br/> And let the current do the rest.<br/></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</SPAN></span></p> <div class='poem'> All nature seemed to be aware<br/> That something strange was stirring there.<br/> The owl to-whooed, the raven croaked;<br/> The mink and rat with caution poked<br/></div> <div class='center'> <table class="rapids" summary="rapids"> <tr><td align='left'> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Their heads above the wave, aghast;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">While frogs a look of wonder cast</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And held their breath till all had passed.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">As every stream will show a bend,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">If one explores from end to end,</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_66" id="Page_66">[66]</SPAN></span></p> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i066a.png" width-obs="412" height-obs="150" alt="Carrying the canoe" title="" /></div> <div class='poem'> So every river, great and small,<br/> Must have its rapids and its fall;<br/> And those who on its surface glide<br/> O'er rough as well as smooth must ride.<br/> The stream whereon had started out<br/> The Brownie band in gleeful rout<br/></div> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="poem and illustration"> <tr><td align='left'>Was wild enough<br/> At times it tum-<br/> O'er shelving rocks<br/> At times it formed<br/> A brood of whirl-<br/> That with each oth-<br/> As fated objects<br/></td><td align='left'><ANTIMG src="images/i066b.png" width-obs="277" height-obs="154" alt="paddling" title="" /> </td><td align='left'>to please a trout.<br/> bled on its way<br/> and bowlders gray<br/> from side to side<br/> pools deep and wide<br/> er seemed to vie<br/> drifted nigh.<br/></td></tr> </table></div> <div class='poem'>Ere long each watchful Brownie there,<br/> Of all these facts grew well aware;<br/> Some losing faith, as people will,<br/> In their companions' care or skill,<br/> Would seize the paddle for a time,<br/></div> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="illustration and poem"> <tr><td align='left'><ANTIMG src="images/i066c.png" width-obs="346" height-obs="158" alt="more paddling" title="" /> </td><td align='left'>Until a disapproving chime<br/> Of voices made them rest their hand,<br/> And let still others take command.<br/> But, spite of current, whirl or go,<br/> In spite of hungry tribes below,&mdash;<br/></td></tr> </table></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</SPAN></span></p> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="illustration and poem"> <tr><td align='left'><ANTIMG src="images/i067a.png" width-obs="285" height-obs="138" alt="floating" title="" /> </td><td align='left'>The eel, the craw-fish, leech, and pout,<br/> That watched them from the starting out,<br/> And thought each moment flitting by<br/> Might spill them out a year's supply,&mdash;<br/> The Brownies drifted onward still;<br/> And though confusion baffled skill,<br/></td></tr> </table></div> <div class='poem'> Canoes throughout the trying race<br/> Kept right side up in every case.<br/> But sport that traveled hand in hand<br/> With horrors hardly pleased the band,<br/> As pallid cheek and popping eye<br/> On every side could testify;<br/> And all agreed that wisdom lay<br/> In steering home without delay.<br/> <br/> So landing quick, the boats they tied<br/> To roots or trees as chance supplied,<br/> And plunging in the woods profound,<br/> They soon were lost to sight and sound.<br/></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i067b.png" width-obs="527" height-obs="278" alt="tied to roots" title="" /></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />