Another Brownie Book

<h2><ANTIMG src="images/i025a.jpg" width-obs="150" height-obs="46" alt="" /><SPAN name="THE_BROWNIES_AT_ARCHERY" id="THE_BROWNIES_AT_ARCHERY"></SPAN>THE BROWNIES AT ARCHERY.</h2> <div class="container"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i025b.jpg" width-obs="102" height-obs="110" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i7">One night the Brownies strayed around</div> <div class="i7">A green and level stretch of ground,</div> <div class="i7">Where young folk oft their skill displayed</div> <div class="i7">At archery, till evening's shade.</div> <div class="i7">The targets standing in the park,</div> <div class="i7">With arrows resting in the mark,</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i025c.jpg" width-obs="333" height-obs="400" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i0">Soon showed the cunning Brownie band</div> <div class="i0">The skill of those who'd tried a hand.</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</SPAN></span> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i026a.jpg" width-obs="100" height-obs="102" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i026b.jpg" width-obs="59" height-obs="120" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i7">A few in outer rings were fast,</div> <div class="i7">Some pierced the "gold," and more had passed</div> <div class="i7">Without a touch, until they sank</div> <div class="i7">In trunk of tree or grassy bank.</div> <div class="i7">Said one: "On page and parchment old,</div> <div class="i7">The story often has been told,</div> <div class="i7">How men of valor bent the bow</div> <div class="i7">To spread confusion through the foe.</div> <div class="i7">And even now, in later times</div> <div class="i7">(As travelers find in distant climes),</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i026c.jpg" width-obs="120" height-obs="100" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i0">Some savage tribes on plain and hill</div> <div class="i0">Can make it interesting still."</div> <div class="i0">Another spoke: "A scene like this,</div> <div class="i0">Reminds me of that valiant Swiss,</div> <div class="i0">Who in the dark and trying hour</div> <div class="i0">Revealed such nerve and matchless power,</div> <div class="i7">And from the head of his brave son</div> <div class="i7">The apple shot, and freedom won!</div> <div class="i7">While such a chance is offered here,</div> <div class="i7">We'll find the bows that must be near,</div> <div class="i7">And as an hour or two of night</div> <div class="i7">Will bring us 'round the morning light,</div> <div class="i7">We'll take such targets as we may,</div> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i026d.jpg" width-obs="92" height-obs="120" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i026e.jpg" width-obs="180" height-obs="106" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i12">To safer haunts, some miles away.</div> <div class="i12">Then at our leisure we can shoot</div> <div class="i12">At bull's-eyes round or luscious fruit,</div> <div class="i12">Till like the Swiss of olden time,</div> <div class="i12">With steady nerves and skill sublime,</div> <div class="i12">Each one can split an apple fair</div> <div class="i12">On every head that offers there."</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</SPAN></span> <div class="i7">Now buildings that were fastened tight</div> <div class="i7">Against the prowlers of the night,</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i027.jpg" width-obs="400" height-obs="454" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i7">At the wee Brownies' touch and call</div> <div class="i7">Soon opened and surrendered all.</div> <div class="i7">So some with bulky targets strode,</div> <div class="i7">That made for eight or ten a load.</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</SPAN></span> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i028a.jpg" width-obs="180" height-obs="144" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i0">And called for engineering skill</div> <div class="i0">To steer them up or down the hill;</div> <div class="i0">Some carried bows of rarest kind,</div> <div class="i0">That reached before and trailed behind.</div> <div class="i0">The English "self-yew" bow was there,</div> <div class="i0">Of nicest make and "cast" so rare,</div> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i028b.jpg" width-obs="67" height-obs="70" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i0">Well tipped with horn, the proper thing,</div> <div class="i0">With "nocks," or notches, for the string.</div> <div class="i0">Still others formed an "arrow line"</div> <div class="i0">That bristled like the porcupine.</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i028c.jpg" width-obs="118" height-obs="130" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i0">When safe within the forest shade,</div> <div class="i0">The targets often were displayed.</div> <div class="i0">At first, however near they stood,</div> <div class="i0">Some scattered trouble through the wood.</div> <div class="i0">The trees were stripped of leaves and bark,</div> <div class="i0">With arrows searching for the mark.</div> <div class="i0">The hares to other groves withdrew,</div> <div class="i0">And frighted birds in circles flew.</div> <div class="i0">But practice soon improves the art</div> <div class="i0">Of all, however dull or smart;</div> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i028d.jpg" width-obs="200" height-obs="180" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i13">And there they stood to do their best,</div> <div class="i13">And let all other pleasures rest,</div> <div class="i13">While quickly grew their skill and power,</div> <div class="i13">And confidence, from hour to hour.</div> <div class="i13">When targets seemed too plain or wide,</div> <div class="i13">A smaller mark the Brownies tried.</div> <div class="i13">By turns each member took his stand</div> <div class="i13">And risked his head to serve the band.</div> </div></div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</SPAN></span> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i029a.jpg" width-obs="74" height-obs="120" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i8">For volunteers would bravely hold</div> <div class="i8">A pumpkin till in halves it rolled;</div> <div class="i8">And then a turnip, quince, or pear,</div> <div class="i8">Would next be shot to pieces there;</div> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i029b.jpg" width-obs="439" height-obs="450" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i14">Till not alone the apples flew</div> <div class="i14">In halves before their arrows true,</div> </div></div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i8">But even plums and cherries too.</div> <div class="i8">For Brownies, as we often find,</div> <div class="i8">Can soon excel the human kind,</div> <div class="i8">And carry off with effort slight</div> <div class="i8">The highest praise and honors bright.</div> </div></div> </div> <hr class="chap" /> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</SPAN></span></p> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i030a.jpg" width-obs="200" height-obs="164" alt="" /></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />