Another Brownie Book

<h2><SPAN name="THE_BROWNIES_HALLOW_EVE" id="THE_BROWNIES_HALLOW_EVE"></SPAN>THE BROWNIES' HALLOW-EVE.</h2> <div class="container"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i116.jpg" width-obs="106" height-obs="150" alt="O" class="alignlefte" /> </span> <div class="i6a"> &nbsp;<span class="smcapa">N</span> Hallow-eve, that night of fun,</div> <div class="i7a">When elves and goblins frisk and run,</div> <div class="i8">And many games and tricks are tried</div> <div class="i8">At every pleasant fireside,</div> <div class="i7a">The Brownies halted to survey</div> <div class="i7">A village that below them lay,</div> <div class="i7">And wondered as they rested there</div> <div class="i7">To hear the laughter fill the air</div> <div class="i6">That from the happy children came</div> <div class="i6">As they enjoyed some pleasant game.</div> <div class="i6">Said one: "What means this merry flow</div> <div class="i6">That comes so loudly from below,</div> <div class="i6">Uncommon pleasures must abound</div> <div class="i6">Where so much laughter can be found."</div> <div class="i6">Another said: "Now, by your leave,</div> <div class="i6">I'll tell you 't is All-Hallow-eve,</div> <div class="i6">When people meet to have their sport</div> <div class="i6">At curious games of every sort;</div> <div class="i6">I know them all from first to last,</div> <div class="i6">And now, before the night has passed,</div> <div class="i6">For some convenient place we'll start</div> <div class="i6">Without delay to play our part."</div> <div class="i6">Two dozen mouths commenced to show</div> <div class="i6">Their teeth in white and even row;</div> <div class="i6">Two dozen voices cried with speed,</div> <div class="i6">"The plan is good we're all agreed."</div> </div></div> </div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</SPAN></span></p> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i117.jpg" width-obs="400" height-obs="500" alt="" /></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</SPAN></span></p> <div class="container"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i6">And in a trice four dozen feet</div> <div class="i6">Went down the hill with even beat.</div> <div class="i6">Without a long or wearying race</div> <div class="i6">The Brownies soon secured a place</div> <div class="i6">That answered well in every way</div> <div class="i6">For all the games they wished to play.</div> <div class="i6">There tubs of water could be found,</div> <div class="i6">By which to stoop or kneel around,</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i118.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="155" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i6">And strive to bring the pennies out</div> <div class="i6">That on the bottom slipped about.</div> <div class="i6">Then heads were wet and shoulders, too,</div> <div class="i6">Where some would still the coin pursue,</div> <div class="i6">And mouth about now here and there</div> <div class="i6">Without a pause or breath of air</div> <div class="i6">Until in pride, with joyful cries,</div> <div class="i6">They held aloft the captured prize.</div> <div class="i6">More stood the tempting bait beneath,</div> <div class="i6">And with a hasty snap of teeth</div> <div class="i6">The whirling apple thought to claim</div> <div class="i6">And shun the while the candle's flame,&mdash;</div> <div class="i6">But found that with such pleasure goes</div> <div class="i6">An eye-brow singed, or blistered nose.</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</SPAN></span> <ANTIMG src="images/i119a.jpg" width-obs="400" height-obs="224" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i6">More named the oats as people do</div> <div class="i6">To try which hearts are false, which true,</div> <div class="i6">And on the griddle placed the pair</div> <div class="i6">To let them part or smoulder there;</div> <div class="i6">And smiled to see, through woe or weal,</div> <div class="i6">How often hearts were true as steel.</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i119b.jpg" width-obs="314" height-obs="307" alt="" class="aligncenter" /></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</SPAN></span> <ANTIMG src="images/i120.jpg" width-obs="481" height-obs="231" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i6">Still others tried to read their fate</div> <div class="i6">Or fortune in a dish or plate,</div> <div class="i6">Learn whether they would ever wed,</div> <div class="i6">Or lead a single life instead;</div> <div class="i6">Or if their mate would be a blessing,</div> <div class="i6">Or prove a partner most distressing.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i6">Then others in the open air,</div> <div class="i6">Of fun and frolic had their share;</div> <div class="i6">Played "hide and seek," and "blindman's buff,"</div> <div class="i6">And "tag" o'er places smooth or rough,</div> <div class="i6">And "snap the whip" and "trip the toe,"</div> <div class="i6">And games that none but Brownies know.</div> <div class="i6">As if their lives at stake were placed,</div> <div class="i6">They jumped around and dodged and raced,</div> <div class="i6">And tumbled headlong to the ground</div> <div class="i6">When feet some hard obstruction found;</div> <div class="i6">At times across the level mead,</div> <div class="i6">Some proved their special claims to speed,</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</SPAN></span> <ANTIMG src="images/i121.jpg" width-obs="398" height-obs="500" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</SPAN></span> <ANTIMG src="images/i122a.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="147" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i10">And as reward of merit wore</div> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i122c.jpg" width-obs="188" height-obs="396" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i10">A wreath of green till sport was o'er.</div> <div class="i10">The hours flew past as hours will</div> <div class="i10">When joys do every moment fill;</div> <div class="i10">The moon grew weak and said good-night,</div> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i122b.jpg" width-obs="70" height-obs="143" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i10">And turned her pallid face from sight;</div> <div class="i10">Then weakening stars began to fail,</div> <div class="i10">But still the Brownies kept the vale;</div> <div class="i10">Full many a time had hours retired</div> <div class="i10">Much faster than the band desired,</div> <div class="i10">And pleasure seemed too sweet to lay</div> <div class="i10">Aside, because of coming day,</div> <div class="i10">But never yet with greater pain</div> <div class="i10">Did they behold the crimson stain</div> <div class="i10">That morning spread along the sky,</div> <div class="i10">And told them they must homeward fly</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <ANTIMG src="images/i122d.jpg" width-obs="285" height-obs="97" alt="" class="aligncenter" /></div> </div></div> <hr class="chap" /> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</SPAN></span></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />