Another Brownie Book

<h2><SPAN name="THE_BROWNIES_ON_THE_CANAL" id="THE_BROWNIES_ON_THE_CANAL"></SPAN>THE BROWNIES ON THE CANAL.</h2> <div class="container"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i128.jpg" width-obs="105" height-obs="120" alt="O" class="alignlefta" /> </span> <div class="i6a"> &nbsp;<span class="smcapa">NE</span> night the Brownies stood beside</div> <div class="i7">A long canal, whose silent tide</div> <div class="i7">Connected seaboard cities great</div> <div class="i7">With inland sections of the state.</div> <div class="i7">The laden boats, so large and strong,</div> <div class="i7">Were tied to trees by hawsers long;</div> <div class="i7">No boatmen stood by helm or oar,</div> <div class="i7">No mules were tugging on the shore;</div> <div class="i7">All work on land and water too</div> <div class="i7">Had been abandoned by the crew.</div> <div class="i7">Said one: "We see, without a doubt,</div> <div class="i7">What some dispute has brought about.</div> <div class="i7">Perhaps a strike for greater pay,</div> <div class="i7">For even rates, or shorter day,</div> <div class="i7">Has caused the boats to loiter here</div> <div class="i7">With cargoes costing some one dear.</div> <div class="i7">These cabbages so large and round</div> <div class="i7">Should, long ere this, the dish have found,</div> <div class="i7">Upon some kitchen-stove or range</div> <div class="i7">To spread an odor rich and strange;</div> <div class="i7">Those squashes, too, should not be lost</div> <div class="i7">By long exposure to the frost,</div> <div class="i7">When they would prove so great a prize</div> <div class="i7">To old and young, if baked in pies.</div> <div class="i7">And then those pippins, ripe and fair,</div> <div class="i7">From some fine orchard picked with care,</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</SPAN></span> <div class="i7">Should not to rot and ruin go,</div> <div class="i7">Though work is hard or wages low,</div> <div class="i7">When thousands would be glad to stew</div> <div class="i7">The smallest apples there in view."</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i129.jpg" width-obs="386" height-obs="500" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</SPAN></span> <div class="i7">Another said: "We lack the might</div> <div class="i7">To set the wrongs of labor right,</div> <div class="i7">But by the power within us placed</div> <div class="i7">We'll see that nothing goes to waste.</div> <div class="i7">So every hand must be applied</div> <div class="i7">That boats upon their way may glide."</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i7">Then some ran here and there with speed</div> <div class="i7">To find a team to suit their need.</div> <div class="i7">A pair of mules, that grazed about</div> <div class="i7">The grassy banks, were fitted out</div> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i130a.jpg" width-obs="200" height-obs="89" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i13">With straps and ropes without delay</div> <div class="i13">To start the boats upon their way;</div> <div class="i13">And next some straying goats were found,</div> <div class="i13">Where in a yard they nibbled round</div> <div class="i13">Destroying plants of rarest kind</div> <div class="i13">That owners in the town could find.</div> <div class="i7">Soon, taken from their rich repast,</div> <div class="i7">They found themselves in harness fast;</div> <div class="i7">Then into active service pressed</div> <div class="i7">They trod the tow-path with the rest.</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i130b.jpg" width-obs="480" height-obs="128" alt="" class="aligncenter" /></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</SPAN></span> <div class="i0">On deck some Brownies took their stand</div> <div class="i0">To man the helm, or give command,</div> <div class="i0">And oversee the work; while more</div> <div class="i0">Stayed with the teams upon the shore.</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i131.jpg" width-obs="400" height-obs="487" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</SPAN></span> <div class="i4">At times the rope would drag along</div> <div class="i4">And catch on snags or branches long,</div> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i132a.jpg" width-obs="204" height-obs="86" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i12a">And cause delays they ill could bear,</div> <div class="i12a">For little time they had to spare.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i12a">With accidents they often met,</div> <div class="i12a">And some were bruised and more were wet;</div> <div class="i12a">Some tumbled headlong down the hold;</div> <div class="i12a">And some from heaping cargoes rolled.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i4">But what care Brownies for a bruise,</div> <div class="i4">Or garments wet, from hat to shoes,</div> <div class="i4">When enterprises bold and new</div> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i132b.jpg" width-obs="121" height-obs="288" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i0">Must ere the dawn be carried through?</div> <div class="i0">If half the band were drenched, no doubt</div> <div class="i0">The work would still be carried out,</div> <div class="i0">For extra strength would then be found</div> <div class="i0">In those who still were safe and sound.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i0">But once, when "low bridge!" was the shout</div> <div class="i0">They stood and stared or ran about</div> <div class="i0">Till in the water, heels o'er head,</div> <div class="i0">Some members of the band were spread.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i0">A few could swim, and held their own;</div> <div class="i0">But more went downward like a stone</div> <div class="i0">Until, without the plummet's aid,</div> <div class="i4">They learned how deep canals are made.</div> <div class="i4">In spite of all the kicks and flings</div> <div class="i4">That fright at such a moment brings,</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</SPAN></span> <div class="i4">Through lack of art, or weight of fear,</div> <div class="i4">It looked as if their end was near.</div> <div class="i4">The order now to stop the team</div> <div class="i4">Would pass along with sign and scream,</div> <div class="i4">And those on land would know by this</div> <div class="i4">That something startling was amiss;</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i133.jpg" width-obs="460" height-obs="441" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i4">And those on board could plainly see</div> <div class="i4">Unless assistance there could be,</div> <div class="i4">In shape of ropes and fingers strong,</div> <div class="i4">There'd be some vacancies, ere long!</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</SPAN></span> <ANTIMG src="images/i134.jpg" width-obs="467" height-obs="550" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i4">By chance a net was to be had,</div> <div class="i4">That boatmen used for catching shad&mdash;</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</SPAN></span> <div class="i4">A gill-net of the strongest kind,</div> <div class="i4">For heavy catches well designed;</div> <div class="i4">Few shad against its meshes ran</div> <div class="i4">But left their bones on some one's pan,</div> <div class="i4">This bulky thing the active crew</div> <div class="i4">Far overboard with promptness threw.</div> <div class="i4">A hold at once some Brownies found,</div> <div class="i4">While others in its folds were bound,</div> <div class="i4">Until like fish in great dismay</div> <div class="i4">Inside the net they struggling lay.</div> <div class="i4">But willing hands were overhead,</div> <div class="i4">And quickly from the muddy bed</div> <div class="i4">Where shedder crabs and turtles crawled</div> <div class="i4">The dripping net was upward hauled,</div> <div class="i4">With all the Brownies clinging fast,</div> <div class="i4">Till safe on deck they stood at last.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i10">Sometimes a mule fell off the road</div> <div class="i10">And in the stream with all its load.</div> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i135.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="258" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</SPAN></span> <div class="i4 clear">Then precious time would be consumed</div> <div class="i4">Before the trip could be resumed.</div> <div class="i4">Thus on they went from mile to mile,</div> <div class="i4">With many strange mishaps the while,</div> <div class="i4">But working bravely through the night</div> <div class="i4">Until the city came in sight.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i4">Said one: "Now, thanks to bearded goats</div> <div class="i4">And patient mules, the heavy boats</div> <div class="i4">For hours have glided on their way,</div> <div class="i4">And reached the waters of the bay.</div> <div class="i4">But see, the sun's about to show</div> <div class="i4">His colors to the world below,</div> <div class="i4">And other birds than those of night</div> <div class="i4">Begin to take their morning flight.</div> <div class="i4">Our time is up; we've done our best;</div> <div class="i4">The ebbing tide must do the rest;</div> <div class="i4">Now drifting downward to their pier</div> <div class="i4">Let barges unassisted steer,</div> <div class="i4">While we make haste, with nimble feet,</div> <div class="i4">To find in woods a safe retreat."</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i136.jpg" width-obs="480" height-obs="166" alt="" class="aligncenter" /></div> </div></div> <hr class="chap" /> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</SPAN></span></p> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i137.jpg" width-obs="450" height-obs="252" alt="" /></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />