Chapter 5

Some seized a neck and some a head, And some a wing, and some a shred Of tail, or aught that nearest lay, To help them mount without delay. Then rose wild flaps and piercing screams, As sudden starting from their dreams The wondering fowl in sore dismay Brought wings and muscles into play. Some felt the need of longer sleep, And hardly had the strength to "cheep;" While others seemed to find a store Of screams they'd never found before --But off like leaves or flakes of snow Before the gale the Brownies go, Away, away, through spray or cloud As fancy led, or load allowed. Some birds to poor advantage showed, As, with an oddly balanced load, Now right or left at random cast,

They flew, the sport of every blast; While fish below had aching eyes With gazing upward at the prize. They followed still from mile to mile, Believing fortune yet would smile; While plainer to the Brownies grew The hills and vales that well they knew. "I see," said one, who, from his post Between the wings, could view the coast, "The lofty peaks we used to climb

To gaze upon the scene sublime." A second cried: "And there's the bay From which our vessel bore away!" "And I," another cried, "can see The shady grove, the very tree We met beneath the night we planned To build a ship and leave the land!"

All in confusion now at last, The birds upon the shore were cast. Some, tumbling through thick branches, fell And spilled the load that clung so well. Some, "topsy-turvy" to the ground, Dispersed their riders all around; And others still could barely get To shores where land and water met.

Congratulations then began, As here and there the Brownies ran,

To learn if all had held their grip And kept aboard throughout the trip. "And now," said one, "that all are o'er In safety to our native shore, You see, so wasted is the night, Orion's belt is out of sight; And ere the lamp of Venus fades We all must reach the forest shades.

THE BROWNIES' SINGING-SCHOOL.

AS mists of evening deeper grew, The Brownies 'round a comrade drew, An interesting tale to hear About a village lying near. "Last night," said he, "I heard arise From many throats discordant cries. At once I followed up the sound, And soon, to my amazement, found It issued from a building small That answered for the county hall.

"I listened there around the door, By village time, an hour or more; Until I learned beyond a doubt A singing-school caused all the rout. Some, like the hound, would keep ahead, And others seemed to lag instead. Some singers, struggling with the tune, Outscreamed the frightened northern loon. Some mocked the pinched or wheezing cry Of locusts when the wheat is nigh, While grumbling bassos shamed the strain Of bull-frogs calling down the rain."

The Brownies labor heart and hand All mysteries to understand; And if you think those Brownies bold Received the news so plainly told, And thought no more about the place, You're not familiar with the race.

When scholars next their voices tried, The Brownies came from every side; With ears to knot-holes in the wall, To door-jambs, thresholds, blinds, and all, They listened to the jarring din Proceeding from the room within.

Said one at length, "It seems to me The master here will earn his fee, If he from such a crowd can bring A single person trained to sing." Another said, "We'll let them try Their voices till their throats are dry, And when for home they all depart, We'll not be slow to test our art."

That night the Brownies cheered to find The music had been left behind; And when they stood within the hall, And books were handed 'round to all, They pitched their voices, weak or strong, At solemn verse and lighter song.

Some sought a good old hymn to try; Some grappled with a lullaby; A few a painful effort made To struggle through a serenade; While more preferred the lively air That, hinting less of love or care, Possessed a chorus kind and bright In which they all could well unite. At times some member tried to rule, And took control of all the school; But soon, despairing, was content To let them follow out their bent.

They sung both high and low, the same, As fancy led or courage came.

Some droned the tune through teeth or nose, Some piped like quail, or cawed like crows That, hungry, wait the noonday horn To call the farmer from his corn. By turns at windows some would stay To note the signs of coming day. At length the morning, rising, spread Along the coast her streaks of red, And drove the Brownies from the place To undertake the homeward race.

But many members of the band Still kept their singing-books in hand, Determined not with those to part Till they were perfect in the art. And oft in leafy forest shade, In after times, a ring they made, To pitch the tune, and raise the voice, To sing the verses of their choice, And scare from branches overhead The speckled thrush and robin red, And make them feel the time had come When singing birds might well be dumb.

THE BROWNIES' FRIENDLY TURN.

ONE night while snow was lying deep On level plain and mountain steep, A sheltered nook the Brownies found, Where conversation might go 'round. Said one: "The people hereabout Their wood supply have taken out; But while they stripped the timber lot, The village parson they forgot.

Now that good man, the story goes, As best he can, must warm his toes." Another spoke: "The way is clear To show both skill and courage here. You're not the sort, I know, to shirk: And coward-like to flee from work. You act at once whene'er you find A chance to render service kind, Nor wait to see what others do In matters that appeal to you.

"This task in waiting must be done Before another day has run. The signs of change are in the air; A storm is near though skies are fair; As oft when smiles the broadest lie, The tears are nearest to the eye. To work let every Brownie bend, And prove to-night the parson's friend. We'll not take oxen from the stall, That through the day must pull and haul, Nor horses from the manger lead; But let them take the rest they need. Since mystic power is at our call, By our own selves we'll do it all. Our willing arms shall take the place Of clanking chain and leathern trace, And 'round the door the wood we'll strew Until we hide the house from view."

At once the Brownies sought the ground Where fuel could with ease be found,-- A place where forest-fires had spread, And left the timber scorched and dead. And there throughout the chilly night They tugged and tore with all their might; Some bearing branches as their load; With lengthy poles still others strode,

Or struggled till they scarce could see, With logs that bent them like a V; While more from under drifts of snow Removed old trees, and made them go Like plows along the icy street, With half their limbs and roots complete. Some found it hard to train their log To keep its place through jolt and jog, While some, mistaking ditch for road, Were almost buried with their load, And but for friends and promptest care, The morning light had found them there.

The wind that night was cold and keen, And frosted Brownies oft were seen. They clapped their hands and stamped their toes, They rubbed with snow each numbing nose, And drew the frost from every face Before it proved a painful case.

And thus, in spite of every ill, The task was carried forward still. Some were by nature well designed For work of this laborious kind, And never felt so truly great, As when half crushed beneath a weight. While wondering comrades stood aghast, And thought each step must be the last.

But some were slight and ill could bear The heavy loads that proved their share,

Though at some sport or cunning plan They far beyond their comrades ran.

Around the house some staid to pile The gathered wood in proper style; Which ever harder work they found As high and higher rose the mound.

Above the window-sill it grew, And next, the cornice hid from view; And, ere the dawn had forced a stop, The pile o'erlooked the chimney-top.

Some hands were sore, some backs were blue, And legs were scraped with slipping through Where ice and snow had left their mark On rounded log and smoothest bark.

That morning, when the parson rose, Against the pane he pressed his nose, And tried the outer world to scan To learn how signs of weather ran.

But, 'round the house, behind, before, In front of window, shed, and door, The wood was piled to such a height But little sky was left in sight!

When next he climbed his pulpit stair, He touched upon the strange affair, And asked a blessing rich to fall Upon the heads and homes of all Who through the night had worked so hard To heap the fuel 'round the yard. His hearers knew they had no claim To such a blessing if it came, But whispered: "We don't understand-- It must have been the Brownie Band."

THE BROWNIES' FOURTH OF JULY.

WHEN Independence Day was nigh, And children laid their pennies by, Arranging plans how every cent Should celebrate the grand event, The Brownies in their earnest way Expressed themselves about the day. Said one: "The time is drawing near-- To every freeman's heart so dear-- When citizens throughout the land, From Western slope to Eastern strand,

Will celebrate with booming gun Their liberties so dearly won!"

"A fitting time," another cried, "For us, who many sports have tried,

To introduce our mystic art And in some manner play a part." A third replied, with beaming face: "Trust me to lead you to a place Where fireworks of every kind Are made to suit the loyal mind.

"There, Roman candles are in store, And bombs that like a cannon roar; While 'round the room one may behold Designs of every size and mold,-- The wheels that turn, when all ablaze, And scatter sparks a thousand ways; The eagle bird, with pinions spread; The busts of statesmen ages dead; And him who led his tattered band Against invaders of the land Until he shook the country free From grasp of kings beyond the sea.

"We may, from this supply, with ease Secure a share whene'er we please; And on these hills behind the town That to the plain go sloping down,

We'll take position, come what may, And celebrate the Nation's Day."

That eve, when stars began to shine, The eager band was formed in line, And, acting on the plans well laid, A journey to the town was made.

The Brownies never go astray, However puzzling is the way; With guides before and guards behind, They cut through every turn and wind, Until a halt was made at last Before a building bolted fast. But those who think they'd turn around And leave because no keys are found Should entertain the thought no more, But study up the Brownie lore.

They rummaged boxes piled around And helped themselves to what they found, Some eager to secure the wheel That would so many sparks reveal. Some active members of the band To bombs and crackers turned their hand, While more those emblems sought to find That call the Nation's birth to mind, And bring from every side the shout When all their meaning blazes out.

Ere long, upon the homeward road They hastened with their novel load: And when the bell in chapel tower Gave notice of the midnight hour, The ruddy flame, the turning wheel, The showering sparks and deafening peal Showed Brownies in the proper way Gave welcome to the glorious day.

The lighted eagles, through the night, Looked down like constellations bright; The rockets, whizzing to and fro, Lit up the slumbering town below; While, towering there with eyes of fire, As when he made his foes retire, Above all emblems duly raised, The Father of his Country blazed.

But ere the Brownies' large supply Had gone to light the summer sky, Some plasters would have served the band Much better than the goods on hand; For there were cases all about Where Brownies thought the fuse was out, Till with a sudden fizz and flare It caught the jokers unaware.

At times, in spite of warning cries, Some proved too slow at closing eyes; Some ears were stunned, some noses got Too close to something quick and hot, And fingers bore for days and weeks The trace of hasty powder's freaks.

Some dodging 'round would get a share Of splendor meant for upper air, And with a black or speckled face They ran about from place to place, To find new dangers blaze and burn On every side where'er they'd turn.

But few were there who felt afraid Of bursting bomb or fusillade, And to the prize they'd stick and hang Until it vanished with a "bang," Or darting upward seemed to fly On special business to the sky.

But there, while darkness wrapped the hill, The Brownies celebrated still; For, pleasures such as this they found But seldom in their roaming 'round; And with reluctant feet they fled When morning tinged the sky with red.

THE BROWNIES IN THE TOY-SHOP.

AS shades of evening settled down, The Brownies rambled through the town, To pry at this, to pause at that; By something else to hold a chat, And in their free and easy vein Express themselves in language plain. At length before a store, their eyes Were fixed with wonder and surprise On toys of wood, and wax, and tin, And toys of rubber piled within.

Said one, "In all our wandering 'round, A sight like this we never found. When such a passing glimpse we gain, What marvels must the shelves contain!"

Another said, "It must be here Old Santa Claus comes every year To gather up his large supply, When Christmas Eve is drawing nigh, That children through the land may find They still are treasured in his mind."

A third remarked, "Ere long he may Again his yearly visit pay; Before he comes to strip the place, We'll rummage shelf, and box, and case, Until the building we explore From attic roof to basement floor, And prove what pleasure may be found In all the wonders stowed around."

Not long were they content to view Through dusty panes those wonders new: And, in a manner quite their own, They made their way through wood and stone.

And then surprises met the band In odd conceits from every land. Well might the Brownies stand and stare At all the objects crowded there! Here, things of gentle nature lay In safety, midst the beasts of prey; The goose and fox, a friendly pair, Reposed beside the lamb and bear; There horses stood for boys to ride; Here boats were waiting for the tide,

While ships of war, with every sail Unfurled, were anchored to a nail; There soldiers stood in warlike bands; And naked dolls held out their hands, As though to urge the passers-by To take them from the public eye. This way and that, the Brownies ran; To try the toys they soon began.

The Jack-in-box, so quick and strong, With staring eyes and whiskers long, Now o'er and o'er was set and sprung Until the scalp was from it flung And then they crammed him in his case, With wig and night-cap in their place, To give some customer a start When next the jumper flew apart. The trumpets, drums, and weapons bright Soon filled them all with great delight. Like troops preparing for their foes, In single ranks and double rows,

They learned the arts of war, as told By printed books and veterans old; With swords of tin and guns of wood, They wheeled about, and marched or stood,

And went through skirmish drill and all, From room to room by bugle-call; There Marathon and Waterloo And Bunker Hill were fought anew; And most of those in war array At last went limping from the fray. The music-box poured forth an air That charmed the dullest spirits there, Till, yielding to the pleasing sound, They danced with dolls a lively round.

There fish were working tail and fin In seas confined by wood and tin; The canvas shark and rubber whale Seemed ill content in dish or pail, And leaping all obstructions o'er Performed their antics on the floor.

Some found at marbles greatest fun, And still they played, and still they won, Until they claimed as winners, all The shop could furnish, large and small.

More gave the singing tops no rest-- But kept them spinning at their best Until some wonder strange and new To other points attention drew.

The rocking-horse that wildly rose, Now on its heels, now on its nose,

Was forced to bear so great a load It seemed to founder on the road, Then tumble feebly to the floor, Never to lift a rocker more.

No building in the country wide With more attractions was supplied. No shop or store throughout the land Could better suit the Brownie band. For when some flimsy toy gave way And 'round the room in pieces lay

'Twas hardly missed in such a store, With wonders fairly running o'er: To something else about the place The happy Brownie turned his face, And only feared the sun would call Before he'd had his sport with all.

Thus, through the shop in greatest glee, They rattled 'round, the sights to see, Till stars began to dwindle down, And morning crept into the town. And then, with all the speed they knew, Away to forest shades they flew.