The Brownies: Their Book Part 3

And shouts and calls that filled the air Proved even-handed playing there.

With anxious looks some kept the score, And shouted "'vantage!" "game all!" or To some, "love, forty!"--"deuce!" to more.

But when "deuce set!" the scorer cried, Applause would ring on every side.

At times so hot the contest grew, Established laws aside they threw, And in the game where four should stand, At least a dozen took a hand.

Some tangled in the netting lay And some from base-lines strayed away.

Some hit the ball when out of place Or scrambled through unlawful s.p.a.ce.

But still no game was forced to halt Because of this or greater fault.

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And there they sported on the lawn Until the ruddy streaks of dawn Gave warning that the day was near, And Brownies all must disappear.

THE BROWNIES' GOOD WORK.

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ONE time, while Brownies pa.s.sed around An honest farmer's piece of ground, They paused to view the garden fair And fields of grain that needed care.

"My friends," said one who often spoke About the ways of human folk,

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"Now here's a case in point, I claim, Where neighbors scarce deserve the name: This farmer on his back is laid With broken ribs and shoulder-blade, Received, I hear, some weeks ago; While at the village here below, He checked a running team, to save Some children from an early grave.

Now overripe his harvest stands In waiting for the reaper's hands; The piece of wheat we lately pa.s.sed Is sh.e.l.ling out at every blast.

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Those pumpkins in that corner plot Begin to show the signs of rot; The mold has fastened on their skin, The ripest ones are caving in, And soon the pig in yonder sty With scornful grunt would pa.s.s them by.

His Early Rose potatoes there Are much in need of light and air; The turnip withers where it lies, The beet and carrot want to rise.

'Oh, pull us up!' they seem to cry To every one that pa.s.ses by; 'The frost will finish our repose, The grubs are working at our toes;

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Unless you come and save us soon, We'll not be worth a picayune!'

The corn is breaking from the stalk, The hens around the hill can walk, And with their ever ready bill May pick the kernels at their will.

His neighbors are a sordid crowd, Who've such a shameful waste allowed So wrapped in self some men can be, Beyond their purse they seldom see; 'T is left for us to play the friend And here a helping hand extend.

But as the wakeful chanticleer Is crowing in the stable near, Too little of the present night Is left to set the matter right.

"To-morrow eve, at that dark hour When birds grow still in leafy bower And bats forsake the ruined pile To exercise their wings awhile, In yonder shady grove we'll meet, With all our active force complete, Prepared to give this farmer aid With basket, barrel, hook, and spade.

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But, ere we part, one caution more: Let some invade a druggist's store, And bring along a coated pill;

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We'll dose the dog to keep him still.

For barking dogs, however kind, Can oft disturb a Brownie's mind."

--When next the bat of evening flew, And drowsy things of day withdrew, When beetles droned across the lea, And turkeys sought the safest tree To form aloft a social row And criticise the fox below,-- Then cunning Brownies might be seen Advancing from the forest green; Now jumping fences, as they ran, Now crawling through (a safer plan); Now keeping to the roads awhile, Now "cutting corners," country style; Some bearing hoes, and baskets more, Some pus.h.i.+ng barrows on before, While others, swinging sickles bright, Seemed eager for the grain in sight.

But in advance of all the throng Three daring Brownies moved along, Whose duty was to venture close And give the barking dog his dose.

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Now soon the work was under way, Each chose the part he was to play: While some who handled hoes the best Brought "Early Roses" from their nest, To turnip-tops some laid their hands, More plied the hook, or twisted bands.

And soon the sheaves lay piled around, Like heroes on disputed ground.

Now let the eye turn where it might, A pleasing prospect was in sight; For garden ground or larger field Alike a busy crowd revealed: Some pulling carrots from their bed, Some bearing burdens on their head, Or working at a fever heat While prying out a monster beet.

Now here two heavy loads have met, And there a barrow has upset,

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While workers every effort strain The rolling pumpkins to regain;

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And long before the stars withdrew, The crop was safe, the work was through.

In shocks the corn, secure and good, Now like a Sioux encampment stood; The wheat was safely stowed away; In bins the "Early Roses" lay,

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While carrots, turnips, beets, and all Received attention, great and small.

When morning dawned, no sight or sound Of friendly Brownies could be found; And when at last old Towser broke The spell, and from his slumber woke, He rushed around, believing still Some mischief lay behind the pill.

But though the field looked bare and strange, His mind could hardly grasp the change.

And when the farmer learned at morn That safe from harm were wheat and corn, That all his barley, oats, and rye Were in the barn, secure and dry, That carrots, beets, and turnips round Were safely taken from the ground, The honest farmer thought, of course, His neighbors had turned out in force While helpless on the bed he lay, And kindly stowed his crop away.

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But when he thanked them for their aid, And hoped they yet might be repaid For acting such a friendly part, His words appeared to pierce each heart.

For well they knew that other hands Than theirs had laid his grain in bands, That other backs had bent in toil To save the products of the soil.

And then they felt as such folk will Who fail to n.o.bly act, until More earnest helpers, stepping in, Do all the praise and honor win.

THE BROWNIES AT THE GYMNASIUM.

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THE Brownies once, while roaming 'round, By chance approached a college ground; And, as they skirmished every side, A large gymnasium they espied.

Their eyes grew bright as they surveyed The means for exercise displayed.

The club, the weight, the hanging ring, The horizontal bar, and swing,