The Brownies: Their Book Part 7

The start was promising and fine; With little skill and less design They steered along as suited best, And let the current do the rest.

All nature seemed to be aware That something strange was stirring there.

The owl to-whooed, the raven croaked; The mink and rat with caution poked Their heads above the wave, aghast; While frogs a look of wonder cast And held their breath till all had pa.s.sed.

As every stream will show a bend, If one explores from end to end,

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So every river, great and small, Must have its rapids and its fall; And those who on its surface glide O'er rough as well as smooth must ride.

The stream whereon had started out The Brownie band in gleeful rout

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Was wild enough to please a trout.

At times it tumbled on its way O'er shelving rocks and bowlders gray At times it formed from side to side A brood of whirlpools deep and wide That with each other seemed to vie As fated objects drifted nigh.

Ere long each watchful Brownie there, Of all these facts grew well aware; Some losing faith, as people will, In their companions' care or skill, Would seize the paddle for a time,

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Until a disapproving chime Of voices made them rest their hand, And let still others take command.

But, spite of current, whirl or go, In spite of hungry tribes below,--

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The eel, the craw-fish, leech, and pout, That watched them from the starting out, And thought each moment flitting by Might spill them out a year's supply,-- The Brownies drifted onward still; And though confusion baffled skill, Canoes throughout the trying race Kept right side up in every case.

But sport that traveled hand in hand With horrors hardly pleased the band, As pallid cheek and popping eye On every side could testify; And all agreed that wisdom lay In steering home without delay.

So landing quick, the boats they tied To roots or trees as chance supplied, And plunging in the woods profound, They soon were lost to sight and sound.

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THE BROWNIES IN THE MENAGERIE.

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THE Brownies heard the news with glee, That in a city near the sea A s.p.a.cious building was designed For holding beasts of every kind.

From polar snows, from desert sand, From mountain peak, and timbered land, The beasts with claw and beasts with hoof, All met beneath one slated roof.

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That night, like bees before the wind, With home in sight, and storm behind, The band of Brownies might be seen, All scudding from the forest green.

Less time it took the walls to scale Than is required to tell the tale.

The art that makes the lock seem weak, The bolt to slide, the hinge to creak, Was theirs to use as heretofore, With good effect, on sash and door; And soon the band stood face to face With all the wonders of the place.

To Brownies, as to children dear, The monkey seemed a creature queer; They watched its skill to climb and cling, By either toe or tail to swing; Perhaps they got some hints that might Come well in hand some future night, When climbing up a wall or tree, Or chimney, as the case might be.

Then off to other parts they'd range To gather 'round some creature strange; To watch the movements of the bear, Or at the spotted serpents stare.

Around the sleeping lion long They stood an interested throng, Debating o'er its strength of limb, Its heavy mane or visage grim.

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The mammoth turtle from its pen Was driven 'round and 'round again, And though the coach proved rather slow They kept it hours upon the go.

Said one, "Before your face and eyes I'll take that snake from where it lies, And like a Hindoo of the East, Benumb and charm the crawling beast, Then twist him 'round me on the spot And tie him in a sailor's knot."

Another then was quick to shout, "We'll leave that snake performance out!

I grant you all the power you claim To charm, to tie, to twist and tame; But let me still suggest you try Your art when no one else is nigh.

Of all the beasts that creep or crawl From Rupert's Land to China's wall, In torrid, mild, or frigid zone, The snake is best to let alone."

Against this counsel, seeming good, At least a score of others stood.

Said one, "My friend, suppress alarm; There's nothing here to threaten harm.

Be sure the power that mortals hold Is not denied the Brownies bold."

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So, harmlessly as silken bands The snakes were twisted in their hands.

Some hauled them freely 'round the place; Some braided others in a trace; And every knot to sailors known, Was quickly tied, and quickly shown.

Thus, 'round from cage to cage they went, For some to smile, and some comment On Nature's way of dealing out To this a tail, to that a snout

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Of extra length, and then deny To something else a fair supply.

--But when the bear and tiger growled, And wolf and lynx in chorus howled, And starting from its broken sleep, The lion rose with sudden leap, And, bounding 'round the rocking cage, With lifted mane, roared loud with rage, And thrust its paws between the bars, Until it seemed to shake the stars,--

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A panic seized the Brownies all, And out they scampered from the hall, As if they feared incautious men Had built too frail a prison pen.

THE BROWNIES' CIRCUS.

ONE night the circus was in town With tumbling men and painted clown, And Brownies came from forest deep Around the tent to climb and creep, And through the canvas, as they might Of inner movements gain a sight.

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Said one, "A chance we'll hardly find That better suits the Brownie mind; To-night when all this great array Of people take their homeward way, We'll promptly make a swift descent And take possession of the tent, And here, till morning light is shown, We'll have a circus of our own."

"I best," cried one, "of all the band The elephant can take in hand; I noticed how they led him round And marked the place he may be found; On me you may depend to keep The monster harmless as a sheep."