Another Brownie Book

<h2><SPAN name="THE_BROWNIES_IN_THE_ORCHARD" id="THE_BROWNIES_IN_THE_ORCHARD"></SPAN>THE BROWNIES IN THE ORCHARD.</h2> <div class="container"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i012a.jpg" width-obs="98" height-obs="120" alt="T" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i6"> &nbsp;<span class="smcapa">HE</span> autumn nights began to fill</div> <div class="i6">The mind with thoughts of winter chill,</div> <div class="i6">When Brownies in an orchard met,</div> <div class="i6">Where ripened fruit was hanging yet.</div> <div class="i6">Said one, "The apples here, indeed,</div> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i012b.jpg" width-obs="100" height-obs="144" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i6">Must now be mellow to the seed;</div> <div class="i6">And, ere another night, should be</div> <div class="i0">Removed at once from every tree.</div> <div class="i0">For any evening now may call</div> <div class="i0">The frost to nip and ruin all."</div> <div class="i0">Another quickly answer made:</div> <div class="i0">"This man is scarcely worthy aid;</div> <div class="i0">'Tis said his harsh and cruel sway</div> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i012c.jpg" width-obs="126" height-obs="200" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i8">Has turned his children's love away.</div> <div class="i8">"If this be true, 't would serve him right"</div> <div class="i8">If frost should paint his orchard white."</div> <div class="i8">"It matters not who owns the place,</div> <div class="i8">Or why neglect thus shows its face,"</div> <div class="i8">A third replied; "the fact is clear</div> <div class="i8">That fruit should hang no longer here.</div> <div class="i8">If worthy people here reside</div> <div class="i8">Then will our hands be well applied;</div> <div class="i8">And if unworthy folks we serve,</div> <div class="i8">Still better notice we'll deserve."</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</SPAN></span> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i013a.jpg" width-obs="220" height-obs="221" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i6">"You speak our minds so full and fair,"</div> <div class="i4">One loudly cried, "that speech we'll spare.</div> <div class="i2">But like the buttons on your back,</div> <div class="i1">We'll follow closely in your track,</div> <div class="i0">And do our part with willing hand,</div> <div class="i0">Without one doubting <em>if</em> or <em>and</em>."</div> <div class="i0">Kind deeds the Brownies often do</div> <div class="i1">Unknown to me as well as you;</div> <div class="i2">The wounded hare, by hunters maimed,</div> <div class="i3">Is sheltered and supplied and tamed.</div> <div class="i8">The straying cat they sometimes find</div> <div class="i8">Half-starved, and chased by dogs unkind,</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i013b.jpg" width-obs="500" height-obs="127" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i8">And bring it home from many fears</div> <div class="i8">To those who mourned its loss with tears.</div> <div class="i8">And to the bird so young and bare,</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i013c.jpg" width-obs="220" height-obs="155" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i8">With wings unfit to fan the air,</div> <div class="i8">That preying owls had thought to rend</div> <div class="i8">The Brownie often proves a friend.</div> <div class="i8">Then bags and baskets were brought out</div> <div class="i8">From barns and buildings round about,</div> <div class="i8">With kettles, pans, and wooden-ware,</div> <div class="i8">That prying eyes discovered there;</div> <div class="i8">Nay, even blankets from the beds,</div> <div class="i8">The pillow-slips, and table-spreads</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</SPAN></span> <div class="i8">Were in some manner brought to light</div> <div class="i8">To render service through the night.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i8">If there's a place where Brownies feel</div> <div class="i8">At home with either hand or heel,</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i014.jpg" width-obs="449" height-obs="450" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i8">And seem from all restrictions free,</div> <div class="i8">That place is in a branching tree.</div> <div class="i8">At times, with balance fair and fine</div> <div class="i8">They held their stations in a line;</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</SPAN></span> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i015a.jpg" width-obs="150" height-obs="125" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i015b.jpg" width-obs="123" height-obs="150" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i8">At times, in rivalry and pride</div> <div class="i8">To outer twigs they scattered wide;</div> <div class="i8">And oft with one united strain</div> <div class="i8">They shook the tree with might and main,</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i015c.jpg" width-obs="176" height-obs="150" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i0">Till, swaying wildly to and fro,</div> <div class="i0">It rocked upon the roots below.</div> <div class="i0">So skilled at climbing were they all</div> <div class="i0">The sum of accidents was small:</div> <div class="i0">Some hats were crushed, some heads were sore,</div> <div class="i0">Some backs were blue, ere work was o'er;</div> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i015d.jpg" width-obs="100" height-obs="130" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i6">For hands will slip and feet will slide,</div> <div class="i6">And boughs will break and forks divide,</div> <div class="i6">And hours that promise sport sublime</div> <div class="i6">May introduce a limping time.</div> <div class="i6">So some who clambered up the tree</div> <div class="i6">With ready use of hand and knee,</div> <div class="i6">Found other ways they could descend</div> <div class="i6">Than by the trunk, you may depend.</div> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i015e.jpg" width-obs="130" height-obs="150" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i0">The startled birds of night came out</div> <div class="i0">And watched them as they moved about;</div> <div class="i0">Concluding thieves were out in force</div> <div class="i0">They cawed around the place till hoarse.</div> <div class="i0">But birds, like people, should be slow</div> <div class="i0">To judge before the facts they know;</div> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i015f.jpg" width-obs="154" height-obs="110" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i10">For neither tramps nor thieves were here,</div> <div class="i10">But Brownies, honest and sincere,</div> <div class="i10">Who worked like mad to strip the trees</div> <div class="i10">Before they felt the morning breeze.</div> <div class="i10">And well they gauged their task and time,</div> <div class="i10">For ere the sun commenced to prime</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</SPAN></span> <ANTIMG src="images/i016.jpg" width-obs="416" height-obs="500" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i6">The sky with faintest tinge of red</div> <div class="i6">The Brownies from the orchard fled,</div> <div class="i6">While all the fruit was laid with care</div> <div class="i6">Beyond the reach of nipping air.</div> </div></div> </div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</SPAN></span></p> <hr class="chap" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />