Another Brownie Book

<h2><SPAN name="THE_BROWNIES_KITES" id="THE_BROWNIES_KITES"></SPAN>THE BROWNIES' KITES.</h2> <div class="container"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i056.jpg" width-obs="400" height-obs="517" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i0">The sun had hardly taken flight</div> <div class="i0">Unto the deepest caves of night;</div> <div class="i0">Or fowls secured a place of rest</div> <div class="i0">Where Reynard's paw could not molest,</div> <div class="i0">When Brownies gathered to pursue</div> <div class="i0">Their plans regarding pleasures new.</div> <div class="i0">Said one: "In spite of hand or string,</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</SPAN></span> <div class="i0">Now hats fly round like crows in spring,</div> <div class="i0">Exposing heads to gusts of air,</div> </div></div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i057.jpg" width-obs="158" height-obs="180" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i5">That ill the slightest draught can bear;</div> <div class="i5">While, high above the tallest tower,</div> <div class="i5">At morning, noon, and evening hour,</div> <div class="i5">The youngsters' kites with streaming tails</div> <div class="i5">Are riding out the strongest gales.</div> <div class="i5">The doves in steeples hide away</div> <div class="i7">Or keep their houses through the day,</div> <div class="i7">Mistaking every kite that flies</div> <div class="i7">For bird of prey of wondrous size."</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i7">"You're not alone," another cried,</div> <div class="i7">"In taking note. I, too, have spied</div> <div class="i7">The boys of late, in street and court,</div> <div class="i7">Or on the roofs, at this fine sport;</div> <div class="i7">But yesternight I chanced to see</div> <div class="i7">A kite entangled in a tree.</div> <div class="i7">The string was nowhere to be found;</div> <div class="i7">The tail about a bough was wound.</div> <div class="i7">Some birds had torn the paper out,</div> <div class="i7">To line their nests, in trees about,</div> <div class="i7">But there beside the wreck I staid,</div> <div class="i7">Until I learned how kites are made.</div> <div class="i7">On me you safely may depend,</div> <div class="i7">To show the way to cut and bend.</div> <div class="i7">So let us now, while winds are high,</div> <div class="i7">Our hands at once to work apply;</div> <div class="i7">And from the hill that lifts its crown</div> <div class="i7">So far above the neighboring town,</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</SPAN></span> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i058d.jpg" width-obs="103" height-obs="110" alt="NEWS" class="alignright" /> </span> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i058a.jpg" width-obs="150" height-obs="124" alt="SUPERFINE FLOUR" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i10">We'll send our kites aloft in crowds,</div> <div class="i10">To lose themselves among the clouds."</div> <div class="i10">A smile on every face was spread,</div> <div class="i10">At thought of fun like this, ahead;</div> <div class="i10">And quickly all the plans were laid,</div> <div class="i10">And work for every Brownie made.</div> <div class="i10">Some to the kitchens ran in haste,</div> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i058e.jpg" width-obs="110" height-obs="111" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i10">To manufacture pots of paste.</div> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i058b.jpg" width-obs="150" height-obs="110" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i10">Some ran for tacks or shingle-nails,</div> <div class="i10">And some for rags to make the tails,</div> <div class="i10">While more with loads of paper came,</div> <div class="i10">Or whittled sticks to make the frame.</div> <div class="i10">The strings, that others gathered, soon</div> <div class="i10">Seemed long enough to reach the moon.</div> <div class="i10">But where such quantities they found,</div> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i058f.jpg" width-obs="150" height-obs="120" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i10">'Tis not so easy to expound;&mdash;</div> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i058c.jpg" width-obs="183" height-obs="100" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i11">Perhaps some twine-shop, standing nigh,</div> <div class="i11">Was raided for the large supply;</div> <div class="i11">Perhaps some youthful angler whines</div> <div class="i11">About his missing fishing-lines.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <ANTIMG src="images/i058g.jpg" width-obs="159" height-obs="200" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i0">&nbsp;</div> <div class="i4">But let them find things where they will,</div> <div class="i4">The Brownies must be furnished still;</div> <div class="i4">And those who can't such losses stand,</div> <div class="i4">Will have to charge it to the Band.</div> <div class="i4">With busy fingers, well applied,</div> <div class="i4">They clipped and pasted, bent and tied;</div> <div class="i4">With paint and brush some ran about</div> <div class="i4">From kite to kite, to fit them out.</div> <div class="i4">On some they paint a visage fair,</div> <div class="i4">While others would affright a bear,</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</SPAN></span> <div class="i0">&nbsp;</div> <div class="i4">Nor was it long (as one might guess</div> <div class="i4">Who knows what skill their hands possess)</div> <div class="i4">Before the kites, with string and tail,</div> <div class="i4">Were all prepared to ride the gale;</div> <div class="i4">And oh, the climax of their glee</div> <div class="i4">Was reached when kites were floating free!</div> <div class="i4">So quick they mounted through the air</div> <div class="i4">That tangling strings played mischief there,</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i059.jpg" width-obs="414" height-obs="450" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i4">And threatened to remove from land</div> <div class="i4">Some valued members of the band.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</SPAN></span> <div class="i2">The birds of night were horrified</div> <div class="i2">At finding kites on every side,</div> <div class="i2">And netted strings, that seemed to be</div> <div class="i2">Designed to limit action free.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i7">But</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i060d.jpg" width-obs="400" height-obs="336" alt="Brownies stood or ran about" class="aligncenter" /> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i060a.jpg" width-obs="100" height-obs="128" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i7">Now winding up, now letting out;</div> <div class="i7">Now giving kites more tail or wing,</div> <div class="i7">Now wishing for a longer string;</div> <div class="i7">Until they saw the hints of day</div> <div class="i7">Approaching through the morning gray.</div> </div></div> </div> <hr class="chap" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />