Another Brownie Book

<h2 style="page-break-before: avoid;"><SPAN name="THE_BROWNIES_IN_THE_STUDIO" id="THE_BROWNIES_IN_THE_STUDIO"></SPAN>THE BROWNIES IN THE STUDIO.</h2> <div class="container"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i7">T<span class="smcapa">HE</span> Brownies once approached in glee</div> <div class="i7">A slumbering city by the sea.</div> <div class="i7">"In yonder town," the leader cried,</div> <div class="i7">"I hear the artist does reside</div> <div class="i7">Who pictures out, with patient hand,</div> <div class="i7">The doings of the Brownie band."</div> <div class="i7">"I'd freely give," another said,</div> <div class="i7">"The cap that now protects my head,</div> <div class="i7">To find the room, where, day by day,</div> <div class="i7">He shows us at our work or play."</div> <div class="i7">A third replied: "Your cap retain</div> <div class="i7">To shield your poll from snow or rain.</div> <div class="i7">His studio is farther down,</div> <div class="i7">Within a corner-building brown.</div> <div class="i7">So follow me a mile or more</div> <div class="i7">And soon we'll reach the office door."</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</SPAN></span> <div class="i7">Then through the park, around the square,</div> <div class="i7">And down the broadest thoroughfare,</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i138.jpg" width-obs="383" height-obs="500" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</SPAN></span> <div class="i7">The anxious Brownies quickly passed,</div> <div class="i7">And reached the building huge at last.</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i139.jpg" width-obs="375" height-obs="450" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i7">They paused awhile to view the sight,</div> <div class="i7">To speak about its age and height,</div> <div class="i7">And read the signs, so long and wide,</div> <div class="i7">That met the gaze on every side.</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</SPAN></span> <div class="i7">But little time was wasted there,</div> <div class="i7">For soon their feet had found the stair.</div> <div class="i7">And next the room, where oft are told</div> <div class="i7">Their funny actions, free and bold,</div> <div class="i7">Was honored by a friendly call</div> <div class="i7">From all the Brownies, great and small.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i7">Then what a gallery they found,</div> <div class="i7">As here and there they moved around&mdash;</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i140a.jpg" width-obs="480" height-obs="189" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i7">For now they gaze upon a scene</div> <div class="i7">That showed them sporting on the green;</div> <div class="i7">Then, hastening o'er the fields with speed</div> <div class="i7">To help some farmer in his need.</div> <div class="i7">Said one, "Upon this desk, no doubt,</div> <div class="i7">Where now we cluster round about,</div> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i140b.jpg" width-obs="167" height-obs="106" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i7">Our doings have been plainly told</div> <div class="i0">From month to month, through heat and cold.</div> <div class="i0">And there's the ink, I apprehend,</div> <div class="i0">On which our very lives depend.</div> <div class="i0">Be careful, moving to and fro,</div> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i141a.jpg" width-obs="137" height-obs="259" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i0">Lest we upset it as we go.</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</SPAN></span> <div class="i5">For who can tell what tales untold</div> <div class="i5">That darksome liquid may unfold!"</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i5">A telephone gave great delight</div> <div class="i5">To those who tried it half the night,</div> <div class="i8">Some asking after fresh supplies;</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i141b.jpg" width-obs="350" height-obs="28" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i141c.jpg" width-obs="90" height-obs="280" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i8">Or if their stocks were on the rise;</div> <div class="i8">What ship was safe; what bank was firm;</div> <div class="i8">Or who desired a second term.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i8">Thus messages ran to and fro</div> <div class="i8">With "Who are you?" "Hallo!" "Hallo!"</div> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i141d.jpg" width-obs="179" height-obs="151" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i8">And all the repetitions known</div> <div class="i8">To those who use the telephone.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i8">"Oh, here's the pen, as I opine,"</div> <div class="i8">Said one, "that's written every line;</div> <div class="i8">Indebted to this pen are we</div> <div class="i8">For all our fame and history."</div> <div class="i8">"See here," another said, "I've found</div> <div class="i8">The pointed pencil, long and round,</div> <div class="i8">That pictures all our looks so wise,</div> <div class="i9">Our smiles so broad and staring eyes;</div> <div class="i9">'Tis well it draws us all aright,</div> <div class="i9">Or we might bear it off to-night.</div> <div class="i9">But glad are we to have our name</div> <div class="i9">In every region known to fame,</div> <div class="i9">To know that children lisp our praise,</div> <div class="i9">And on our faces love to gaze."</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</SPAN></span> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i142c.jpg" width-obs="125" height-obs="112" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i9">Old pistols that brave service knew</div> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i142a.jpg" width-obs="123" height-obs="125" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i9">At Bunker Hill, were brought to view</div> <div class="i9">In mimic duels on the floor,</div> <div class="i9">And snapped at paces three or four;</div> <div class="i9">While from the foils the Brownies plied,</div> <div class="i9">The sparks in showers scattered wide,</div> <div class="i9">As thrust and parry, cut and guard,</div> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i142d.jpg" width-obs="160" height-obs="105" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i9">In swift succession followed hard.</div> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i142b.jpg" width-obs="204" height-obs="131" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i13">The British and Mongolian slash</div> <div class="i13">Were tried in turn with brilliant dash,</div> <div class="i13">Till foils, and skill, and temper too,</div> <div class="i13">Were amply tested through and through.</div> </div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i13">They found old shields that bore the dint</div> <div class="i13">Of spears and arrow-heads of flint,</div> <div class="i13">And held them up in proper pose;</div> <div class="i13">Then rained upon them Spartan blows.</div> <ANTIMG src="images/i142e.jpg" width-obs="480" height-obs="165" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <div class="i9">Lay figures, draped in ancient styles,</div> <div class="i9">From some drew graceful bows and smiles,</div> <div class="i9">Until the laugh of comrades nigh</div> <div class="i9">Led them to look with sharper eye.</div> <div class="i9">A portrait now they criticize,</div> <div class="i9">Which every one could recognize:</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</SPAN></span> <ANTIMG src="images/i143a.jpg" width-obs="443" height-obs="480" alt="" class="aligncenter" /> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i143b.jpg" width-obs="145" height-obs="158" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i0">&nbsp;</div> <div class="i0">&nbsp;</div> <span class="figpoemr"> <ANTIMG src="images/i143c.jpg" width-obs="170" height-obs="108" alt="" class="alignright" /> </span> <div class="i10">The features, garments, and the style,</div> <div class="i10">Soon brought to every face a smile.</div> <div class="i10">Some tried a hand at painting there,</div> <div class="i10">And showed their skill was something rare;</div> <div class="i10">While others talked and rummaged through</div> <div class="i10">The desk to find the stories new,</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</SPAN></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <div class="i0">&nbsp;</div> <span class="figpoeml"> <ANTIMG src="images/i144a.jpg" width-obs="166" height-obs="253" alt="" class="alignleft" /> </span> <div class="i10">That told about some late affair,</div> <div class="i10">Of which the world was not aware.</div> <div class="i10">But pleasure seemed to have the power</div> <div class="i10">To hasten every passing hour,</div> <div class="i10">And bring too soon the morning chime,</div> <div class="i10">However well they note the time.</div> <div class="i10">Now, from a chapel's brazen bell,</div> <div class="i10">The startling hint of morning fell,</div> <div class="i10">And Brownies realized the need</div> <div class="i10">Of leaving for their haunts with speed.</div> <div class="i10">So down the staircase to the street</div> <div class="i10">They made their way with nimble feet,</div> <div class="i10">And ere the sun could show his face,</div> <div class="i10">The band had reached a hiding-place.</div> </div></div> </div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i144b.jpg" width-obs="84" height-obs="90" alt="" /></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />