The Brownies: Their Book Part 15

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Said one, "In all our wandering 'round, A sight like this we never found.

When such a pa.s.sing glimpse we gain, What marvels must the shelves contain!"

Another said, "It must be here Old Santa Claus comes every year To gather up his large supply, When Christmas Eve is drawing nigh, That children through the land may find They still are treasured in his mind."

A third remarked, "Ere long he may Again his yearly visit pay; Before he comes to strip the place, We'll rummage shelf, and box, and case, Until the building we explore From attic roof to bas.e.m.e.nt floor, And prove what pleasure may be found In all the wonders stowed around."

Not long were they content to view Through dusty panes those wonders new: And, in a manner quite their own, They made their way through wood and stone.

And then surprises met the band In odd conceits from every land.

Well might the Brownies stand and stare At all the objects crowded there!

Here, things of gentle nature lay In safety, midst the beasts of prey; The goose and fox, a friendly pair, Reposed beside the lamb and bear; There horses stood for boys to ride; Here boats were waiting for the tide,

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While ships of war, with every sail Unfurled, were anch.o.r.ed to a nail; There soldiers stood in warlike bands; And naked dolls held out their hands, As though to urge the pa.s.sers-by To take them from the public eye.

This way and that, the Brownies ran; To try the toys they soon began.

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The Jack-in-box, so quick and strong, With staring eyes and whiskers long, Now o'er and o'er was set and sprung Until the scalp was from it flung And then they crammed him in his case, With wig and night-cap in their place, To give some customer a start When next the jumper flew apart.

The trumpets, drums, and weapons bright Soon filled them all with great delight.

Like troops preparing for their foes, In single ranks and double rows,

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They learned the arts of war, as told By printed books and veterans old; With swords of tin and guns of wood, They wheeled about, and marched or stood,

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And went through skirmish drill and all, From room to room by bugle-call; There Marathon and Waterloo And Bunker Hill were fought anew; And most of those in war array At last went limping from the fray.

The music-box poured forth an air That charmed the dullest spirits there, Till, yielding to the pleasing sound, They danced with dolls a lively round.

There fish were working tail and fin In seas confined by wood and tin; The canvas shark and rubber whale Seemed ill content in dish or pail, And leaping all obstructions o'er Performed their antics on the floor.

Some found at marbles greatest fun, And still they played, and still they won, Until they claimed as winners, all The shop could furnish, large and small.

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More gave the singing tops no rest-- But kept them spinning at their best Until some wonder strange and new To other points attention drew.

The rocking-horse that wildly rose, Now on its heels, now on its nose,

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Was forced to bear so great a load It seemed to founder on the road, Then tumble feebly to the floor, Never to lift a rocker more.

No building in the country wide With more attractions was supplied.

No shop or store throughout the land Could better suit the Brownie band.

For when some flimsy toy gave way And 'round the room in pieces lay

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'Twas hardly missed in such a store, With wonders fairly running o'er: To something else about the place The happy Brownie turned his face, And only feared the sun would call Before he'd had his sport with all.

Thus, through the shop in greatest glee, They rattled 'round, the sights to see, Till stars began to dwindle down, And morning crept into the town.

And then, with all the speed they knew, Away to forest shades they flew.

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