The Brownies: Their Book Part 2

As mice can get to cake and cheese Without a key whene'er they please, So, cunning Brownies can proceed And help themselves to what they need.

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For bolts and bars they little care If but a nail is wanting there!

Or, failing this, with ease descend Like Santa Claus and gain their end As children to the windows fly At news of Jumbo pa.s.sing by, So rushed the eager band away To fields of ice without delay.

Though far too large at heel and toe, The skates were somehow made to go.

But out behind and out before, Like spurs, they stuck a span or more, Alike afflicting foe and friend In bringing journeys to an end.

They had their slips and sudden spreads, Where heels flew higher than their heads, As people do, however nice, When venturing first upon the ice.

But soon they learned to curve and wheel And cut fine scrolls with scoring steel, To race in cl.u.s.ters to and fro, To jump and turn and backward go, Until a rest on bed so cool, Was more the wonder than the rule.

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But from the lake they all withdrew Some hours before the night was through, And hastened back with lively feet Through narrow lane and silent street, Until they reached the broker's door With every skate that left the store.

And, ere the first faint gleam of day, The skates were safely stowed away; Of their brief absence not a trace Was left within the dusty place.

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THE BROWNIES ON BICYCLES.

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ONE evening Brownies, peeping down From bluffs that overlooked the town, Saw wheelmen pa.s.sing to and fro Upon the boulevard below.

"It seems," said one, "an easy trick, The wheel goes 'round so smooth and quick; You simply sit and work your feet And glide with grace along the street.

The pleasure would be fine indeed If _we_ could thus in line proceed."

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"Last night," another answer made, "As by the river's bank I strayed, Where here and there a building stands, And town and country-side join hands, Before me stood a ma.s.sive wall With engine-rooms and chimneys tall.

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"To scale the place a way I found, And, creeping in, looked all around; There bicycles of every grade Are manufactured for the trade; Some made for baby hands to guide, And some for older folk to ride.

"Though built to keep intruders out, With shutters thick and casings stout, I noticed twenty ways or more, By roof, by window, wall and door, Where we, by exercising skill, May travel in and out at will."

Another spoke, in nowise slow To catch at pleasures as they go, And said, "Why let another day Come creeping in to drag away?

Let's active measures now employ To seize at once the promised joy.

On bicycles quick let us ride, While yet our wants may be supplied."

So when the town grew hushed and still, The Brownies ventured down the hill.

And soon the band was drawing nigh The building with the chimneys high.

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When people lock their doors at night, And double-bolt them left and right, And think through patents, new and old, To leave the burglars in the cold, The cunning Brownies smile to see The springing bolt and turning key; For well they know if fancy leads Their band to venture daring deeds, The miser's gold, the merchant's ware To them is open as the air.

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Not long could door or windows stand Fast locked before the Brownie band; And soon the bicycles they sought From every room and bench were brought.

The rogues ere long began to show As many colors as the bow; For paint and varnish lately spread Besmeared them all from foot to head.

Some turned to jay-birds in a minute, And some as quick might shame the linnet; While more with crimson-tinted breast Seemed fitted for the robin's nest.

But whether red or green or blue, The work on hand was hurried through; They took the wheels from blacksmith fires, Though wanting bolts and even tires, And rigged the parts with skill and speed To answer well their pressing need.

And soon, enough were made complete To give the greater part a seat, And let the rest through cunning find Some way of hanging on behind.

And then no spurt along the road, Or 'round the yard their courage showed, But twenty times a measured mile They whirled away in single file, Or bunched together in a crowd If width of road or skill allowed.

At times, while rolling down the grade, Collisions some confusion made, For every member of the band, At steering wished to try his hand; Though some, perhaps, were not designed For labor of that special kind.

But Brownies are the folk to bear Misfortunes with unruffled air; So on through rough and smooth they spun Until the turning-point was won.

Then back they wheeled with every spoke, An hour before the thrush awoke.

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THE BROWNIES AT LAWN-TENNIS.

ONE evening as the woods grew dark, The Brownies wandered through a park.

And soon a building, quaint and small, Appeared to draw the gaze of all.

Said one: "This place contains, no doubt, The tools of workmen hereabout."

Another said: "You're quite astray, The workmen's tools are miles away; Within this building may be found The fixtures for the tennis ground.

A meadow near, both long and wide, For half the year is set aside, And marked with many a square and court, For those who love the royal sport.

On afternoons a.s.sembled there, The active men and maidens fair Keep up the game until the day Has faded into evening gray."

"In other lands than those we tread, I played the game," another said, "And proved my skill and muscle stout, As 'server' and as 'striker-out.'

The lock that hangs before us there Bears witness to the keeper's care, And tramps or burglars might go by, If such a sign should meet the eye.

But we, who laugh at locks or law Designed to keep mankind in awe, May praise the keeper's cautious mind, But all the same an entrance find."

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Ere long, the path that lay between The building and the meadow green, Was crowded with the bustling throng, All bearing implements along; Some lugging stakes or racket sets, And others buried up in nets.

To set the posts and mark the ground The proper size and shape around, With service-line and line of base, And courts, both left and right, in place, Was work that caused but slight delay; And soon the sport was under way.

And then a strange and stirring scene Was pictured out upon the green.

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Some watched the game and noted well Where this or that one would excel.

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