The Brownies: Their Book Part 10

At night I've ridden through the air, Where bats abide, and owls repair; I've rolled in surf of ocean wide, And coasted down the mountain-side; And now to sweep around a hall On roller skates would crown it all."

"My plans," the leader answer made, "Are in my mind already laid.

Within an hour the folk below Will quit their sport and homeward go;

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Then will the time be ripe, indeed, For us to leave this roof with speed, And prove how well our toes and heels We may command when set on wheels."

When came the closing hour at last, And people from the rink had pa.s.sed, The Brownies hurried down to find The roller skates they'd left behind.

Then such a scene was there as few May ever have a chance to view.

Some hardly circled 'round the place, Before they moved with ease and grace, And skated freely to and fro, Upon a single heel or toe.

Some coats were torn beyond repair, By catches here and clutches there, When those who felt their faith give way, Groped right and left without delay;

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While some who strove their friends to aid, Upon the floor themselves were laid, To spread confusion there awhile, As large and larger grew the pile.

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Some rose with fingers out of joint, Or black and blue at every point;

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And few but felt some portion sore, From introductions to the floor.

But such mishaps were lost to sight, Amid the common wild delight,-- For little plaint do Brownies make O'er b.u.mp or bruise or even break.

But stars at length began to wane, And dawn came creeping through the pane; And much against the will of all, The rogues were forced to leave the hall.

THE BROWNIES AT THE SEASIDE.

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WITHIN a forest dark and wide, Some distance from the ocean side, A band of Brownies played around On mossy stone or gra.s.sy mound, Or, climbing through the branching tree, Performed their antics wild and free.

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When one, arising in his place With sparkling eyes and beaming face Soon won attention from the rest, And thus the listening throng addressed: "For years and years, through heat and cold, Our home has been this forest old; The saplings which we used to bend Now like a schooner's masts ascend.

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Yet here we live, content to ride A springing bough with childish pride, Content to bathe in brook or bog Along with lizard, leech, and frog; We're far behind the age you'll find If once you note the human kind.

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The modern youths no longer lave Their limbs beneath the muddy wave Of meadow pool or village pond, But seek the ocean far beyond.

If pleasure in the sea is found Not offered by the streams around, The Brownie band at once should haste

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These unfamiliar joys to taste; No torch nor lantern's ray we'll need To show our path o'er dewy mead, The ponds and pitfalls in the swale, The open ditch, the slivered rail, The poison vine and thistle high Show clear before the Brownie's eye."

--Next evening, as their plan they'd laid, The band soon gathered in the shade.

All cl.u.s.tered like a swarm of bees They darted from the sheltering trees; And straight across the country wide Began their journey to the tide.

And when they neared the beach at last,-- The stout, the lean, the slow, the fast,-- 'T was hard to say, of all the lot, Who foremost reached the famous spot.

"And now," said one with active mind.

"What proper garments can we find?

In bathing costume, as you know, The people in the ocean go."

Another spoke, "For such demands, The building large that yonder stands,

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As one can see on pa.s.sing by, Is full of garments clean and dry.

There every fas.h.i.+on, loose or tight, We may secure with labor light."

Though Brownies never carry keys, They find an entrance where they please; And never do they chuckle more Than when some miser bars his door; For well they know that, spite of locks, Of rings and staples, bolts and blocks, Were they inclined to play such prank He'd find at morn an empty bank.

So now the crafty Brownie crew Soon brought the bathing-suits to view; Some, working on the inner side, The waiting throng without supplied.--

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'Twas busy work, as may be guessed, Before the band was fully dressed; Some still had cloth enough to lend, Though shortened up at either end; Sortie ran about to find a pin, While others rolled, and puckered in,

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And made the best of what they found, However strange it hung around.

Then, when a boat was manned with care To watch for daring swimmers there,--

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Lest some should venture, over-bold, And fall a prey to cramp and cold,-- A few began from piers to leap And plunge at once in water deep, But more to s.h.i.+ver, shrink, and shout As step by step they ventured out; While others were content to stay In shallow surf, to duck and play Along the lines that people laid To give the weak and timid aid.

It was a sight one should behold, When o'er the crowd the breakers rolled;-- One took a header through the wave, One floated like a chip or stave, While others there, at every plunge, Were taking water like a sponge.

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But while the surf they tumbled through, They reckoned moments as they flew, And kept in mind their homeward race Before the sun should show his face.

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For sad and painful is the fate Of those who roam abroad too late; And well may Brownies bear in mind The hills and vales they leave behind, When far from native haunts they run, As oft they do, in quest of fun.

But, ere they turned to leave the strand, They made a vow with lifted hand That every year, when summer's glow Had warmed the ocean spread below, They'd journey far from grove and glen To sport in rolling surf again.