ONE evening, while the Brownies sat
Enjoying free and friendly chat,
Some on the trees, some on the ground,
And others perched on fences round—
One Brownie, rising in his place,
Addressed the band with beaming face.
The listeners gathered with delight
Around the member, bold and bright,
To hear him tell of scenes he'd spied
While roaming through the country wide.
"Last eve," said he, "to shun the blast,
Behind a cottage fence I passed.
While there, I heard a merry rout,
And as the yard was dark without,
I crawled along through weeds and grass,
Through melon-vines and broken glass,
Until I might, unnoticed, win
A glimpse of all the sport within.
At length, below the window-pane,
To reach the sill I stretched in vain;
But, thanks to my inquiring mind
And sundry bricks, I chanced to find
The facts I can relate in full
About that lively candy-pull.
"An hour or more, I well believe,
I stood, their actions to perceive,
With elbows resting on the sill,
And nose against the window still.
I watched them closely at their fun,
And learned how everything was done.
The younger members took the lead,
And carried on the work with speed.
With nimble feet they ran about
From place to place, with laugh and shout;
But older heads looked on the while,
And cheered the youngsters with a smile,
And gave advice in manner kind
To guide the inexperienced mind.
They placed the sugar in a pot,
And stirred it round till boiling hot;
Then rolled and worked it in their hands,
And stretched it out in shining bands,
Until it reached across the floor,
From mantel-piece to kitchen door.
"These eyes of mine for many a night
Have not beheld a finer sight.
To pull the candy was the part
Of some who seemed to know the art.
The moon had slipped behind the hill,
And hoarse had grown the whip-poor-will;
But still, with nose against the pane,
I kept my place through wind and rain.
There, perched upon the shaky pile,
With bated breath I gazed the while.
I watched them with the sharpest sight
That I might tell the tale aright;
For all the active youngsters there
Appeared to have of work their share.
Some put fresh sugar in the pot,
Some kept the fire blazing hot,
And worked away as best they could
To keep the stove well filled with wood.
Indeed, ourselves, with all our skill,
At moving here and there at will,
Would have to 'lively' be and 'tear
Around' to beat those children there!
Some cut it up, more passed it round,
While others ate it by the pound!"
At this, a murmur of surprise
On every side began to rise;
Then smiles o'er every visage flitted,
As wide as cheeks and ears permitted,
That told what train of thought had sped
At once through every Brownie's head—
A thought of pleasure near at hand
That well would suit the cunning band.
THE Brownies act without delay
When new ideas cross their way,
And soon one raised a finger small
And close attention gained from all.
They crowded near with anxious glance
To learn what scheme he could advance—
What methods mention or employ
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To bring about the promised joy.
Said he: "A vacant house is n............
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