THE BROWNIES IN THE MENAGERIE.
By Palmer Cox.
The Brownies heard the news with glee, That in a city near the sea A spacious building was designed For holding beasts of every kind. From polar snows, from desert sand, From mountain peak, and timbered land, The beasts with claw and beasts with hoof, All met beneath one slated roof. That night, like bees before the wind, With home in sight, and storm behind, The band of Brownies might be seen, All scudding from the forest green.
Less time it took the walls to scale Than is required to tell the tale. The art that makes the lock seem weak, The bolt to slide, the hinge to creak, Was theirs to use as heretofore, With good effect, on sash and door; And soon the band stood face to face With all the wonders of the place.
To Brownies, as to children dear, The monkey seemed a creature queer; They watched its skill to climb and cling, By either toe or tail to swing; Perhaps they got some hints that might Come well in hand some future night, When climbing up a wall or tree, Or chimney, as the case might be.
Then off to other parts they'd range To gather 'round some creature strange; To watch the movements of the bear, Or at the spotted serpents stare.
The mammoth turtle from its pen Was driven 'round and 'round again, And though the coach proved rather slow They kept it hours upon the go.
Said one, "Before your face and eyes I'll take that snake from where it lies, And like a Hindoo of the East, Benumb and charm the crawling beast, Then twist him 'round me on the spot And tie him in a sailor's knot."
Another then was quick to shout, "We'll leave that snake performance out! I grant you all the power you claim To charm, to tie, to twist and tame; But let me still suggest you try Your art when no one else is nigh. Of all the beasts that creep or crawl From Rupert's Land to China's wall, In torrid, mild, or frigid zone, The snake is best to let alone."
Against this counsel, seeming good, At least a score of others stood. Said one, "My friend, suppress alarm. There's nothing here to threaten harm. Be sure the power that mortals hold Is not denied the Brownies bold."
So from the nest, without ado, A bunch of serpents soon they drew. And harmlessly as silken bands The snakes were twisted in their hands. Some hauled them freely 'round the place; Some braided others in a trace; And every knot to sailors known, Was quickly tied, and quickly shown. Thus 'round from cage to cage they went, For some to smile, and some comment On Nature's way of dealing out To this a tail, to that a snout Of extra length, and then deny To something else a fair supply.
Around the sleeping lion long They stood an interested throng, Debating o'er its strength of limb, Its heavy mane or visage grim.
But when the bear and tiger growled, And wolf and lynx in chorus howled, And starting from its broken sleep, The monarch rose with sudden leap, And, bounding round the rocking cage, With lifted mane, it roared with rage, And thrust its paws between the bars, Until it seemed to shake the stars,
And though the way was long and wild, With obstacles before them piled, They never halted in their run Until the forest shade they won.
