The Brownies: Their Book

by Palmer Cox

Those pumpkins in that corner plot Begin to show the signs of rot; The mold has fastened on their skin, The ripest ones are caving in, And soon the pig in yonder sty With scornful grunt would pass them by. His Early Rose potatoes there

Are much in need of light and air;
The turnip withers where it lies,
The beet and carrot want to rise.
'Oh, pull us up!' they seem to cry
To every one that passes by;
'The frost will finish our repose,
The grubs are working at our toes;

Unless you come We'll not be worth The corn is breaking The hens around the And with their ever May pick the ker- His neighbors are

and save us soon, a picayune!' from the stalk, hill can walk, ready bill nels at their will. a sordid crowd,

Who've such a shameful waste allowed
So wrapped in self some men can be,
Beyond their purse they seldom see;
'T is left for us to play the friend
And here a helping hand extend.
But as the wakeful chanticleer
Is crowing in the stable near,
Too little of the present night
Is left to set the matter right.
"To-morrow eve, at that dark hour
When birds grow still in leafy bower
And bats forsake the ruined pile
To exercise their wings awhile,
In yonder shady grove we'll meet,
With all our active force complete,
Prepared to give this farmer aid
With basket, barrel, hook, and spade.

But, ere we part, one caution more: Let some invade a druggist's store, And bring along a coated pill;

We'll dose the dog to keep him still.
For barking dogs, however kind,
Can oft disturb a Brownie's mind."
—When next the bat of evening flew,
And drowsy things of day withdrew,
When beetles droned across the lea,
And turkeys sought the safest tree
To form aloft a social row
And criticise the fox below,—
Then cunning Brownies might be seen
Advancing from the forest green;
Now jumping fences, as they ran,
Now crawling through (a safer plan);
Now keeping to the roads awhile,
Now "cutting corners," country style;
Some bearing hoes, and baskets more,
Some pushing barrows on before,
While others, swinging sickles bright,
Seemed eager for the grain in sight.
But in advance of all the throng
Three daring Brownies moved along,
Whose duty was to venture close
And give the barking dog his dose.

Now soon the work was under way, Each chose the part he was to play: While some who handled hoes the best Brought "Early Roses" from their nest, To turnip-tops some laid their hands, More plied the hook, or twisted bands. And soon the sheaves lay piled around, Like heroes on disputed ground. Now let the eye turn where it might, A pleasing prospect was in sight; For garden ground or larger field Alike a busy crowd revealed: Some pulling carrots from their bed, Some bearing burdens on their head, Or working at a fever heat While prying out a monster beet. Now here two heavy loads have met, And there a barrow has upset,