Palmer Cox's

The Brownies Canoeing

 

AS day in shades of evening sank,

The Brownies reached a river bank;

And there awhile stood gazing down

At students from a neighboring town,

Whose light canoes charmed every eye

As one by one they floated by.

Said one, "We'll follow as they go,

Until they gain the point below.

There stands a house, but lately made,

Wherein the club's effects are laid;

We'll take posession after dark,

And in these strange affairs embark."

 

 

They all declared, at any cost,

A chance like this should ne'er be lost;

And keeping well the men in sight

They followed closely as they might.

The moon was climbing o'er the hill,

The owl was hooting by the mill,

When from the building on the sands

The boats were shoved with willing hands

A "Shadow" model some explored,

And then well-pleased they rushed on board;

The open "Peterboro'," too,

Found its supporters -- and a crew.

 

The Indian "Birch-bark" seemed too frail

And lacked the adjunct of a sail,

Yet of a load it did not fail, --

 

For all the boats were in demand;

As well as those which with skill were planned

By men of keenest judgment ripe,

As those of humbler, home-made type.

And soon away sailed all the fleet

With every brownie in his seat.

The start was promising and fine;

With little skill and less design

They steered along as suited best,

And let the current do the rest.

 

All nature seemed to be aware

That something strange was stirring there.

The owl to-whooed, the raven croaked;

The mink and rat with caution poked

Their heads above the wave, aghast;

While frogs a look of wonder cast

And held their breath till all had passed.

As every stream will show a bend,

If one explores from end to end,

So every river, great and small,

Must have its rapids and its fall;

And those who on its surface glide

O'er rough as well as smooth must ride.

The stream whereon had started out

The Brownie band in gleeful rout

Was wild enough to please a trout.

At times it tumbled on its way

O'er shelving rocks and bowlders gray.

At times it formed from side to side

A brood of whirlpools deep and wide,

That with each other seemed to vie

As fated objects drifted nigh.

Ere long each watchful Brownie there,

Of all these facts grew well aware;

Some losing faith, as people will,

In their companions care or skill,

Would seize the paddle for a time,

Until a disapproving chime

Of voices made them rest their hand,

And let still others take command.

But, spite of current, whirl, or go,

In spite of hungry tribes below, --

The eel, the craw-fish, leech, and pout,

That watched them from the starting out

And thought each moment flitting by

Might spill them out a year's supply, --

 

The Brownies drifted onward still;

And though confusion baffled skill,

Canoes throughout the trying race

Kept right side up in every case.

But sport that traveled hand in hand

With horrors hardly pleased the band,

As pallid cheek and popping eye

On every side could testify;

And all agreed that wisdom lay

In steering home without delay.

So landing quick, the boats they tied

To roots or trees as chance supplied

And plunging in the woods profound

They soon were lost to sight and sound.

 

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