At length some, more upon their guard Against surprises, labored hard To urge their comrades from the place Before the sun would show his face. They pulled and hauled with all their might At those half crazy with delight, Who still would struggle for a chance To have, at least, another dance-- Some figure that was quite forgot, Although "the finest of the lot." Another wished to linger still-- In spite of warning words--until Each member present on the floor Had been his partner twice or more. [Illustration] [Illustration] Meantime, outside, the tell-tale dyes Of morn began to paint the skies, And, one by one, the stars of night Grew pale before the morning's light. Alone, bright Venus, in the west, Upheld her torch and warned the rest; While from the hedge the piping note Of waking birds began to float; And crows upon the wooded hills Commenced to stir and whet their bills, When Brownies scampered from the place, And undertook the homeward race. Nor made a halt in street or square, Or verdant park, however fair; But farther from the sight of man And light of day, they quickly ran. They traveled at their highest speed, And swiftly must they go, indeed; For, like the spokes of some great wheel, The rays of light began to steal Still higher up the eastern sky, And showed the sun was rolling nigh. [Illustration] [Illustration] THE BROWNIES' CANDY-PULL. [Illustration] 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. [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration]