The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1910-05-27
THE BROWNIES AND THE WAT
FAMINE.

iThe town was much in need of rain,
That seemed to linger Ger the main.
And leave the country, sad to see,
With scarcely water for the tea.
(And this says naught of bird or beast,
Whose sutferings hardly were the least.)
The wells were deepened in the hope
OF striking veins of greater scope,
And pumps We're ratified out of use
For water they could not produce.
When Brownies met as day withdrew,
The situation to review,
Said one: The land we love so dear
Is passing through Il test severe.
There may be water in the sea
That suits the sailor to a [,
Providing he can hold his grip
Upon the yard and keep his ship;
The wave no doubt this moment breaks
Along the shores of upper lakes,
And in the river known as wide,
Some water may to ocean glide.
But let me speak my feelings out;
There's not much freshness hereabout;
The grass no more is green and good;
The forest stands like kindling-wood;
A match ignited through mishap
Might change the features of the map;
And if a chance was ever nigh
For work, it looks us in the eye"
'fThese people think they know it all"
Another said, ''and yet they fall
A gill Of water never lay.
They churn the pump for hours, and yet
Bring nothing in return that's wet.
We know where babbling springs are found
Of which they ne'er got sight or sound !;
Well bring from there good supply
Before the stars have left the sky.
Though we for fields may nothing do,
Nor cause the trees to leaf anew,
Wo'n old tho papn1a Of tho town
That are in heart so broken down.
Away to that clear spring we'll troop
To bring them water for their soup,
And raise their spirits with sup
Of something from their morning cup"
Within five minutes by the clock
That overlooked the village block,
They took the highway in a string
That led them to that hidden spring.
Some had a cart or dray, and more
Pushed jolting wheelbarrows on before,
With vessels new, or odd and old,
That would the precious water hold.
They carried churns, the whirling kind,
And some for dasher-work designed,
But, as they hoped, in proper trim
To carry water to the brim.
They soon were on the homeward track,
And of supply there was no lack:
For, let the reader bear in mind,
That which the Brownies seek they find.
They rode upon the water cart
That took the liquid at the start
Where, bursting from the granite rent,
The treasure found a generous vent,
Though, guarded well by rocks and trees,
The place was not approached with ease,
And wheels ran high, and wheels ran low,
And called for many "tErn and go!'
Said one: ''We've heard of floods that
swept
The people seaward as they slept,
And buried homes in water quite
Until the town was out of sight;
But here's midnight flood, | think,
That comes to save instead of sink,
And old and young will bless the day =.
The Brownie band came round this way"
The fountain basin in the square,
So dry for weeks, received their care,
And soon the splashing water fell
Into each deep and empty well,
And pumps that oft We're worked in vain
Now answered quickly, free as rain,
Till people drank double share,
While pots were boiling everywhere.
The bubbling kettle sang tune
That lifted every spirit soon,
And JOY was spread throughout the town,
In every district, up and down,
For homes were all with plenty stored
Until the rain of autumn poured.
Palmer Cox, in St. Nicholas.