The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-05-24
THE BROWNIES AND THE WATET
FAMINE

TIE BROWNIES AND THE WATER
FAMINE.
The 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 sufferings hardly were the least)
The wells were deepened in the hope
OF striking veins of greater scope,
And pumps were ratified out of use
For water they could not produce.
When Brownies met, as day withdrew,
The situation to review,
Said one: 1.-THE land we love SO dear
Is passing through test severe.
There may be water in the sea
That suits the sailor to T,
Providing be 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 chance was ever nigh
For work, it looks us in the eye"
"These people think they know it ALL"
Another said, "and yet they fall
To digging where, since Adams day
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
Wen 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,
Well aid the people of the 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 string
That led them to that hidden spring
Some had 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,
fAHQ OI supply LucIS Was uO ldC&,
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 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 turn and go!''
Said one. We've heard of foods that
swept
The people seward 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 Z
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 were 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.