The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1910-06-23
THE BROWNIES AND THE WATER
FAMINE

The town was much in need of rain.
That seemed to inger DER 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 feast.)
The wells were deepened in the hope
0t 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: ''The land we love so dear
Us passing through test severe.
Where may be water in the sea
Tf kat suits the sailor to T,
Pr%yiding he can hold his grip
IJpoyR the yard, and keep his ship;
The Nave no doubt this moment breaks
Along the shores of upper lakes,
And inA the river known as wide,
Some wS tier may to ocean glide
But let me- speak my feelings out;
There's nEt much freshness hereabout;
The grass Ro more is green and good;
The forest Nands like kindling wood;
a match fonNted through mishap
Might change the features of the map;
And If ciynAe was ever nigh
For work, it Ion Ks US in the eye"
These people thin ah they ;ha,I know 9 it ALL"
To digging where. Sinee Adams day
A gill Of water neveH 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 get \slgbt or sound;
Wen bring from there a sSod supply
Before the stars have left the sky.
Though we for fields may not hing do,
Nor cause the trees to leaf aueW,
That are in heart so broken own.
Away to that clear spring we'll trSop
To bring them water for their souY,
And raise their spirits with a supN .,
Ut something from their morning cNp.
Within five minutes by the clock
That overlooked the village block.
They took the highway in 4 string
That led them to that hidden spring.
Some had cart or dray, and more Y
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
w here, bursting from the granite rent,
The treasure found n generous vent,
Though, guarded well by rocks and trees,
Inc pace was not approached with ease,
And wheels ran high, and wheels ran low,
And called for many a turn 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
Ihe 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 were worked in vain
Now answered quickly, free as rain,
I'LL people drank n 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 ard down,
For homes were all with plenty stored
Until the rain of autumn poured
..-..,-. Palmer Cox, in st. Nicholas.