THE BROWNIES IN RUSSIA.

But as the pack with bristling hair
And open mouths and fiery glare,
Above a snowy ridge appeared,
A friendly tree the Brownies neared,
For this they ran, and well they might
With half a hundred wolves in sight,
Hach brute prepared to stow away
A breakfast with but small delay.
But ere they reached the tree in view
The howling terrors closer drew
With bristling backs and clashing jaws,
Bright flashing eyes and nimble paws,
But, though they skirmished left and right
At closest range they failed to bite
As if the cunning rogues surmised
A mystic prey they had surprised
Of quite a different form and caste
From those they had devoured last.
Meanwhile the Brownies ne’er forgot
The tree that graced that lonely spot,
And kept alive and in the race
Until they reached its rugged base.

E>

The hugging, climbing, scratching now,
As each one sought to gain a bough,
Might bring a smile to every face

Had this not been a serious case,

   

ane That did in greatest manner plead
For mystic exercise indeed.

 

i
oe

Let your home be where If that old tree, that long had grown
You'll find ;
oy aes Upon the frozen plain alone,

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