THE BROWNIES IN THE STUDIO.

 THE Brownies once approached in glee

A slumbering¹ city by the sea.

"In yonder town," the leader cried,

"I hear the artist does reside

Who pictures out, with patient hand,

The doings of the Brownie band."

"I'd freely give," another said,

"The cap that now protects my head,

To find the room, where, day by day,

He shows us at our work or play."

A third replied: "Your cap retain

To shield your poll from snow or rain.

His studio is farther down,

Within a corner-building brown.

So follow me a mile or more

And soon we'll reach the office door."

 

Then through the park, around the square,

And down the broadest thoroughfare,

 

The anxious Brownies quickly passed,

And reached the building huge at last.

 

They paused awhile to view the sight,

To speak about its age and height,

And read the signs, so long and wide,

That met the gaze on every side.

 

But little time was wasted there,

For soon their feet had found the stair.

And next the room, where oft are told

Their funny actions, free and bold,

Was honored by a friendly call

From all the Brownies, great and small.

Then what a gallery they found,

As here and there they moved around—

 

For now they gaze upon a scene

That showed them sporting on the green;

Then, hastening o'er the fields with speed

To help some farmer in his need.

Said one, "Upon this desk, no doubt,

Where now we cluster round about,

 

Our doings have been plainly told

From month to month, through heat and cold.

And there's the ink, I apprehend³,

On which our very lives depend.

Be careful, moving to and fro,

 

Lest we upset it as we go.

 

For who can tell what tales untold⁴

That darksome liquid may unfold!"

A telephone gave great delight

To those who tried it half the night,

Some asking after fresh supplies;

 

Or if their stocks were on the rise;

What ship was safe; what bank was firm;

Or who desired a second term.

Thus messages ran to and fro

With "Who are you?" "Hallo!" "Hallo!"

 

And all the repetitions known

To those who use the telephone.

"Oh, here's the pen, as I opine,"

Said one, "that's written every line;

Indebted to this pen are we

For all our fame and history."

"See here," another said, "I've found

The pointed⁵ pencil, long and round,

That pictures all our looks so wise,

Our smiles so broad and staring eyes;

'Tis well it draws us all aright,

Or we might bear it off to-night.

But glad are we to have our name

In every region known to fame,

To know that children lisp our praise,

And on our faces love to gaze."

 

Old pistols that brave service knew

 

At Bunker Hill, were brought to view

In mimic⁶ duels⁷ on the floor,

And snapped at paces three or four;

While from the foils the Brownies plied²,

The sparks in showers scattered⁸ wide,

As thrust and parry, cut and guard,

 

In swift succession followed hard.

 

The British and Mongolian slash⁹

Were tried in turn with brilliant dash,

Till foils, and skill, and temper too,

Were amply tested through and through.

They found old shields that bore the dint¹⁰

Of spears and arrow-heads of flint,

And held them up in proper pose;

Then rained upon them Spartan¹¹ blows.

 

Lay figures, draped in ancient styles,

From some drew graceful¹² bows and smiles,

Until the laugh of comrades nigh

Led them to look with sharper eye.

A portrait now they criticize,

Which every one could recognize:

 

 

The features, garments, and the style,

Soon brought to every face a smile.

Some tried a hand at painting there,

And showed their skill was something rare;

While others talked and rummaged¹³ through

The desk to find the stories new,

 

 

That told about some late affair,

Of which the world was not aware.

But pleasure seemed to have the power

To hasten every passing hour,

And bring too soon the morning chime,

However well they note the time.

Now, from a chapel's brazen¹⁴ bell,

The startling hint of morning fell,

And Brownies realized the need

Of leaving for their haunts with speed.

So down the staircase to the street

They made their way with nimble feet,

And ere the sun could show his face,

The band had reached a hiding-place.


The End

 

1 slumbering   

微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• It was quiet. All the other inhabitants of the slums were slumbering. 贫民窟里的人已经睡眠静了。
• Then soft music filled the air and soothed the slumbering heroes. 接着，空中响起了柔和的乐声，抚慰着安睡的英雄。

2 plied   

v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意

参考例句：

• They plied me with questions about my visit to England. 他们不断地询问我的英国之行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They plied us with tea and cakes. 他们一个劲儿地让我们喝茶、吃糕饼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 apprehend   

vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑

参考例句：

• I apprehend no worsening of the situation.我不担心局势会恶化。
• Police have not apprehended her killer.警察还未抓获谋杀她的凶手。

4 untold   

adj.数不清的，无数的

参考例句：

• She has done untold damage to our chances.她给我们的机遇造成了不可估量的损害。
• They suffered untold terrors in the dark and huddled together for comfort.他们遭受着黑暗中的难以言传的种种恐怖，因而只好挤在一堆互相壮胆。

5 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

6 mimic   

v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人

参考例句：

• A parrot can mimic a person's voice.鹦鹉能学人的声音。
• He used to mimic speech peculiarities of another.他过去总是模仿别人讲话的特点。

7 duels   

n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争

参考例句：

• That's where I usually fight my duels. 我经常在那儿进行决斗。” 来自英语晨读30分（初三）
• Hyde Park also became a favourite place for duels. 海德公园也成了决斗的好地方。 来自辞典例句

8 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

9 slash   

vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩

参考例句：

• The shop plans to slash fur prices after Spring Festival.该店计划在春节之后把皮货降价。
• Don't slash your horse in that cruel way.不要那样残忍地鞭打你的马。

10 dint   

n.由于，靠；凹坑

参考例句：

• He succeeded by dint of hard work.他靠苦干获得成功。
• He reached the top by dint of great effort.他费了很大的劲终于爬到了顶。

11 spartan   

adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人

参考例句：

• Their spartan lifestyle prohibits a fridge or a phone.他们不使用冰箱和电话，过着简朴的生活。
• The rooms were spartan and undecorated.房间没有装饰，极为简陋。

12 graceful   

adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的

参考例句：

• His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了!
• The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。

13 rummaged   

翻找，搜寻( rummage的过去式和过去分词 )； 已经海关检查

参考例句：

• I rummaged through all the boxes but still could not find it. 几个箱子都翻腾遍了也没有找到。
• The customs officers rummaged the ship suspected to have contraband goods. 海关人员仔细搜查了一艘有走私嫌疑的海轮。

14 brazen   

adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的

参考例句：

• The brazen woman laughed loudly at the judge who sentenced her.那无耻的女子冲着给她判刑的法官高声大笑。
• Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.有的人不愿承认失败，而是宁肯厚着脸皮干下去。