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1、【英文读物】Another Brownie BookTHE BROWNIES* SNOW MAN.When snowdrifts blocked the country roads,And trees were bending with their loads,The wind grew mild which had been raw,And winter yielded to a thaw;That night the Brownies stood to stareIn wonder on the village square.Said one, This plot where drifts
2、 now rollSeems like an acre from the Pole.I have a scheme which nothing lacks:Now while the snow so closely packs,And may be molded in the hand,Well build a statue tall and grandWhich here shall stand at morning prime,To be the wonder of the time.Another cried, That suits us all.To work let every me
3、mber fall.When once the task we undertakeBe sure no dwarfish man well make;But one that proudly may look downOn half the buildings in the town.I know the place where builders keepTheir benches while the snow is deep;The poles, and ladders too, are there,To use when working high in air.While some for
4、 these with me will fly,Let some their hands to snow apply,And not a feature of the manShall be neglected in our plan.You know the night, some time ago,We tramped so far through drifted snowTo ornament with quaint designThe windows of a mansion fine;And turned to render aid with speedTo those who st
5、ood so much in need.But accident could not displaceOr weaken interest in the race;And soon each active Brownie stoodWhere he could do the greatest good;It mattered not if shifting sail,Or at the helm, or on the rail.With arm to arm and hip to hip,They lay in rows to trim the ship.All hands were anxi
6、ous to succeedAnd prove their yachts had greatest speed.But though we sail, or though we ride,Or though we sleep, the moments glide;And none must bear this fact in mindMore constantly than Brownie kind.For stars began to lose their glowWhile Brownies still had miles to go.Said one, who scanned the e
7、astern skyWith doubtless an experienced eye:Well crowd all sail, for fear the dayWill find us still upon the baySince it would prove a sad affairIf morning light should find us there.But when the winds began to failAnd lightly pressed the flapping sail,It was determined by the bandTo run their yacht
8、s to nearest land,So they could reach their hiding-placeBefore the sun revealed his face.By happy chance a cove they reachedWhere high and dry the boats were beached,And all in safety made their wayTo secret haunts without delay.THE BROWNIES AT ARCHERY.One night the Brownies strayed aroundA green an
9、d level stretch of ground,Where young folk oft their skill displayedAt archery, till evenings shade.The targets standing in the park,With arrows resting in the mark,Soon showed the cunning Brownie bandThe skill of those whod tried a hand.A few in outer rings were fast,Some pierced the gold, and more
10、 had passedWithout a touch, until they sankIn trunk of tree or grassy bank.Said one: On page and parchment old,The story often has been told,How men of valor bent the bowTo spread confusion through the foe.And even now, in later times(As travelers find in distant climes),Some savage tribes on plain
11、and hillCan make it interesting still.Another spoke: HA scene like this,Reminds me of that valiant Swiss,Who in the dark and trying hourRevealed such nerve and matchless power,And from the head of his brave sonThe apple shot, and freedom won!While such a chance is offered here,Well find the bows tha
12、t must be near,And as an hour or two of nightWill bring us round the morning light,Well take such targets as we may,To safer haunts, some miles away.Then at our leisure we can shootAt bulls-eyes round or luscious fruit,Till like the Swiss of olden time,With steady nerves and skill sublime,Each one c
13、an split an apple fairOn every head that offers there.Now buildings that were fastened tightAgainst the prowlers of the night,At the wee Brownies touch and callSoon opened and surrendered all.So some with bulky targets strode,That made for eight or ten a load.And called for engineering skillTo steer
14、 them up or down the hill;Some carried bows of rarest kind,That reached before and trailed behind.The English self-yew bow was there,Of nicest make and cast so rare,Well tipped with horn, the proper thing,With nocks, or notches, for the string.Still others formed an arrow lineThat bristled like the
15、porcupine.When safe within the forest shade,The targets often were displayed.At first, however near they stood,Some scattered trouble through the wood.The trees were stripped of leaves and bark,With arrows searching for the mark.The hares to other groves withdrew,And frighted birds in circles flew.But practice soon improves the artOf all, however dull or smart;And there they stood to do their best,And let all other pleasures rest,While quickly grew their skill and power,And confidence, from ho
