The Brownies In September

A silver crescent in the sky,

September's moon was sailing high,

In eighteen hundred and ninety-two

When Brownies met to carry through

An enterprise they had in view.

Said one: "We soon, as you're aware,

Will have the great Columbian Fair*.

When banners will to the winds be spread,

And speeches made, a poem be read,

And voices mingle, rich and strong,

In rendering anthems loud and long."

While many stars, in order due,

One corner filled on a field of blue.

A mammoth flag, I cannot name

The yards of bunting in the same;

But safe it is for me to say

'T would draw the eye ten miles away,

And let one know beyond a doubt,

What nation hung the emblem out.

It mattered not how large the size,

The Brownie band has found a prize;

And now it did their fancy please

To give the symbol to the breeze.

The wind that from the lake was strong

Played freely with the colors long,

And wrapped the Brownies in its fold;

But still they worked nor lost their hold,

While up it rain; 'mid joyful cries,

Above the ground it proudly flies!

Said one: "We'll leave it floating there,

Through blizzard, storm of milder air,

To let the folks who reach these shores,

From every nation out of doors,

Learn how it feels to draw at last

One breath of freedom from the blast;

Here they may hear our eagle scream,

Learn liberty is not a dream,

And stand beside this inland sea,

Beneath the banner of the free!

As centuries shall roll away

The people will all honor pay

With special zeal to Ninety-two,

And tell the great exploit anew

When, in despite of plot or plea,

Columbus steered his vessels three

To find the unknown region here,

Respected now both far and near.

"The Brownies In September"

From the book, 

"The Brownies At Home"

(1893)

 Palmer Cox

(1840-1924)

Canadian author and illustrator

Creator of the wee folk called Brownies

*The great Columbian Fair is a reference to 
The World's Columbian Exposition or Chicago World's Fair
Although the dedication ceremony for the fair was in
 October 1892 the fair did not officially open to
the general public until May 1893.