Brownies and Bogles
housemate, was the most popular of all fairie
o a tribe of great influence and size, and each division of that tribe, inhabiting different countries, bore a different name. But the word Brownie, to English-s
ntries, where he ate a great deal more than was good for him. In the beginning he was supposed to have been covered with short curly brown hair, like a clipped water-spaniel, whence his name. But he changed greatly in appearance. Later accounts picture him with a homely, sunburnt little face, as if bronzed with long wind and weather; dark-c
HT WAS TO DO DO
id-servants, and reform them, if necessary, by severe and original measures. Neatness and precision he dearly loved, and never forgot to drop a penny over-night in the shoe of the person deserving well of him. But lax o
sleep a
them
ey-cold floo
t the
forth
laugh I: "H
good deeds; and by way of emphasizing his former tidiness and industry, he tore curtains, smashed dishes, overturned tables, and made havoc among the kitchen-pans. All this was done in a sort of holy
ps of corn threshed for him during the night, determined at last to sit up and watch what went on. Creeping to the barn-door, and peering through a chink, he saw two manikins working away with their fairy flails, and stopping an instant now and then, only to say to each other: "S
s wife. Whatever work there was left for them to do was straightway done; but no man ever beheld them. The tailor's prying spouse played many a ruse to get sight of them, to no avail. And they, knowing her curiosity and grieved at it, suddenly marched,
k off, whistling, to keep his own counsel, and say nothing about it. And for goodies, mysterious goodies left in queer places by chance, he had excellent tooth. Housewives, from the era of the first Brownie, never failed slyly to gladden his favorite haunt with the dish which he liked best, and which, so long as it was fresh and plentiful, he considered a satisfactory squaring-u
ISHES HIS B
avior under an unexpected shower of dry goods. Brownie, who in his humble station, was so steadfast and sensible, had his poor head completely turned by the vision of a new bright-colored jacket. The gentle little Piskies or Pixies of Devonshire, who are of the Brownie race, and very different from the malicious Piskies in Cornwall, were likewise great dandies, and sure to
sky, fair
rag to c
ld have wheedled clothes out of a stone? Of course the lady humored him, and made him a costly, t
ine, Pi
w will r
fashionable garments, they turned their backs on an honest l
d went back gladly to their work, to the smith's great profit and pleasure. When he had grown rich, his thankful wife made them pretty crimson coats and caps, and laid both
youth up; and one of the monks wrote, in his ingenious Latin, that on going away, all he asked was "tunicam de diversis coloribus, et tintinnabulis plenam!" You may put the goblin's vanit
us, et tintinnabulis plenam!
out; but if he found the place in confusion, he kindly went to work and put it in exquisite order. But the Cauld Lad was, more likely, by his own confession, a ghost, a
me, wa
ot yet fallen
he wood that's t
he bairn that's
s to
meant to give him freedom and release, so that he need
his laugh was very distinct and pleasant; but if he heard of anybody drinking anything stronger than home-brewed ale, he would cough virtuously, and frown upon the company. Now Wag-at-the-Wa' had the toothache all the time, and, considering his twinges, was it not good of him to be so cheerful? He wore a great red-woollen coat
AT-TH
as gentle and kind, but "touchy," as Brownie-people are. Though he dressed gayly in red, he was not pretty, but boasted a fine green tint on his face and hands. Little Killmoulis was a mill-haunting brother of his
the dangerous mountain-paths, and keeping them sleek and happy. His branch of
fter service-time, and to the grave-digger betokened the death of a little child. But there was another Kirkeg
little shaggy being, supposed to be an exile from fairy society, and condemned to wander about alone until d
ew by running up and down the shrouds in great excitement. This eccentric Flying Dutchman had a fiery
. The Alraun, a sort of house-imp shorn of all his engaging diligence, was very small, his body being made of a root; he lived i
d honorable ancestors. We shall see presently what names their descendants bore in various countries. But the Russian Do