In Scotland, in isolated farms, it is not uncommon to hear people tell you that a brownie regularly comes to help them. Spotting a brownie, however, is not easy. As it doesn’t like to be watched, this domestic genius prefers going around when darkness takes precedence over clarity.
At Clochfoldich Farm everyone knew the brownie. Usually, these creatures were helpful, storing the dishes and cleaning the bowls. Unfortunately, this one was of a different kind.
During the day, out of sight, it indulged entirely in the pleasure of jumping into puddles, smudging its long black hairs with mud and straining its clothes. In the evening, when the household was in bed, the brownie would enter the kitchen, wash the bowls, clean the plates, and violently break them. The next day, the muddy footprints on the ground betrayed the maker of the mischief.
One day the inhabitants of Clochfoldich farm said: That’s enough, you have to get rid of it.
For this, they offered it some new clothes. It was a sure way to anger a brownie, who valued its old clothes … it would then leave, vexed, forever. But not this one! Ignoring the gift, it remained at the farm and continued to push the inhabitants to their limits.
Help came one day, by pure chance. On the wet road leading to the farm, the son of the house heard the brownie indulge in its favorite game. Splash! And said to it, well, “Little Mucky will come to visit us tonight!” “Little Mucky,” the Brownie replied in astonishment … “Little Mucky,” it repeated thoughtfully … “I have a name,” it cried out at last … before disappearing into a blast. It was no longer seen around Clochfoldich farm. Happy to know who it was, the brownie no longer needed to create trouble.
In some Scottish homes, broken dishes can still be found nowadays, with no one taking responsibility. Is it the little brownie that came back to haunt? But perhaps it is more convenient to blame it …
