The Secret Life of Brownies

"No person, except those gifted with second sight, could see the Brownies; but from the privileged few, principally old women, who were thus enabled to now and then catch a glimpse of their goblin guests, correct information regarding their size and color is said to have been gained." Sir Walter Scott

You don't hear much about the Brownies nowadays. (A lot of this has to do with the Brownie's aversion to having his photograph taken). But it's a terrible shock to find that brownies are not known everywhere and this increase the fears held for their extinction!

Brownies, as you know, are originally from Scotland and the Outer Isles. But they are not seen much in this hurried century. Although there is much anecdotal evidence that has them following emigrants to Canada and Australia, they are not found elsewhere, and there is uncertainty about their ultimate survival in these troubled times.

It seems this very useful chap has become rare among the Highland mountains although at one time he was the common resident of every family of rank in those countries.

If you have a Brownie, treat him well. He could be the last of his kind!

Brownies, we are told, are meagre, shaggy, and wild in appearance.

His person is not quite so tall as that of the Fairy, but he is well proportioned and often described as comely.

They are wee folk, and named Brownies because of their colour, tanned and leathery from constant exposure to the extremes of sleet, hail and snow on the wind-wracked hillsides, but some say that their name comes from their hair colouring, for their uncombed locks are also described as brown.

Hair of this shade would cause comment in the Highlands where people are either red-haired or very dark.

First ask yourself if you have Scottish antecedents. Was one of your ancestors evicted from the family holding during the Land Clearances? For many a Brownie left when the family left, and sailed across the ocean with them.

In some way that is beyond our ken, the Brownie will choose one member of the family to faithfully serve. What is remarkable is that a Brownie can leave a particular family branch and go across to a completely different branch.

So, you can never be certain if a Brownie has suddenly transferred to your household from that of your cousin to the 4th degree.

If this is the case, you will begin to notice strange and mischievous activity in your house

.

Have you suddenly started losing combs, pens and spoons? These little pranks are an innocent pastime of the Brownie.

Do you hear the repeated swoosh of a broom and the clatter of laundry buckets at night? Have you noticed your kitchen stove is polished?

If this is happening to you, very likely a Brownie has moved into your establishment, for although he is rarely seen, he can often be heard cleaning and scrubbing.

Leave out some oat cakes made on the griddle and a dish of cream at night. If you forget, the Brownie may disarrange rooms and furniture, and make an untidy clutter while you lie in your bed.

It is said that in the old days, before the Land Clearances, every family had their own Brownie.

When they churned their milk a bowl was placed by the back door, when they baked their bannocks a small piece was laid aside, and when they brewed their ale a dribble of wort was poured into a saucer. All of this was done to honour and please the Brownie.

For if you had a happy Brownie pleased with your offerings, he would work all night (a great deal of work, the old people said) and lustily clean up your kitchen and shine your hob so that in the morning the sight of the gleaming would dazzle your eyes.

A very obliging fellow to be sure, and one most welcome around the house.

Indeed, a contented Brownie will bring good luck into the kitchen and barn. His judgement was often called on when buying a cow, or choosing a weave in the cloth and if a man fancied the odd game of chance, the family Brownie would reach over the table and make a mark for his place.

If this happens to you, never disregard a tip, or any advice, from a Brownie.

It is told of a Brownie, who haunted a Border family now extinct, that the lady having fallen unexpectedly in labour, and the servant, who was ordered to ride to Jedburgh for the sage-femme, showing no great alertness in setting out, the familiar spirit slipt on the great-coat of the lingering domestic, rode to the town on the laird's best horse, and returned with the midwife en croupe.

During the short space of his absence, the Tweed, which they must necessarily ford, rose to a dangerous height. Brownie, who transported his charge with all rapidity, was not to be stopped by this obstacle. He plunged in with the terrified old lady, and landed her in safety where her services were wanted.

Having put the horse into the stable (where it was afterwards found in a woeful plight), he proceeded to the room of the servant whose duty he had discharged, and, finding him just in the act of drawing on his boots, administered to him a most merciless drubbing with his own horsewhip.

Such an important service excited the gratitude of the laird, who, understanding that Brownie had been heard to express a wish to have a green coat, ordered a vestment of that colour to be made and left in his haunts. Brownie took away the green coat, but was never seen more. We may suppose that, tired of his domestic drudgery, he went in his new livery to join the fairies.

* From Sir Walter Scott and the Border Minstrelsy (a hard to get and expensive tome, but you may read most of it online thanks to Electric Scotland )

Just to be sure, leave out some supper for the Brownie.

My great grandmother told me to place a mug of a milk and the occasional bun on the table to keep the Brownie contented. I do this as I know Brownies keep a home neat and tidy. If I were a modern-thinking new-age sort of person I would say that the Brownie clears a house of negative energy, for I am sure that a Brownie does this to my own home.

Although he hasn't been inclined to wash any dirty dishes that I've left on the bench.

Don't ever make the mistake of confusing a Bogle with a Brownie!

Like the Boggarts of Yorkshire, a Bogle is more wicked than mischievous, and sometimes modern day Scots (who have forgotten their childrens' tales) will mistake them for poltergeists.

Always beware of Bogles!