Part 23

Placing her down at the hall gate, he hastened to the stable, where the servant lad was just pulling on his boots; he unbuckled the bridle from his steed, and gave him a most afflicting drubbing."

There is a sequel to this story which does not end happily: "It was the time of the Reformation; and a priest, more zealous than wise, exhorted the Laird to have this Imp of Heathenism baptised, to which he in an evil hour consented, and the worthy reforming saint concealed himself in the barn to surprise the brownie at his work. He appeared like a little, wrinkled, ancient man, and began his nightly moil. The priest leapt from his ambush, and dashed the baptismal water in his face, solemnly repeating the set form of Christian rite. The poor brownie set up a frightful and agonising yell, and instantly vanished never to return."(65)

Allan Cunningham further tells of a brownie of a humorous turn of mind who held sway about Newabbey:--"The Abbey lands in the parish of Newabbey, were the residence of a very sportive one. He loved to be, betimes, somewhat mischievous. Two lasses, having made a fine bowlful of buttered brose, had taken it into the byre to sup while it was yet dark. In the haste of concealment they had brought but one spoon; so they placed the bowl between them, and took a spoonful by turns.

'I hae got but three sups,' cried the one, 'an' it's a' done!'

'It's a' done, indeed,' cried the other.

'Ha, ha!' laughed a third voice, 'Brownie has gotten the maist o't.'"(66)

As indicating the great skill in gathering the sheep together, the following tradition lingers in Galloway of a brownie who had spent the night long at this task. In the morning not only had he the sheep together, but amongst them was half a dozen hares. "Deil tak' thae wee grey beasties," he muttered, when this was pointed out to him, "they cost me mair fash than a' the lave o' them."

In Scottish literature the brownie has a distinctive place, his unique and wonder-creating personality being used with rare effect. It is, however, the particular part of Scotland we are dealing with--the south-west--that has produced the most typical examples, in prose as well as in poetry, for Dumfriesshire claims that fine Covenanting story, "The Brownie of Bodsbeck," while Galloway has yielded that inimitable poetical gem, "The Brownie of Blednoch," the quotation of which in full may fittingly close the chapter:--

THE BROWNIE OF BLEDNOCH.

There cam a strange wight to our town-en' And the fient a body did him ken'; He tirled na lang, but he glided ben Wi' a dreary, dreary hum.

His face did glare like the glow o' the west, When the drumlie cloud has it half o'ercast; Or the struggling moon when she's sair distrest-- O sirs! 'twas Aiken-drum.

I trow the bauldest stood aback, Wi' a gape and a glower till their lugs did crack, As the shapeless phantom mum'ling spak-- "Hae ye wark for Aiken-drum?"

O had ye seen the bairns' fright, As they stared at this wild and unyirthly wight, As he stauket in 'tween the dark and the light, And graned out, "Aiken-drum!"

"Sauf us!" quoth Jock, "d'ye see sic een;" Cries Kate, "There's a hole where a nose should hae been; And the mouth's like a gash which a horn had ri'en; Wow! keep's frae Aiken-drum!"

The black dog, growling, cowered his tail, The lassie swarfed, loot fa' the pail, Rob's lingle brack as he men't the flail, At the sight o' Aiken-drum.

His matted head on his breast did rest, A lang blue beard wan'ered down like a vest; But the glare o' his e'e nae Bard hath exprest, Nor the skimes o' Aiken-drum.

Roun' his hairy form there was naething seen But a philibeg o' the rashes green, And his knotted knees played ay knoit between; What a sight was Aiken-drum!

On his wauchie arms three claws did meet, As they trailed on the grun' by his taeless feet; E'en the auld guidman himsel' did sweat, To look at Aiken-drum.

But he drew a score, himsel' did sain, The auld wife tried, but her tongue was gane; While the young ane closer clasped her wean, And turned frae Aiken-drum.

But the canny auld wife cam' till her breath, And she deemed the Bible might ward aff scaith, Be it benshee, bogle, ghaist, or wraith-- But it fear'dna Aiken-drum.

"His presence protect us!" quoth the auld guidman; "What wad ye, whare won ye--by sea or by lan'? I conjure ye speak--by the Beuk in my haun!" What a grane gae Aiken-drum.

"I lived in a lan' whar we saw nae sky, I dwalt in a spot whare a burn rins na by; But I'se dwall now wi' you, if ye like to try-- Hae ye wark for Aiken-drum?

"I'll shiel' a' your sheep i' the mornin' sune, I'll berry your crap by the light o' the moon, And baa the bairns wi' an unken'd tune, If ye'll keep puir Aiken-drum.

"I'll loup the linn when ye canna wade, I'll kirn the kirn, and I'll turn the bread; And the wildest fillie that ever ran rede I'se tame't," quoth Aiken-drum!

"To wear the tod frae the flock on the fell-- To gather the dew frae the heather-bell-- And to look at my face in your clear crystal well, Might gie pleasure to Aiken-drum.

"I'se seek nae guids, gear, bond, nor mark; I use nae beddin', shoon, nor sark; But a cogfu' o' brose 'tween the light and dark, Is the wage o' Aiken-drum."

Quoth the wylie auld wife, "The thing speaks weel; Our workers are scant--we hae routh o' meal; Gif he'll do as he says--be he man, be he de'il, Wow! we'll try this Aiken-drum."

But the wenches skirled "He's no' be here! His eldritch look gars us swarf wi' fear, And the fient a ane will the house come near, If they think but o' Aiken-drum.