The people of Blednock got to know the Brownie. Next, what to do about him?

No one new what to say. A little man who would do everything for nothing! It could not be true! There must be something wrong about it! Men began to whisper to each other. “Perhaps it would be better to have nothing to do with him,” they said.

The Granny Duncan spoke up again. “It’s just a harmless Brownie, I tell you.” she said. “Have you not all complained about how hard you work? Here is a good workman all ready for you. Will you turn him away because he looks so strange?”

“But he will frighten strangers,” said the young people. “Our friends will not come to the village if we let him stay. Then it will be lonely here. We will have no good times.”

“I have heard that a Brownie can stack a whole ten-acre field of wheat in a single night,” said Granny Duncan.

“A ten-acre field in a single night! Just think of that!” said all the men. The miller told the brownie that he might sleep in a corner of his barn. Granny Duncan promised him a bowl of broth at bedtime.

Then all said good-night and wen home, looking over their shoulders to see if the strange little man was following them. You may be very sure that no one lingered behind that night. No one asked to stay outside just a little longer.

Next time: “Just When You Need Him”