Aiken-Drum, the Brownie of Blednock was always there when the villagers needed him, but always out of sight.

The little man would have slipped quietly away from every home where he lent a hand. He never waited to be thanked. It seemed just as if everybody had wishing-caps, for people had only to wish, and the work was done.

And the village was not lonely, oh, no! People came from everywhere to see if they could catch a glimpse of the strange little visitor.

But they never saw Aiken-Drum again. One could to to the miller’s barn twenty times a say; and twenty times a day one would find nothing but a little heap of hay. The bowl that held his food was always empty in the morning, but no one ever saw the Brownie eating the broth.

Little children were the only ones who ever saw him; and oh! how he loved them! Just befroe bedtime, they would gather around him in some quiet corner by the old mill. Then the villagers would hear wonderful, low, sweet, music. It was Aiken-Drum, singing the songs of his own land to the happy children.

Next time: Farewell Aiken-Drum