THE BROWNIE STORY

There once was a cottage on the edge of the woods, and it was an awful mess. There were dishes to be washed, clothes to be put away, and toys scattered all over the floor. Billie and Betty didn’t care. They hated doing housework. “What I am going to do?” their mother sighed. “I can’t keep the cottage tidy. If only we had a Brownie!”

“What’s a Brownie?” asked Billie. “A Brownie is a magical little creature, which slips into houses very early before anyone is awake. It tidies the toys, puts away the clothes, washes the dishes and does all sorts of helpful things in secret,” said his mother.

“That’s great! How can we get one?” wondered Betty. “The Wise Owl in the wood would know,” her mother said.

Late that night, Billie and Betty crept out of the cottage into the woods. It was cold and dark and full of shadows. “We’ve got to find the Wise Owl,” said Betty firmly. “Twitt twoo. How do you do?” a voice hooted at them from a nearby tree. “The Wise Owl!” Billie hugged Betty in relief. 

And soon the girls were seated on a branch snuggling close to the big bird’s feathers. They explained they were looking for a Brownie. “Do you know where we could find one?” asked Betty. “Indeed I do” hooted the Owl, and, placing her beak close to Betty’s ear, she told Betty how to find the Brownie.

“Billie!” exclaimed Betty. “There’s a Brownie in that pond over there! All we have to do is look inside the pond and say: “Twist me and turn me and show me the elf, I looked in the water and saw…”. 

“Who? Who? Who?” hooted the Owl. “Look into the water and you’ll find your Brownie looking back at you. Her name will finish the rhyme.”

The children raced over to the pond. Betty did exactly as the Owl had said: “Twist me and turn me and show me the elf, I looked in the water and I saw…” She looked into the pond. “Well, can you see it? Can you see a Brownie?” yelled Billie, hopping from foot to foot in excitement. “No,” said Betty, All I can see is my own reflection.”

Billie and Betty were so tired and disappointed that by the time they reached the tree again, they were in tears. “Boo, hoo, hoo. What’s the matter with you two?” hooted the Owl, offering them a hanky. “We didn’t find a Brownie,” sniffed Betty. “I saw no one in the water but myself.” “Well, well” said the Owl. “Let’s see if that fits the rhyme.” “Twist me and turn me and show me the elf, I looked in the water and I saw…” “Myself!” finished Betty. “But I’m not a Brownie!” “Too true, too true,” hooted the Owl. “But you could act like one for a change and so could Billie. It would be fun.”

Billie and Betty returned to the cottage. If you had passed that way very early the next morning, you would have seen a light burning in the kitchen window and two figures busily scurrying about inside. And when the children’s mother came down for breakfast, she couldn’t believe her eyes. There wasn’t a toy in sight. Everything was clean and tidy. “Why, a Brownie has been here. How wonderful!” she gasped.

From that day on, the cottage was a different place. Billie and Betty were like different children. They never get bored now; they are too busy planning their secret good deeds. Of course, their mother has discovered the truth. She knows she is very lucky to have such helpful children. And Billie and Betty have discovered how right the Wise Owl was: being Brownies is FUN!