"
"But are there really any brownies except children?" inquired Tommy,
in a dismal tone.
"No, there are not. Now listen to me, Tommy. Little people can do only
little things. When they are idle and mischievous, they are called
boggarts, and they are a burden to the house they live in. When they
are thoughtful and useful, they are brownies, and are a blessing to
every one."
"I'll be a brownie," said Tommy. "I won't be a boggart. Now I'll go
home and tell Johnny."
"I'll take you home," said the Owl, and in a moment Tommy found
himself in bed, with Johnny sleeping by his side.
"How quickly we came," said Tommy to himself. "But is it morning? That
is very strange! I thought the moon was shining. Come, Johnny, get up,
I have a story to tell you."
III
While his brother was rubbing his eyes Tommy told him of his visit to
the Old Owl in the grove.
"Is that all true?" asked Johnny.
"It is all just as I tell you, and if we don't want to be boggarts, we
must get up and go to work."
"I won't be a boggart," said Johnny, and so the two brownies crept
softly down the ladder into the kitchen. "I will light the fire,"
said Tommy. "And you, Johnny, can dig some potatoes to roast for
breakfast.
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