thebrowniestory

The cottage on the edge of the wood was in an awful mess. There were dishes to
be washed, clothes to be ironed and toys scattered all over the floor.

Tommy and Betty didn't care. They hated boring old housework.

"What am I to do?" their mother sighed, "I can't keep the cottage tidy. If only we
had a Brownie!"

"What's a Brownie?" asked Tommy

"A Brownie is a magical creature, which slips into houses very early before
anyone is awake. It tidies toys, irons clothes, washes dishes and does all sorts of
helpful things, in secret," replied his mother.

"That's great! How can we get one?" Wonders Betty.

"The wise old owl in the wood would know, I suppose," Her mother said.

Late that night, Tommy and Betty crept out of the cottage into the wood. It was
dark and full of shadows. Or were they ghosts?

"We can't go back. We've got to find this wise old owl," said Betty firmly.

"Twitt twoo. How do you do?" a voice hooted at them from a nearby tree.

"The wise old owl!" Tommy hugged Betty in relief. And soon the children 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
explained.

"Tommy, imagine!" exclaimed Betty. "There's a Brownie in that pool over there.
I've got to go the pool, turn round three times and say:

"Twist me and turn me and show me the elf, I looked in the water and there
saw….."

"Who? Who? Who?" hooted the owl. "Look into the water and you'll find a Brownie
looking back at you. Her name will finish the rhyme."

The children raced over to the pool. Betty did exactly as the owl had said:

"Twist me and turn me and show me the elf, I looked in the water and there
saw…." She looked into the pool.

"Well, can you see it? Can you see a Brownie?" yelled Tommy, hopping from foot
to foot in excitement.

"No," said Betty. "All I can see is my own reflection."

Tommy and Betty were so tired and so 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 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 there
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 Tommy. It would be fun."

Tommy and Betty returned thoughtfully to the cottage. If you passed by very
early next morning, you would have seen a lamp 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 this day, the cottage has been like a different place. And Tommy and Betty
have been like different children. They never get bored now; they are so busy
planning their secret Good Turns.

Of course their mother has discovered the truth. She thinks she is very lucky to
have such helpful children. And Tommy and Betty have discovered how right the
wise old owl was: Being human Brownies is FUN!