With stories told of many a feat,
How Faery Mab the junkets eat.
She was pinched an pulled, she said;
And he, by Friar's lantern led,
Tells how the drudging goblin sweat
To earn his cream-bowl duly set,
When in one night, ere glimpse of morn,
His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn
That ten day labourers could not end;
Then lies him down, the lubber fiend,
And stretched out all the chimney's length,
Basks at the fire his hairy strength,
And crop-full out of door he flings
ere the first cock his matin rings.

from Comus by Milton

There are many faeries who are helpful to men in legends and myth. They include the familiar brownies, but also elves, hobs, boggarts and clauricauns. The helpful faeries often adopt a household and help with chores if the family is hardworking, but may taunt them and cause trouble if the family is lazy. Typical services include milking, shoe making, harvesting, sewing, shearing and cleaning. although there are accounts of brownies who became very upset and would leave or cause trouble if the house, particularly the hearth, was not swept clean. An interesting paradox is that though they would help out in the housework, a faerie would immediately leave if repaid in any way (other than perhaps a bowl of milk or cream left out at night). Many kind folk, thankful of the help from the brownie and pitying his poor dress would procure new clothes for him. The usual result of such actions is for the sprite to thankfully accept the much needed gift and then to disappear never to be seen by that family again. The last the poor farmer will ever hear of the faerie is some phrase of delight as he leaves:
"Pisky fine and pisky gay
Pisky now will fly away!"
or
"Gie Brownie coat, gie Brownie sark (shirt),
Ye'se get nae mair o' Brownie's wark."
Many brownies, called hobs or hobmen, could cure sicknesses, particularly whooping cough.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page