Long ago almost everyone believed in brownies and fairies. 很久以前，几乎所有人都相信小棕仙和小仙女的存在，

　　As you read this story, find out why a brownie came to Blednock, and why he left very suddenly. 阅读这则故事的时候，找找看小棕仙为什么来到布莱德诺克，又为什么突然离开了。

　　The Wee Man Comes to Town 小人儿来到镇上

　　Did you ever hear how a brownie came to the town of Blednock and was frightened away again? 你听说过一个小棕仙是怎么来到布莱德诺克镇又被吓走的故事吗？

　　Well, it was one summer evening, just when the milking was done and before the children were put to bed. 那是一个夏天的晚上，牛奶挤完了，孩子们还没有去睡觉。

　　The grown people were sitting on the doorsteps talking to their neighbors, and the children were playing in the front yards. 大人们坐在门前的台阶上和邻居聊天，孩子们在前院里玩耍。

　　All at once they heard a strange noise. 突然，他们听到了一阵奇怪的声音。

　　Nearer and nearer it sounded, and everyone turned and looked. 声音越来越近，每个人都转过身看着。

　　It was no wonder that they looked, for coming up the road was the strangest little creature that they had ever seen. 他们这样看也不奇怪，因为从马路上走过来的是他们见过的最奇怪的小生物。

　　He looked like a wee, wee man; and yet such a strange man! 他看起来像个很小很小的人，但也是一个很奇怪的人！

　　His white hair was long, and he had a long white beard. 他的白发很长，还有着长长的白胡子。

　　His knees knocked together when he walked, and his arms were so long that his hands almost touched the ground! 走路的时候，他的膝盖总是撞到一起，他的手臂也很长，双手几乎能够碰到地面！

　　A strange sight he was! 他真是个长相奇特的人！

　　He was singing something over and over. 他反复吟唱着什么，

　　As he came nearer, the people made out these words: 随着他越走越近，人们渐渐听出了歌词:

　　"Oh, my name is Aiken-Drum, 啊，我的名字叫艾肯·德拉姆，

　　And to do your work I've come. 我来这儿做你们的工作。

　　A bite to eat, a bed on hay 给点儿吃的，给张草床，

　　You may give, but nothing pay." 您能给点儿，别无他求。