Once upon a time, in a magical land of whimsy, there lived seven little boys known as the Brownies. They were playful and mischievous creatures, always adorned in tight-fitting brown suits that ended in pointed toes, with matching peak-ended caps. Each of them carried a Jack-o’-lantern, glowing brightly from the candle within and grinning as if sharing in their tricks.
One day, the Brownies decided to venture into the heart of the nearby village on the eve of Halloween. The first Brownie, named Frolic, being the most daring, led the pack. They left their lanterns in a row at the village square, creating a line of seven grinning Jack-o’-lanterns under the moonlight.
Frolic then began to perform somersaults, flipping in the air before landing in the middle of the square. His friends watched as he grinned widely, his feet stretched out before him.
Just then, the second Brownie sneaked up on Frolic and pounced on him, shouting, “Gotcha, Frolic!” The two of them rolled around on the grass, laughing heartily before springing up and dancing around the square.
The third Brownie couldn’t resist joining in and forcefully wedged himself between the other two. “Make room for me!” he demanded, and soon they were all capering together. This infectious joy continued until all seven Brownies were running around, laughing, and making a merry ruckus in the village square.
Then, taking turns, each Brownie would run to the front of the square, make funny faces, and bow to the imaginary audience, trying to outdo each other.
Frolic, standing at the center of their antics, shouted, “Let’s hop like rabbits, to the front of the square!” They did as Frolic suggested, then jumped up suddenly and dispersed to the corners of the square, laughing and shouting all the while.
Finally, they all met in the center, joining hands and hopping around in a circle. “We’re a bundle of rags!” one of them exclaimed, and they all laughed at the silly image they made.
After their playful frolicking, they each picked up their lantern and began to sing a song, their voices echoing through the quiet village.
“The Brownies are coming, oh ho, oh ho!” they sang, their voices harmonizing as they swayed with their glowing lanterns. They sang of their mischief, their pranks, how they teased dogs, scared cats, and flew on the backs of bats. They sang of how they loved to frighten children with their Jack-o’-lanterns and make strange noises to startle passersby.
After their song, each Brownie recited a verse about their own special brand of mischief. The first talked about how energetic and lively they were, the second about their accomplishments in mischief, and the third of how he loved to scare cats and fly on bats.
With a grand flourish, they ended their song and verse with a resounding, “Look out! We’ll be at your house tonight!” With a final cheer, each Brownie picked up his lantern, promising to return with more pranks and fun.
As the children of the village peeked out of their windows the next morning, they found a row of grinning Jack-o’-lanterns at the village square, a sure sign of the Brownies’ midnight frolic. Their laughter filled the air as they looked forward to the next Halloween, and the return of the mischievous Brownies. And so, the story of the seven Brownies became a beloved bedtime tale, passed down from generation to generation, keeping the spirit of Halloween alive all year round.
