Once upon a time there lived at
Mulinfenachan in Duthil a miller who was so strong that he was called
Strong Malcolm. But though Malcolm was strong, no man in the parish was
so afflicted as he with black laziness. Malcolm's laziness was
encouraged by "little men” whom nobody ever saw, and very few ever
heard.
When water was scarce, and corn had to be ground, Malcolm, before going
to bed, would place a lippy of barley meal in the hopper; and during the
night the mill would be seen lighted up, the wheel turning without
water, the noise of shouting and laughter inside; and in the morning all
the corn in the mill would be found ground, the meal in bags, and
everything left tidy and in order. If any man was so bold as to enter
the mill while the little men were at work, some unseen power would kick
him in the rear with such force that he would fall to the ground; and
when he would rise, with a broken and bleeding nose, the mill would be
in darkness and all would be silent.
When straw was wanted for the cattle, a large basin of sowens was left
on the thrashing floor at night, and in the morning all the corn was
found thrashed, the straw in bundles, and the grain winnowed and ready
for the mill.
One night, as the little men were busy in the mill the kiln of
Tullochgriban was seen to be on fire, and the little men wore heard to
exclaim “Who will have plenty of meal now, and sowens too, for
Tullochgriban kiln is on fire, and Strong Malcolm must henceforth work
for himself, or starve.” The little men then went away and never more
returned.—“Folk Tales and Fairy Lore,” by Rev. James Macdougall, edited
by Rev. George Calder. (Edinburgh, 1910). |
