#26. George MacDonald novels

[For the Rules, click here.]

She was eating porridge and milk: with spoon arrested in mid-passage, she stopped suddenly, and said:--

"Papa, what's a broonie?"

"I have told you, Jenny, that you are never to talk broad Scotch in my presence," returned her father. "I would lay severer commands upon you, were it not that I fear tempting you to disobey me, but I will have no vulgarity in the dining-room."

His words came out slowly, and sounded as if each was a bullet wrapped round with cotton wool to make it fit the barrel. Ginevra looked perplexed for a moment.

"Should I say brownie, papa?" she asked.

"How can I tell you what you should call a creature that has no existence?" rejoined her father.

"If it be a creature, papa, it must have a name!" retorted the little logician, with great solemnity.

Mr. Galbraith was not pleased, for although the logic was good, it was against him.

"What foolish person has been insinuating such contemptible superstition into your silly head?" he asked. "Tell me, child," he continued, "that I may put a stop to it at once."

He was rising to ring the bell, that he might give the orders consequent on the information he expected: he would have asked Mammon to dinner in black clothes and a white tie, but on Superstition in the loveliest garb would have loosed all the dogs of Glashruach, to hunt her from the property. Her next words, however, arrested him, and just as she ended, the butler came in with fresh toast.

"They say," said Ginevra, anxious to avoid the forbidden Scotch, therefore stumbling sadly in her utterance, "there's a broonie--brownie--at the Mains, who dis a'--does all the work."--from Sir Gibbie

Author: George MacDonald

Synopsis: George MacDonald writes fun, sometimes mystical and often romantic novels, full of faith and interesting characters. Wee Sir Gibbie is the tale of a mute boy who proves a hero and wins the heart of a lovely lady. The Laird's Inheritance tells of Cosmo, a young man of much property and next to no income until he finds hidden treasure in his manor. Those were two of my favorites, but there are many others.

* * *

MacDonald wrote so many enjoyable novels, only one of which I have read more recently than five years ago, that I am cheating in my Favorite Books list and lumping them together as one. C.S. Lewis considered MacDonald one of his greatest masters in faith and writing. I wouldn't say I trust all of MacDonald's theology outright, but he was certainly a brilliant author and one who loved Jesus.