The mischievous Pixies delight in stealing horses and Dartmoor ponies at night to ride them wildly across the moor, twisting and knotting their manes to spur them on. Even in the house one is not safe from them, for they like to throw pots and pans after the kitchen girls.
Although they enjoy their fun, the Pixies can be hard-working and often thresh corn at night for rewards of bread and cheese. However, one grateful farmer observing that the Pixie who threshed his corn wore clothes in tatters, got his wife to make up a tiny suit. This was left where the Pixie might find it at the beginning of his night's work. The Pixie, on seeing the brand new outfit, delightedly put it on, the threshing forgotten, and cried
Nor did he, leaving the farmer regretful of his kindness.
--- Faeries --- Brian Froud and Alan Lee
The Pixie, also variously known as Pisgie, piskie, pigsey, of Cornwall, is based in the district of Dartmoor.
And t'idden gude yu sez there bain't!
There's hardly a place on Dartmoor that is not haunted by the green mishievous creatures. they have lent their name to many landmarks, Pixie's holt, Pixie's Cave, Pixies Parlour, Puggie Stone (the word Puggie has the same derivation as Puck0. They dance in the shadows of the standing stones, or gambol on the tumbling stream edges. Their bells can be heard diip in the heat of the many tors on the moor.
if of earth let the swart mine hold thee,
if a Pixie sink thy ring
if a Nixie seek thy spring.
WALTER SCOTT
New Breeches!
You proud, I proud,
I shan't work any more!'
