THE LEPRECHAUN

In a shady nook one moonlit night,

A leprechaun I spied

In scarlet coat and cap of green,

A cruiskeen by his side.

Twas tick, tack, tick, his hammer went,

Upon a weeny shoe,

And I laughed to think of a purse of gold,

But the fairy was laughing too.

With tiptoe step and beating heart,

Quite softly I drew nigh.

There was mischief in his merry face,

A twinkle in his eye;

He hammered and sang with tiny voie,

And sipped the mountain dew;

Oh! I laughed to think he was caught at last,

But the fairy was laughing too.

As quick as thought I grasped the elf,

"You're fairy purse," I cried,

"My purse?" he said, "tis in her hand,

That lady by your side."

I turned to look, the elf was off,

And what was I to do?

Oh! I laughed to think what a fool I'd been,

And, the fairy was laughing too.