THE WAY OF THE LEPRECAUN

THE LEPRECAUNS HAD CEASED WORK AND WERE LOOKING AT THE
CHILDREN. SEUMAS TURNED TO THEM.
"GOD BLESS THE WORK," HE SAID POLITELY.
ONE OF THE LEPRECAUNS, WHO HAD A GREY, PUCKERED FACE AND A
THIN FRINGE OF GREY WHISKER VERY FAR UNDER HIS CHIN THEN
SPOKE.
"COME OVER HERE, SEUMAS BEG," SAID HE, "AND I'LL MEASURE
YOU FOR A PAIR OF SHOES. PUT YOUR FOOT UP ON THAT ROOT."
THE BOY DID SO AND THE LEPRECAUN TOOK THE MEASURE OF HIS
FOOT WITH A WOODEN RULE.
"NOW BRIGID BEG, SHOW ME YOUR FOOT," AND HE MEASURED HER
ALSO. "THEY'LL BE READY FOR YOU IN THE MORNING."
"DO YOU NEVER DO ANYTHING ELSE BUT MAKES SHOES, SIR?" SAID
SEUMAS.
"WE DO NOT," REPLIED THE LEPRECAUN, "EXCEPT WHEN WE WANT
NEW CLOTHES, AND THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE THEM, BUT WE GRUDGE
EVERY MINUTE SPENT MAKING ANYTHING ELSE EXCEPT SHOES,
BECAUSE THAT IS THE PROPER WORK FOR A LEPRECAUN. IN
THE NIGHTTIME WE GO ABOUT THE COUNTRY INTO PEOPLE'S
HOUSES AND WE CLIP LITTLE PIECES OFF THEIR MONEY, AND SO,
BIT BY BIT, WE GET A CROCK OF GOLD TOGETHER, BECAUSE,
DO YOU SEE, A LEPRECAUN HAS TO HAVE A CROCK OF GOLD SO
THAT IF HE'S CAPTURED BY MEN FOLK, HE MAY BE ABLE TO RANSOM
HIMSELF. BUT THAT SELDOM HAPPENS, BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT
DISGRACE ALTOGETHER TO BE CAPTURED BY A MAN AND WE'VE
PRACTICED SO LONG DODGING AMONG THE ROOTS HERE THAT WE
CAN EASILY GET AWAY FROM THEM. OF COURSE, NOW AND AGAIN
WE ARE CAUGHT; BUT MEN ARE FOOLS, AND WE ALWAYS ESCAPE
WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY THE RANSOM AT ALL. WE WEAR GREEN
CLOTHES BECAUSE IT IS IN THE COLOR OF THE LEAVES, AND WHEN WE
SIT UNDER A BUSH OR LIE IN THE GRASS, THEY JUST WALK BY
WITHOUT NOTICING US."

Submitter comment: MRS. BYRNE, MY GRANDMOTHER, TOLD THIS TO A LITTLE BOY
DOWN THE BLOCK. SHE CLAIMS THERE ARE LEPRECAUNS AND
SO HAS BELIEVED THE STORY SINCE SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL
IN IRELAND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; IRELAND

Keyword(s): LEPRECHAUNS

Date learned: 01-00-1964