Patrick, Leprechaun by choice.

On my way into town to get the weekly shopping I ran into my old friend Patrick. Patrick is an old Leprechaun that according to his story he has done and seen about everything there is to be seen and done in this world. I like Patrick he always has a cheerful smile on his face and with his tales of his life he amuses me quite often when we meet he has one really annoying problem he is always playing tricks on one at the most unexpected moment. Patrick tells me that he was not always a Leprechaun once he was a young Irish boy trying to make a living in this hard world. It seems that he changed lives with a Leprechaun who thought that it would be better for him the Leprechaun to be a human.

This took place in Ireland some one hundred and fifty years ago. The original Leprechaun is long dead but Patrick as a Leprechaun will live for many a long year. Patrick met the Leprechaun who had just lost all of his gold and he smiled at the Leprechauns tears of woe. “You would not be so happy if it was you that had lost all of his gold.” “Why?” said Patrick to the Leprechaun. If it was me that had lost my gold I would go to England, I hear that in London Town the streets are paved with gold.” The Leprechaun sobbed even more “I cannot go to England I am always very sick if I have to travel by boat. It was then that Patrick had this idea. “You are a Leprechaun and I am a young Irish boy; you can work magic why do we not just change lives? You become me and I will become you.”  “So be it. Said the Leprechaun and the two of them changed lives Patrick became the Leprechaun and the Leprechaun became a young Irish boy. The two of them parted company and went each on his way.

The Leprechaun married and had three healthy children. A boy and two girls he lived a normal life and died at the age of sixty-nine. Patrick who is now a Leprechaun roamed the world doing what Leprechauns do best he was a Jack-of-all-trades. At home he had learned from his father how to repair shoes and how to mend the roof in fact he was a good all round workman. As a Leprechaun he could work simple magic spells and whatever work he did he did it well. There were no complaints and Patrick worked not only well but he charged less than most workers would for his jobs of work that he did. Patrick was all in all a well-liked Leprechaun that had one yes just one drawback he loved to play practical jokes. No one was safe from him. He has played many a trick on me but as an easy going type of person I take his jokes all in good part but sometimes even I get angry with him.

One of Patrick’s favourite jokes takes place on the motorways. Lorries suddenly turn into horse and carts and the drivers think that they have had a daydream or something. This is very dangerous and I asked him to leave the traffic on the motorways in peace. Patrick now concentrates more on the little folk with his practical jokes and the Fairies and Pixies got together to play one big joke on Patrick in the hopes that this will cure him of his mischievous ways. Many a plan was made but all seemed to be hopeless and Patrick got worse in his behaviour. Then Moonafee had an idea let us turn Patrick into a pig then he cannot tease us and we can fatten him up. The Fairies all thought that this was an excellent idea and would perhaps teach Patrick a lesson that he so well deserved. On seeing Patrick the Fairies all pointed their magic wands at him and spoke in the old tongue. Let him be a pig. Whoosh Patrick turned into a fat pig and ran about the floor of the woods grunting and complaining as only pigs can complain.

The Fairies true to their words fed him on all kinds of foods and in a couple of months he was just one big fat pig. Patrick now a pig eats anything and everything that was set before him. He got so fat that he could hardly move. One day as I was going through the woods I saw Patrick he was so big that he could hardly move. I then had pity on him and asked the Fairies not to feed him so much. If you do he will burst and you will all be sorry. On hearing my words the Fairies had a talk and decided to turn him back into a Leprechaun again. Out came the magic wands and with a shower of sparks Patrick the pig was turned back into Patrick the Leprechaun. “Patrick,” Moonafee said. “If you play any more tricks on the little folk you will be turned back into a pig and will roam the woods for ever more.” Patrick had learned his lesson and from that day on he became a steady Leprechaun that helped any and everyone.

Poem from Fairy Mayana.

It is the Fairies great fun to sing and dance throughout the night.

This we do every year much to all the little folks great delight

Once a year in the early summer we have the Fairies Annual Dance.

Then in mushroom circles all of the fairies sing and happily prance.

Leprechauns and Pixies with the Imps are the real Masters of this art.

They dance and sing with the utmost of glee as they willingly take part.

All the little folk are invited to join in this party of fun and joyful esprit.

For our friend Mr. Shaw we make some cups of sweet honeyed tea.

We have an orchestra of Frogs playing on weird looking trombones.

The Fairy Queen herself bakes us plates full of delicious scones.

The Trolls they are show offs; take advantage of this lively occasion.

They dress up in all sorts of fancy costumes they need no persuasion.

The Fairies own sweet hands specially groom the Dragons so green.

Then all are dressed in suits that have been sent to the dry clean.

Everyone comes dressed in his or her best clothes to the Fairy Annual Ball.

We all know that for the little folk a jolly good time will be had by all.

To drink we have the most delicious of wines made from the parsley sweet.

To make the parsley wine we do not, like others have to use our Fairy Feet.

I have borrowed Mr. Shaw’s magic pen to write this poem for you all.

It is my way of sending you an invitation to our next Annual Fairy Ball.

Please come and join in the frolics and the most wonderful Fairy fun.

You will find no brighter, happier Fairies under the warm midday sun.

Rainbow Trouble.

The sun is shining brightly the heavens are clear of clouds a most beautiful day. The fairies have done all of their little jobs of work and are now happily playing one or the other games that fairies have played down through the years. I was in the woods collecting the lush blackberries that were so ripe that I am afraid more went into my mouth than in the basket. Suddenly a large cloud covered the sky and it started to pour with rain.

The rain lasted only a couple of minutes and out came the sun. A most gorgeous rainbow appeared in the sky nearly overhead from where I was picking my blackberries. This delighted the fairies that quickly flew over to slide down the rainbow. Unknowingly to the fairies and me, a very powerful wizard had not only caused the clouds and rain to appear he was also responsible for the rainbow.

At the bottom of the rainbow, he had built a trap to ensnare the fairies. As they slid down the rainbow laughing and shouting with joy at this most unexpected of treats, they landed right into the trap. Soon there were no more fairies anywhere. The wizard had trapped them all and sent them off with magic to his castle somewhere in the middle of England.

I had not really been paying much attention to the fairies as the noise they made delighted my ears. I love to hear the tinkling voices of fairies at play. Soon I became aware that there were no more fairies to be seen or heard. I looked everywhere the rainbow had gone where rainbows go after showing their lovely colours and it was as if no fairies had been happily playing in the woods.

Becoming alarmed I sent a message with a robin redbreast to Her Majesty Queen Feeana, Queen of all the fairies. Her Majesty appeared as she usually did, a flash of light a small puff of smoke and she was there in all of her beauty. I quickly explained what had happened the cloud, the rain, and the rainbow. Her Majesty took out her magic mirror from her pocket and looking deeply into it, she told me that the wizard Margeridorm was holding the Fairies prisoner. Showing me the mirror, I saw a square shaped castle surrounded by a moat, to get into the castle one had to cross the moat by way of a drawbridge.

The drawbridge was down, the moat was deep, and there were no boats anywhere so it would be very difficult to get into the castle. I then had an idea. I said to Her Majesty “Give me an old book of magic, I will go to the castle and try to get the wizard out. If you stand by me invisible you will be able to free the fairies.” Her Majesty agreed and by means of magic, we soon arrived at the castle.

I set up a small tent and with the book of magic in my hand I called across to the castle saying that I had a book of magic it is very, very old. I want four pieces of gold for the book. The wizard was by now very curious and lowered the drawbridge. Coming across to where I stood he asked to look at the book. I gave it to him and as he looked in its pages, I said to her Majesty “Quick turn him into a fish and throw him in the moat.” “There he will stay a fish until the moat runs dry.”

Her Majesty waved her wand and the wizard turned into fish, which I threw into the moat. Her Majesty then freed all of the fairies and sent them back home. I had another idea and went to see one of the local councillors. If you lead the waters of the stream into the moat and then out on the other side you will always have water in the moat and a large piece of ground will be available for the local council to build on. The councillor agreed with me, at the next council meeting a decision to do this very thing, and the stream was quickly diverted so the wizard will be a fish for a very long time.

Shoe Repairs.

A Leprechaun came to my large old house.

He spoke for a long time to my Family Mouse.

His job he said was to repair old shoes.

Now this to me was some very good news.

I had at least six pairs of shoes to repair.

He could eat with us and our meals share.

I would pay him for work well done in gold.

But I wanted my shoes both heeled and soled.

He started work right away on my old shoes.

I needed them badly to go on a long cruise.

He cut and hammered and sewed all day long.

On his lips a lilting strange sounding song.

For the last pair of shoes the leather he used.

Was of magic and had me quite confused.

I wanted to walk a mile or two to the town.

I was there at once, which caused me to frown.

It takes a young healthy man ten minutes or more.

To get from my house to the local grocery store.

But with my shoes magic are the leather soles.

I could appear anywhere to buy my bread rolls.

I just had to think of a place that I wanted to go.

I was transported there in seconds you know.

I know I suddenly thought of Paris in France.

Why I was there it was just like in a trance.

I paid the Leprechaun some gold for my shoe repairs.

Wearing new shoes Family Mouse came down stairs.

In his spare time the Leprechaun made them all shoes.

It was their secret not one mouse gave me any clues.

Their tiny shoes were all of magic leather made.

Which put all my poor working attempts in the shade.

Fairy Tea.

One of the prettiest sights I ever did see,
Was of fairies collecting dew-drops to make a pot of tea.
Dew-drops were taken from every blade of grass,
The tea the Fairies made was certainly first class.
This all took place in the month of May,
in a wooded grove where Fairies were wont to play.
Tea was served in Blue-bells turned upside down,
The Fairy Queen was present wearing her golden crown.
All sipped daintily of this most delicious tea,
There was enough left over and a cup they gave to me.
I was delighted for they made me feel at home,
In future I know where my footsteps will roam,
Down in a wooded grove known only to me,
I will patiently wait until they offer me some tea.

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