The leprechaun

In a shady nook one moonlight night,

a leprechaun I spied:

With scarlet cap and coat 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 voice,

And drank his mountain dew,

And I laughed to think he was caught at last;

But the fairy was laughing too!

As quick as thought I seized the elf:

"Your fairy purse," I cried.

"The purse," he said, " 'tis in her hand,

That lady at your side."

I turned to look: the elf was off!

Then what was I to do?

O, I laughed to think what a fool I'd been;

And the fairy was laughing too!