The Leprechaun

By a shady nook, one moonlit 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 his 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 teeny voice
And sipped his mountian dew
Oh! I laughed to think he was caught at last
But the fairy was laughing too

As quick as thought I seized the elf
"Give me your purse!" I cried
"The purse" – says he – "is in her hand"
"That lady by your side"
I turned to look, the elf was gone
And what was I to do?
And I laughed to think what a fool I'd been
But the fairy was laughing too