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Three Minute Stories

Chapter 30: THE LEPRECHAUN

By Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards

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Children & Young Adult Reading Short Stories

About This Book

A collection of brief tales and verses for young readers that blends domestic vignettes, animal fables, and playful rhymes. Many pieces present self-contained scenes—children at play, pets and birds, seasonal and holiday moments—alongside short moral adaptations drawn from older folk stories. Entries range from whimsical nonsense to gentle instruction, and are arranged as easily read, often illustrated, items meant to be finished in a few minutes. The volume offers an accessible assortment of short, illustrated pieces designed to amuse, soothe, and convey simple lessons to a young audience.

THE LEPRECHAUN

“Come tell, Uncle Shaun,” says Rafferty’s Pat,

“On Patrick’s Day what would they be at

In Ireland, in Ireland,

In Ireland o’er the say?

Would they have the procession, as we do here,

Banners and shamrocks far and near,

Or would they do annything annyways queer,

In Ireland o’er the say?”

“Musha now! wisha now! mind what ye’re at!

Lind me the ears of ye, Rafferty’s Pat!

In Ireland, in Ireland,

In Ireland o’er the say,

One thing on St. Patrick’s Day does be,

If a boy should be havin’ the luck to see,

He’s safe to climb to the top of the tree,

In Ireland o’er the say.

“For my ould grandmother told me so,

And wisha! but she was the one to know,

In Ireland, in Ireland,

In Ireland o’er the say.

‘To make your fortune now, Nelligan’s Shaun,

There’s just one place where you must be gaun,

And that’s to the dance of the Leprechaun,

In Ireland o’er the say.

“‘The Leprechaun’s the height o’ me thumb;

He’s sharp as a pin and complate as a crumb;

In Ireland, in Ireland,

In Ireland o’er the say,

On Patrick’s Night he be givin’ a dance,

And oh! it’s the boy would be havin’ the chance

Could he hold him still wid the stren’th of his glance,

In Ireland o’er the say.

“‘He be askin’ all manner of beastie and bird,

And faix! they be comin’, I give ye me word;

In Ireland, in Ireland,

In Ireland o’er the say,

The rabbit would come wid his new shillelagh,

The fox and the goat would be footin’ it gaily,

The squirrel be there wid his bush for a taily,

In Ireland o’er the say.

“‘The pig brought the music, and he for to play

On a fine concertina’ (my grandmother say),

‘In Ireland, in Ireland,

In Ireland o’er the say,

Himself would be dancin’ to bate all the rest,

For all the world knows how the pig do be blest

Wid St. Patrick, long life to him, likin’ him best,

In Ireland o’er the say.

“‘The Leprechaun he be judge of the dance,

And while he be watchin’ it, then is your chance,

In Ireland, in Ireland,

In Ireland o’er the say;

For fix him once wid the stren’th of your eye,

Ye can hold him there till he’s like to die,

And he’ll give ye gold for your life’s supply,

In Ireland o’er the say.’”

“And oh! Uncle Shaun,” says Rafferty’s Pat,

“And did ye be goin’ there? tell about that,

In Ireland, in Ireland,

In Ireland o’er the say!”

“Musha now! wisha now! sure but I tried,

And I lay all night on the cold hill-side,

But ’twas only mesilf that was like to have died,

In Ireland o’er the say.

“But mind what I’m tellin’ ye, Rafferty’s Pat!

Ye’d always be thinkin’ of what ye were at,

In Ireland, in Ireland,

In Ireland by the say.

And on Patrick’s Night if ye hear the pig play,

Or meet wid a rabbit a-dancin’ so gay,

Sure the Leprechaun is not far away,

In Ireland o’er the say.”