The Crock of Gold

little room. This room was hollowed out immediately under the tree, and great care had been taken not to disturb any of the roots which ran here and there th

well. The first things they became aware of were six small men who were seated on low roots. They were all dressed in tight green clothes and little leathern aprons, and they wore tall green hats which wobbled when they moved. They were all busily engaged making shoes. One was drawing out wax ends on his knee, another was softening pieces of leather in a bucket of water, another was polishing the instep of a shoe with a piece of curved bone, an

orgot their good manners, but as soon as Seumas Beg discovere

th all her

lifted Brigid from the floor to whi

hild of my heart," said he, "and

" said Bri

tal root. He had to climb over one, go round three and climb up two roots to get at it, and he di

o turn the heel, B

r," sai

w you how when

sed work and were looking at the

e work," said

ckered face and a thin fringe of grey whi

, "and I'll measure you for a pair of

recaun took the measure of

," and he measured her also. "They'

hing else but make sh

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

ee your crock of g

oked at him fixe

iddle bread and

well," Seum

precaun took a piece of griddle bread from

recauns asked them many questions -"Wh

lock," rep

you have fo

and milk,"

the Leprecaun. "What

nd milk," s

id the Leprecaun. "And wh

time because her brot

milk, sir

g better," said

o to bed," con

you?" said t

agrath knocked on the tree trunk and demanded

and the Shee of Croghan Conghaile, so they shook hands with the children and bade them goodbye. The Leprecaun who had enticed them

bread or potato cake, and a noggi

replied Seumas, and his

walked away they

"the way he hopped and waggled h

," repli

or doing anything at all

our tonight," said Br

I," sai

at

tice that they had been away at all. He said at last that "talking was bad wit, that women were always making a fuss, that children should be fed, but not fattened, and that beds were meant to be slept in." Th