The Boy Who Found The Pots of Gold

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 26 November 1938, Page 13

The Boy Who Found The Pots of Gold

A FAIRY TALE FROM IRELAND 1 I 1 There was once a poor boy who used i 1 to drive his cart along the road, ami sell turf to the neighbours. He was a 1 strange boy. very jfileht. and spent his | 1 evenings ih his little htit. where he livfetl * i alone, reading did bits of books he had ! picked up ih his rambles. And as he ; 1 read, he longed to be rich and live in a fine house with a garden all round him. \ and to have plenty of books. Now he once read how the Fairies' j Shoefnakers. the Leprechauns—merry , i little Sprites—sit at sunset under the j hedges mending thb shoCs of Elfin Folk. | And bow they chuckle as they work. ( for they know where the pots of Fairy Gold are hidden. So evening after evening, the boy j watched the hedges hoping to catch a | glimpse of a littl& cobbler, and to hear I the click-clack of his tiny hammer. At last, bne evening, just as the sun was setting. the Boy saw a little |

Leprechaun sitting under a dock-leaf, J and working away hard on a small boot. He was dressed in green and wore a red cap on his head. The boy jumped down from his cart, and catching the Leprechaun by the neck, cried merrily: -Ho. ho! My fine little mail, you can't 1 get away until you tell rue Where the FSiry Gold is hidden." “Easy now.” said the little man, laughing. “Don't hurt me., and 111 | tell you all about it. I could harm you. If I wished, for I have the power; but j I like you. and you arc an industrious \ lad. So carry me to yonder fort, and ; I'll show you the gold.” Carrying the Leprechaun carefully, the boy took a few steps, and found himself close to the ruins of an old ; fort. A door opened in a stone wall, and j | he walked in. I ; "Now look around,” said the 1 [ Leprechaun. Then the boy saw that the whole! | ground was covered with gold pieces. 1 j while pots full of gold and silver money i stood about in such plenty that it i seemed as if all the riches of the World i were there. I “Take what you want.” said the | Leprechaun, “and be quick about it;

' for if the door shuts you will never ! leave this place alive.” The boy hurried, and gathered his arms full of gold and silver, and hastening out of the door, flung all into the ' cart. Then he brought out some of the pots: but when he was on his way brick for more, the door shut with a clap like thunder, and night fell, and 1 I all was dark. j The boy saw no more of the < ' Leprechaun; and as he could hot even 1 ! thank him. he thought that it was best j ' j to drive home at once and hide his I treasure. ' When he reached his hut. he counted all the bright yellow pieces and shining Silver ones, and found that he was as : rich as a king. And because he was • [ I wise, he told no one about his adven- | hire, but the next day drove to town i ! and put all his money in the bank. After that he ordered a fine house. • i and laid out a spacious garden, and had , i servants, and carriages and many books. • Then he married the daughter of a : magistrate, and became great and l powerful. His children are living rich ; and happy; and no matter how much j they give to the poor, their wealth al- ; j ways increases.