FAIRY FARM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20420, 23 November 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

FAIRY FARM.

By ALICE A. KENNY.

. Part L There once was ix boy named Michael, who lived on a farm with his father. It was a lino farm and they tfere very happy, but ouo day Michael came homo and found his father looking vory sad. "What is the' matter Father?" lie asked. " I'll tell you," said his father, " because you're a fine boy, so you are, and you've always helped me well. I bought this farm seven years ago from a nwn, and a queer sort of man ho was. I had my suspicions that "ho was a queer sort of man, and sure enough ho was. I did not pay l)im the whole prico of the farm because I did not have enough money; half was what I paid him, and then we made a bargain. 4 Seven years from now. says he, 'on Christmas Evo you shall pay me seven pieces of fairy gold, and then the farm is wholly yours, but )f von cannot pay me, out you go, and fairies shall dance where your barn and your hearthstone are to-day,' And to that I agreed, and hero is Christmas Evo nearly come, and mo with no idea where to look for fairy gold." " I'll take ntv hat, and a good, stout stick," said Michael, " and go out in the world and see if I cun hear of fairy p;old. Don't you fret, Father. I'll be back bv Christmas Eve and it will be queer if I haven't a pocket full of gold by then." "Good luck to you," said his father, " but sure the little people are a tiicky lot to deal With." . So Michael took his hat and stick, and a pair of warm gloves in case it camo on cold, and a sandwich or two to eat on the way, and some dark glasses to keep the sun glaro from his eves, and started out into the world. As he went through the farm yard ho heard a little pet hen of his cackling over a new laid egg, and he thought it might do for his tea, so ho stopped, and put that in his pocket <OO. Half the night he travelled oyer moor and hill, and strange wild places. Ho slept on the top of a hill among tumbled rocks, and when lie woke in the morning ho did not know where he was. White clouds were blowing across the sky, and close at hand ho could hear a tapping sound, and a small shrill song. Ho listened and soon made out the words: I make and mend their little shoes. By ones and twos, by ones and twos. 1 make and mend the fairy nlioon 13y starry light, and light of noon. " Why this must be the Leprechaun, the fairy shoemaker," thought Michael, " just the very man to tell mo how to get somo. fairy gold because, everyone knows ho has pots of it hidden away." He stepped out suddenly and took the Leprechaun by surprise. Ho was a funny, ugly little fairy, sitting cross legged on a stone and hammering away at the heel of a tiny green shoe. " Good day shoemaker," said Michael, " and good will to you too." Thfe fairy shoemaker, thoygh startled, remained calm. ' " Good-day mortal," ho said,_ " but there is no "goodwill between fairies and the human race." " Yes there is, indeed." said Michael, " Don't we call them the good people, and tho people of peace, and many a dish oi milk and loaf of bread have I left on tho door-step' at home for them beforo I went to bed." "What do you want here ?" said tho Leprechaun gruffly, " Well, I'll tell you now." said Michael, " and a wise fairy like yourself will know if it's the truth I'm telling you. I camo up here to make a present of tho nice sharp knife I've got in my pocket to the line old fairy that I see before mo so that his work wouldn't' come so hard on him." Whether the Leprechaun believed Michael or not he looked up greedily at the mpntion of a knife, for his own tools were not very good. " It's a fact," lie said. " that this grasshopper skin leather does bo very tough, and toad skin is not much better." " Take tho knife." said Michael, giving him his pocket knife, " and I'm snro a fine fellow like you wouldn't be grudging a piece of gold io a poor boy like me." The Leprechaun made a growling sound as though he was not best pleased, to be asked for gold, and in a flash he was gone. Tho knife was gone too, but on tho stone lay a round, shining piece of gold. Michael picked it up and put it in his pocket. " That's a beginning anyway." he said, and set off on his journey again. =>()C=>()<=>()C=>OC^()<=>OC=>(