Little cowboy, what have you heard
Up on the lonely rath's green mound!
Only the plaintive yellow bird
Sighing in sultry fields around,
Chary, chary, chary, chee-ee?
Only the grasshopper, and the bee?
"Tip-tap, rip-rap,
Tick-a-tack-too!
Scarlet leather sewn together,
This will make a shoe,
Left, right, pull it tight;
Summer days are warm;
Underground in winter,
Laughing at the storm!"
Lay your ear close to the hill.
Do you not catch the tiny clamor,
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Busy click of an elfin hammer,
Voice of the Lepracaun singing shrill
As he merrily plies his trade?
He's a span
And a quarter in height.
Get him in sight, hold him tight,
And your're a made Man!
You watch your cattle the summer day,
Sup on potatoes, sleep in the hay:
How would you like to roll in your carriage,
Look for a duchess's daughter in marriage?
Seize the Shoemaker—then you may:
"Big boots a-hunting,
Sandals in the hall,
White for a wedding feast,
Pink for a ball.
This way, that way,
So we make a shoe;
Getting rich every stitch,
Tick-tack-too!"
Nine and ninety treasure crocks
This keen miser-fairy hath,
Hid in mountains, woods and rocks,
Ruin and round tower, cave and rath,
And where the cormorants build
From times of old
Guarded by him
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Each of them filled
Full to the brim with gold!
I caught him at work one day myself,
In the castle ditch, where foxglove grows;
A wrinkled, wizened, and bearded elf,
Spectacles stuck on his pointed nose,
Silver buckles to his hose,
Leather apron, shoe in his lap.
"Rip-rap, tip-tap,
Tick-tack-too!
(A grasshopper on my cap!
Away the moth flew!)
Buskins for a fairy prince,
Brogues for his son;
Pay me well, pay me well,
When the job is done!"
The rogue was mine, beyond a doubt;
I stared at him, he stared at me
"Servant, sir!" "Humph!" says he,
And pulled a snuff-box out.
He took a long pinch, looked better pleased,
The queer little Lepracaun ;
Offered the box with a dainty grace—
Pouf! he flung the dust in my face!
And while I sneezed,
Was gone!
—WILLIAM ALLINGHAM.
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