The Leprechaun's Button

Once, when I was younger, I took a stroll in the woods not far from home. This being not unusual for me, since they were so close. But one day, late in the evening, while dusk was drawing near, I heard a wondrous sound of tap tap taping upon the land. This being far in the woods and fair distance from the closest hearth, I took it upon myself to investigate.

As I stole closer and closer to where the sound came from, I could hear a song upon the winds. It was a rather lyrical tone from an ancient selection. I crept among the bushes and finally was able to peer upon where the sounds came from. What would my wondering eyes do see, but a tiny man no bigger than a small boy. From him came the song to help in the tapping upon the sole of a small shoe.

I blinked once, and then twice, but to no avail. A leprechaun sat very close to me repairing a shoe. Then I thought, and then I remembered. A leprechaun is never without his pot of gold, and if one was lucky enough to capture a leprechaun he was gifted with this same pot of gold. My mind whirled and my mind twirled, oh what happiness would the pot of gold bring to me. But there is a note of warning upon this, for if you take your eyes off the slippery little man, off he is to his home and you are there grasping fast upon a hold of air.

I took a deep breath and counted three. I jumped from my hiding spot and landed right upon the wee fellow. We tousled, we turned, from side to side we both rolled. He cursed; he spat, and cried foul deed. He bellowed that my hold was too tight and was choking him, that he would breathe his last this very night. My hold upon him was steady and fast and as fair as circumstance could be. For you see I truly didn’t want to choke the poor soul, I just wanted his gold. But soon he did get tired of tossing me. In a harried voice I did lastly speak, “I have capture thee, now where is the gold.”

He started to chuckle and was soon trembling with laughter. He finally spoke, “Foolish child, my gold is by those same bushes right where you were at. All you had to do was reach out and take it. No foolhardy wrestling was needed this time.” I turned around and looked at the bushes and then I knew.

That I truly was just such a foolish child. For I took my eyes off the little Leprechaun you see, and his laughter soon filled my ears as he danced off in the night. When I turned back around to where we once were, what did catch my eye? Nothing but this small button that was still in my hand.

Remember this story that I’ve retold. Whether a tall tale or truth be unknown to you, but know this to be true. If a Leprechaun you hold in thy hands, keep also your eyes and ears on the little bugger too. For if not, all that you will take home, may just be a little button.