It was the morning of St. Patrick's Day, and Algy was resting quietly on a wee log beside the daffodils, when all of a sudden a rather unusual visitor appeared…☘️
Some of Algy's more longstanding tumblr friends will recall that Algy's hair always turns green on St. Patrick's Day… but they never knew how it was done. Now, perhaps, they have a clue…☘️
The wee fellow cavorted around Algy with boundless energy, leaping and laughing until Algy was quite dizzy, and as it capered and frolicked about, it chanted an old poem with great glee…
Algy wishes a very Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of his friends in Ireland or with Irish heritage ☘️
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 clamour, Busy click of an elfin hammer, Voice of the Leprachaun 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 you'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-tow'r, cave and rath, And where the cormorants build; From times of old Guarded by him; Each of them fill'd Full to the brim With gold! I caught him at work one day, myself, In the castle-ditch where foxglove grows,— A wrinkled, wizen'd, 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 pull'd a snuff-box out. He took a long pinch, look'd better pleased, The queer little Leprachaun; Offer'd the box with a whimsical grace,— Pouf! he flung the dust in my face, And while I sneezed, Was gone!
[The Leprachaun is chanting the poem The Leprachaun by the 19th century Irish poet William Allingham.]
