Lily's Poem:
The Leprechaun
March 17, 2020 (for school)
This short fellow is usually found
Dwelling in a tree, or a cave, or the ground
Captured, he’ll grant you wishes, three
Escaped, he’ll cause mischief with glee
With small, nimble hands he skillfully glues
And hammers, and nails, and makes buckled shoes
Quickfooted and fast, he dances all night
To wild woodland tunes played by fairies and sprites
Amara's Story
Once upon a time, at the base of a rainbow, stood a little hut. And in this hut, lived a greedy, grumpy, leprechaun. He sat in his hut, counting gold, and making shoes. He hardly ever left his small home, not because he liked his home, but because he couldn’t bear the thought of leaving his gold. He only went out when he was on the verge of starving, having no food. He would rush away from his little hut, hurriedly pick all the berries, mushrooms, and anything he could find that was edible, and rush back home, eager to look at his gold once more. Now, this leprechaun didn’t realize it, but he was lonely. Because he was so grumpy, he didn’t have any friends! Nobody wanted to be friends with such a greedy person. This leprechaun was named Rusty. And now, he is in his little hut, stacking gold coins. “Nine hundred and ninety-nine, one thousand!” Rusty sat back on his stool, letting a wide grin spread across his face. He was contemplating how long it would take him to make another pair of shoes, when a small leprechaun with ragged clothes knocked on his door. Rusty’s grin vanished, and he opened the door with an irate look on his face. The small leprechaun cowered, and squeaked “please can I borrow some sugar?” Rusty furrowed his eyebrows even deeper. “I don’t care. Just leave me alone.” He slammed the door, mumbling about how annoying some people are. When he sat back down, with his tools, he heard yet another knock! He threw his tools on the table, and stormed up to the door. He flung it open and shouted “I DON'T EVEN HAVE SUGAR!!” when he looked down, he found a little dog. He glared at it. “Well you’re not who I was expecting.” And he slammed the door. A few days later, the dog returned, this time, he slipped through the door before Rusty could slam it. He snapped up some berries left on the table. Rusty lifted a finger, and was about to shout at the dog, when it left. Rusty clenched his fists, and went back to work. The dog kept returning, always entering, eating a few berries, and leaving. Eventually Rusty got into the habit of wearily opening his door at 3:00 pm, letting the dog eat. On the 17th of March, however, the dog came in, ate a berry, and curled up by the fire. Rusty thought about kicking the dog out, but just let him sleep. Rusty began to care for the dog, taking him on walks, and feeding him. He named the dog shamrock, and Shamrock helped Rusty become less greedy, and taught him the importance of friendship. Rusty no longer sat in his hut all day, counting gold. Instead he went outside, and walked shamrock, or played ball with him. Rusty began talking to his neighbors, even becoming close friends with a few. And every time saint patricks day rolls around, Rusty and Shamrock celebrate the day they met.
THE END
Lani's Story
Once upon a time, in a very green place lived a happy family of leprechauns. This family was very good at dancing, shoe making, and music playing. Each night by the fire they would pick up their whistles and fiddles, their drums and their spoons, and make merry music to move to. They'd take turns trading off dancers and musicians. It's a good thing they used their days in making shoes because what all that dancing did to their boots and buckles!
One day grandfather noticed they were in need of shoe nails, so he had to venture into the human market to get more. The leprechaun children and grandchildren helped Grandpa get ready. He would need to take off his orange suit and orange coat, the one with seven rows of 7 buttons, and disguise himself. They wouldn't want a human recognizing Grandpa as a leprechaun and kidnapping him because they wanted to Rob his family of their gold.
Soon enough Grandpa was ready. He had on a tall black hat and a suit of brown. Under his coat the grandkids had stuffed loads of rags to create a hump near the top of his back. This would make him look old and slouched indeed! You see Grandpa was only 3 ft tall, as most leprechauns are, and though he was spry and healthy, he would pretend to be a very old human. In his hands he carried a thick walking stick, as a part of his disguise. His youngest son, Tom, had the bright idea to put a pebble in his shoe to slow him down and create a bit of a limp. Grandpa liked this idea, but decided to hold the pebble until he was ready to limp around.
His purse carried only one gold coin, all he needed to buy plenty of shoe nails. And off he went.
"Bye!" His family waved him off.
"Hey Grandpa," called Tom, "watch your step!” and he laughed wholeheartedly until he was rolling on the ground in laughter
"Thanks. Will do, Tom!” Grandpa called back over his shoulder.
He walked quickly following the path to town. Suddenly in his path lay a curious fishing line. He almost didn't see it but the sun had cast a perfect day upon in at just the right moment.
"What's this?” Grandpa examined the line closer. It was taut. He pinged it with his walking stick and with a snapping rustle a basket of leaves fell upon his head.
Startled, Grandpa rushed away from the leaf pile, but in his frenzy he tripped over what was another fishing line. He threw his stick and caught himself just as a basket of feathers dumped a flurry of floating snow upon him and the ground all around.
"Mischief!” Grandpa grumbled. Then he remembered the words of his son, Tom. He decided the shoe nails could wait and he tore down the path back to home. He was so annoyed. He couldn't wait to teach his son a lesson!
He flung the door to Tom's house open wide and with a boom came a bucket of honey right on Grandpa's head dripping gold from his hair to his toes!
Tom laughed wholeheartedly, this time falling to the ground in mirth.
”Happy April Fool's Day!” Tom choked out between his gasps of laughter.
"You're the fool" his father yelled as he feel upon Tom smothering him in sticky golden honey.
Tom called for his dad to stop, but he was just getting started. He rubbed honey through his hair, smeared it across his face and rolled all over him until his clothes and shoes we're plastered.
As the sweet revenge faded, the two of them were panting, neither smiling, and both upset.
"Look at my new shoes! I can't dance in these." Tom complained.
"What were you thinking, Tom? Such dasteredly tricks! It's September. April isn't for months! Are you insane?" his father queried.
Just then Tom pulled out a book from his pocket he had been reading entitled, 'April Fool's Fun.'
"It sounded funny when I read it." Tom admitted. "But I guess it wasn't as funny as I thought. Now I can't dance until I get new shoes. I suppose I deserve it. I feel bad. Sorry Dad."
Understanding his sons sincerity, Grandpa leprechaun replied, "Apology accepted, son. Now, let's get down to the river and get cleaned up. Oh! And let's take that book with us and start a fire with it."
Dinner and Decorations
Later, we made an Irish dinner. The girls made Irish Soda Bread & I made Colcannon- a dish of mashed potatoes w/ cooked cabbage & onions stirred in & a pool of butter in the center. I left the bacon on the side for Steve instead of stirring it in.
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| Irish Soda Bread |
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| Colcannon |
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| Carrot Coins Amara made darling place settings for everyone, decorated the center of the table 2/ a construction paper cauldron she had made and filled it with jellybeans she received from her Young Women's leader. She also made fortunes for us, when we were done eating. So cute and creative! |
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