The Leprecaun's purse

In a shady nook one moonlight night,
A leprachaun I spied;
With scarlet cap and coat of green;
A cruiskeen by his side.
'Twas tick tack tick, his hammer went,
Upon a weeny shoe;
And I laughed to think of a purse of gold:
But the fairy was laughing too.

With tip-toe step and beating heart,
Quite softly I drew nigh:
There was mischief in his merry face;-
A twinkle in his eye.
He hammered and sang with tiny voice,
And drank his mountain dew:
And I laughed to think he was caught at last:-
But the fairy was laughing too.

As quick as thought I seized the elf;
'Your fairy purse!' I cried;
'The purse!' he said - 'tis in her hand -
'That lady at your side!'
I turned to look: the elf was off!
Then what was I to do?
O, I laughed to think what a fool I'd been;
And the fairy was laughing too.