Soon the lad came along, and just as he was going to climb down he heard some one groan.
“What’s below?” he cried in a fright. “Is it evil? Is it good?”
“It’s your mother with a broken leg,” groaned she.
“And is this my pot of gold!” exclaimed the lad, angrily.
And with that he ran for a neighbour, and together they drew the woman up and took her home. And from that day on she was lame.
As for the Leprechaun, he is still sitting under the burdock-leaf, and he laughs at the lad and his mother, as he mends his little shoes with his tiny hammer, Rip! Rap! Tick! Tack!—but they are afraid to touch him, for they know he can punish them badly.
TOM AND THE KNOCKERS
From Cornwall