— W. B. Yeats
We have been speaking of the fairies and how they love Ireland.
The fairies are divided into tribes just the way Ireland itself is divided into many districts, counties, and provinces.
There are many tribes of fairies, and these tribes are all quite different from one another.
There are those who dress like the flowers; and those that change themselves into various shapes. There are evil fairies and solitary fairies.
You must always call them the "Good People," for they are easily offended.
But if you believe in them and leave a bit of milk for them upon the window sill, they will bring luck and happiness to you.
Now the fairy that we are going to meet in this story is called the leprechaun, or fairy shoemaker. We are going to meet him, because if it had not been for him, there would be no story at all.
The fairy shoemaker sits under a toadstool making tiny shoes. The word "leprechaun" comes from two Irish words meaning "one shoe." The reason he bears this name is because he is always working upon one shoe.
The leprechaun is quick and mysterious. He is also mischievous. And one of his great pranks is stealing wee boys away.