Lilac Fairy Book

Chapter 7 The French Leprechaun

Among the alpine pastures and valleys of central France lives a mischievous elf who loves to play tricks on everyone, especially shepherds and cowboys.They never knew when they would be hurt by him, for he could become man, woman, child, and twig, goat, and plowshare.Indeed, there was only one thing he could not change, and that was the sewing needle.Although he can change into the shape of a needle, he can't change the eye of a needle, so every woman can recognize him immediately, and he knows this very well.

We call this mischievous little elf a Leprechaun.He loved best to do his tricks at midnight, when the shepherds and cowboys were very tired and fast asleep after a long day's work.In those days, he used to go into the barn, unchain the cows in their stalls, and throw the chains on the ground with a bang, waking up the cowboys.No matter how tired they are, they have to drag their tired bodies to the cowshed and re-fasten the chain.They had just returned to bed when the same thing happened again, and it went on like this until dawn.Otherwise, the goblin would plait the manes and tails of the two horses together to pass the night.The next morning, the groom had to work for hours to untie the braids, much to the delight of the goblin who was peeping in the haystacks in the attic.

One night more than 80 years ago, a man named William was passing here along the river bank when he noticed a sheep bleating loudly.William thought he must have strayed from the flock, and thought he had better take him home until he found his owner.So he walked towards where the sheep stood.The sheep seemed too tired to walk, so he put the sheep on his shoulders and continued walking.The sheep was quite heavy, but the kind man was very kind, and he wobbled forward with the sheep on his back.

"It's not very far," he thought as he came to a road lined with walnut trees.At this moment, a voice suddenly sounded above his head, and he was startled.

"Where are you?" said the voice.The sheep replied, "I am on the shoulders of a donkey."

In an instant, the sheep stood on the ground.William spread his legs and ran to the house desperately.As he ran forward, a series of mocking sounds that still sounded like sheep bleating echoed in his ears.Even though he didn't want to hear it, the words crept into his ears: "Oh, my God! I'm so happy, really!"

The goblin is careful not to keep playing tricks in the same place, but visits one village after another, so that everyone fears they will be the next victim.Before long, he got tired of the cowboys and shepherds and wondered if there was anyone else for him to keep entertained.At last he heard of a young couple who were going to the nearest town to buy things for their home.Believing that they must forget something indispensable, the little goblin waited patiently.At last they jolted back in their two-wheeled carriage, and he turned into a fly in order to eavesdrop on their conversation.

The conversation of the young couple was dull for a long time—about their wedding day next month and who they were going to invite.This reminded the bride of her wedding dress, and she let out a little cry.

"Oh my God, how could I be so stupid! I forgot to buy a different color of cotton thread to match the color of the dress!"

"Alas!" exclaimed the boy, "what a pity you told me that the tailor would be coming to-morrow?"

"Yes, I told you." Then she whispered again, this time in a completely different cry, "Look! Look!"

The groom took a closer look and saw a colorful ball of cotton thread on the side of the road, which matched the color of the cloth tied behind the car.

"Oh, what luck," he exclaimed, jumping out of the cart to pick up the ball of thread. "Anyone will think it was put there on purpose by the fairies."

"Maybe she really let it go." The girl laughed.When she spoke, she seemed to hear a small echo from the horse, which was impossible, of course.

Those threads please the tailor very much.They match the fabric very well, and unlike most threads, they never tangle and never break.She finished work ahead of schedule.The bride told her to go to church to see her in her wedding dress.

A large crowd had gathered to watch the ceremony, as the young couple were well-liked in the neighborhood and their parents were very wealthy.The doors of the house were all wide open, and the bride could be seen from a distance walking along the chestnut avenue.

"What a beautiful girl!" cried the men. "The dress is beautiful!" the women whispered.But the moment she entered the church and held the hand of the groom who was waiting for her, a loud voice rang out.

With a bang, the wedding dress fell to the ground, causing the people in the dress to panic.

The wedding will not be postponed because of such a small matter!A splendid cloak was immediately brought to the bride, but she was so distraught that she could hardly hold back her tears.One guest, more curious than others, stayed to examine the gown carefully.She tried to get to the bottom of what had caused the disaster.

"The thread must be rotten," she said to herself, "and I'll see if I can tear it off." But all she looked for, she couldn't find a thread.

Those lines are all gone!

(End of this chapter)