The Bog-Wood Box
A young man named Denis Duchesne discovers a plain box in a shop, which he purchases to store fiddle strings. Upon opening it, he is surprised by a green light and a leprechaun emerges, marking the last of its kind to leave Ireland. Denis, a music and dance teacher, is unaware of the leprechaun's presence as he dreams of a girl named Dorothy Macmurchison, who lives in the same building. The leprechaun, curious and friendly, visits an old man named Berry, who struggles to finish a song about tears and dew. The leprechaun promises to help Berry complete his song before departing. The next morning, Denis finds his fiddle strings broken and replaces them with those from the box. When his students arrive for dance lessons, he plays a tune that captivates everyone, including Dorothy. The music evokes memories of youth and joy, transforming the atmosphere as the students dance with abandon. Denis and Dorothy share a special moment, dancing together and experiencing a deeper connection. Meanwhile, the leprechaun returns to Berry, bringing the final word to complete his song: "love." Berry appreciates the gesture, and the leprechaun departs, leaving behind a sense of magic. The story concludes with the joyous dancing continuing in Denis's room, symbolizing the enduring spirit of youth and love.
By Marjorie Pickthall · First published 1906 · Genre: Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism · 3,272 words
First lines
"This is not a story," Great-Aunt Hawthorne used to say, "it is just something that happened."
Mr. Denis Duchesne first saw the box one evening in the shop window, behind a bowl of Japanese silver fish and a windflower blossoming in a blue china jug. It was a little box, quite plain, and by the look of it had lain long a-soaking in the black bog-water. He bought it for a shilling and threepence three farthings, and took it home to keep fiddle-strings in. And no sooner had he taken the lid off than out shone a little green light and a spark.
What this Textopian page supports
The Bog-Wood Box is listed on Textopian as a short story by Marjorie Pickthall, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Marjorie Pickthall
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Coming-of-Age, Romance
- Length: 3,272 words
- Structure: 1 section, 51 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Bog-Wood Box by Marjorie Pickthall
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Bog-Wood Box?
- How does this short story by Marjorie Pickthall fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Fantasy — The presence of a leprechaun and magical elements throughout the story establishes it firmly in the fantasy genre.
- Literary Fiction — The narrative style, character development, and exploration of themes such as love, youth, and creativity align with literary fiction.
- Magical Realism — The blending of magical elements with realistic settings and characters reflects the characteristics of magical realism.
- Coming-of-Age — The protagonist's experiences and emotional growth throughout the story suggest a coming-of-age theme.
Tags
Fiction · Literary Fiction · Canadian Literature · Short Stories · Coming-of-Age · Family Drama · Small Town Life · Isolation · Mystery · Suspense · Psychological Insight · Character Study