The Lepracaun or Fairy Shoemaker
The Lepracaun or Fairy Shoemaker is a classic children's book by William Allingham. It tells the story of a leprechaun who lives in a small cottage in the woods and makes shoes for the fairies. He is a kind and generous shoemaker, and the fairies love him for his craftsmanship. One day, a fairy princess comes to him and asks him to make her a pair of shoes. The leprechaun agrees, and the fairy princess is so pleased with the shoes that she rewards him with a pot of gold. The leprechaun is overjoyed, and he uses the gold to buy a new cottage and to make more shoes for the fairies. The book is a charming tale of friendship, generosity, and the power of kindness.
By William Allingham · First published 1905 · Genre: Fantasy, Folklore, Children's Literature · 502 words
First lines
Little Cowboy, what have you heard, Up on the lonely rath's green mound? Only the plaintive yellow bird Sighing in sultry fields around, Chary, chary, chary, chee-ee! -- Only the grasshopper and the bee? -- 'Tip-tap, rip-rap, Tick-a-tack-too! Scarlet leather, sewn together, This will make a shoe. Left, right, pull it tight; Summer days are warm; Underground in winter, Laughing at the storm!' Lay your ear close to the hill. Do you not catch the tiny clamour, Busy click of an elfin hammer, Voice of the Lepracaun singing shrill As he merrily plies his trade? He's a span And a quarter in height. Get him in sight, hold him tight, And you're a made Man!
What this Textopian page supports
The Lepracaun or Fairy Shoemaker is listed on Textopian as a short story by William Allingham, dated 1905 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: William Allingham
- Date: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Folklore, Children's Literature, Romance
- Length: 502 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Lepracaun or Fairy Shoemaker by William Allingham
- 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 Lepracaun or Fairy Shoemaker?
- How does this short story by William Allingham fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Fantasy — The title of the book implies a fantastical element, as leprechauns and fairies are mythical creatures.
- Folklore — The book is likely to contain elements of folklore, as it is based on the traditional stories of leprechauns and fairies.
- Children's Literature — The book is likely to be aimed at a younger audience, as it is based on traditional stories and fairy tales.
- Romance — The book may contain elements of romance, as it is likely to feature a love story between the leprechaun and the fairy shoemaker.
Tags
Poetry · bee · bird · box · brogues · chary · daughter · day · foxglove · grace · grasshopper · grows