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Shamus’s Present.

Many years ago I helped a Leprechaun that was having some trouble from some drunken men. The leprechaun was doing quite well with his shillelagh but I felt I had to help him and I myself attacked the men. They soon ran off when the opposition got too much for them. Since that day the Leprechaun, his name is Shamus, often visits me and has repaid me for my help by mending my roof and doing odd jobs around my big old house. We have had some quite exciting adventures in the last twenty years or so. It did not surprise me to receive a parcel from him.

The parcel had been posted from the town of Killarney in Ireland and had taken three days to reach me. I had no idea what was in the parcel and I opened it with some excitement. Shamus always was good for a surprise or two. Cutting the string that held the parcel together I opened the brown paper wrapping and saw a pair of boots. The boots I tried on and they fitted me perfectly. In one of the boots I felt a small obstruction and reaching inside of the boot I pulled out a piece of paper. On the paper written in the finest copperplate writing a message from Shamus.

If you are ever in danger while wearing these boots jump! I thought to myself to jump in such heavy boots would mean that I would soon be tired. My gardening boots are very old and I had been thinking of getting myself some new ones for while now Shamus had sent me just the right present a pair of boots that would do me well in my garden work. Three or four weeks went by and the boots were a treat to work in. Comfortable with the leather giving way to my every move, I am delighted. I have written to Shamus’s address thanking him for his very generous present. Today I had an answer from Shamus who tells me that he is coming to see me in a couple of days if that is all right with me. It is a pleasure for me to have Shamus come to visit he is full of tales about his many travels.

Shamus arrived some four days later and after a cup of sweet tea and some ginger biscuits he asked me whether I had jumped in the new boots. I told him no that I had, had no need to jump I have not been in any kind of danger. “Come into the garden,” said Shamus and we both went out into my large back garden. “Now jump,” said Shamus, I was not prepared for what happened next. I jumped and landed some sixty feet away from the spot that I had been standing on. “That will happen every time you call jump,” smiled shamus. “I made you these boots with some magic leather as I have heard that you are about to be attacked by a group of wizards.” “This is one of your defences. Another is this my shillelagh, (Irish cudgel) I now give it to you as your second means of defence.” “The third means of defence is your old wheelbarrow. I have taken the trouble to fix it a little, so do not be surprised at what it may do if you are attacked.” I am sorry that I cannot stay to help you, like you helped me but I am officially on some business for Her Majesty Queen Feeana and should be in Delaware in the US of A. Grinning all over his face, Shamus waved goodbye and disappeared in a small flash of smoke.

Going back indoors I thought about what Shamus had told me. I was to be attacked by a group of wizards. I did not for one-minute doubt Shamus’s words he is always too well informed for me to be in doubt. I decided that the wizards would not attack me here in my house as it is too well guarded by Her Majesty Queen Feeana. The garden I did not think that I would be attacked in my garden. My old dog Wag would warn me of any danger. I did take the shillelagh and wore the boots everywhere that I went. Embarrassing for me was the fact that every time that I went out of my house wearing my boots and carrying the shillelagh my old wheelbarrow followed me. I was afraid that the neighbours would start gossiping if the wheelbarrow moved on its own so I put the shillelagh in the wheelbarrow and walked behind it. If any one came along I would bend down and grab the handles of the barrow to make it look as if I was pushing the thing. Half way into town to do some shopping it happened. I was surrounded by a group of five wizards. The wizards were all dressed in black clothing with gold and silver stars on their cloaks on their heads each had a long pointed hat. My old dog Wag gave off a vicious snarl and then did not wait he ran for the nearest and sank his teeth in the man’s leg. The shillelagh sprang from the barrow and started in on the wizards one after the other got a big surprise as the blows rained down on them from the shillelagh. As the wizards fell unconscious from the attacks of the shillelagh. The wheelbarrow under its own power collected the bodies and transported them to the nearest ditch where it promptly pitched them into the dirty water in the ditch.

Then as quickly as it had started it was over. Wag stood by my feet his tail wagging to and fro he was very satisfied. The shillelagh was now resting in my wheelbarrow. My wheelbarrow turned and headed for home. I walked behind and then thought to myself I did not need Shamus’s boots after all I had not needed to jump. Then Wag growled once and I saw that the wizards had now formed a line across my path to stop me from getting home. They were now pointing some magic wands at me and started to chant an old spell. Now I realised I was trouble and called to my boots jump. My boots lifted me to a spot behind the wizards and now my dog wag, my wheelbarrow and my shillelagh were again attacking the wizards. Four of whom were trying to protect the fifth who with his magic wand pointing at me was chanting his spells again. Jump! I landed way behind the wizard: jump again and I was on his left then jump and I was on his right. He just could not concentrate long enough for his spell to work. The five wizards then gave up trying to attack me and off they ran. My shillelagh and my wheelbarrow followed them for a while then returned home to my back garden. Nowadays I only use the boots for my garden work. The shillelagh has a place of honour in my walking stick stand and the wheelbarrow is still as comfortable to sleep in as it always has been. Later I told Shamus of what had happened and he was not very happy, as he himself would liked to have been with me while I was under attack.