WITHIN LIMIT s

. : by Harriett Fjaagesund

H...: a tall tale for St. Patrick’s Day that my mother once told
me. It involves two wayward leprechauns named Moe and Spry, good

_ _ old St. Patrick, and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

‘Moe and Spry were just about the laziest leprechauns in the whole of County Tipperary.
While the rest of the leprechauns were fiercely guarding their gold from marauding humans,
Moe and Spry were apt to be found down at the nearest fishing hole. Sprawled flat on their
backs, gazing dreamily at the passing clouds, these two hadn’t a care in the world. They saw
no.sense in hoarding gold; as far as they were concerned the humans were welcome to it, and
good riddance!

This did not set well with the rest of the leprechauns, but no amount of harping or
.. complaining did the least bit of good. Moe and Spry simply ignored them, preferring to fish
rather than argue. Tempers flared throughout the kingdom. "This is high treason!" declared

_ _ one leprechaun. “Off with their heads!" cried another."Put the whip to their backs!" shouted

” a third.
_, This carried on for a century or two until the high council finally decreed to banish Moe
and Spry from the leprechaun kingdom forever. They were shunned completely, even their
names were stricken from the language. All of which suited Moe and Spry just fine.
_ Centuries passed, and the matter was more or less forgotten.
Then a strange stirring swept across the land. Even Moe and Spry were moved to
_ curiosity at the odd tale being carried on the wind. It seemed that good St. Patrick was
summoning all the leprechauns, from the highest to the very lowest, to appear at the summit
.of the Rock of Cashel in 10 days time. For the first time in centuries, Moe and Spry forgot
all about fishing. oo - . .
St. Patrick’s mission was simple. The rainbow, he explained, was fading away. The fairy
dust that had been used to create the rainbow was nearly spent, and no more of the magic
dust existed. But a little of the magic in a leprechaun’s gold, given freely and with a pure
heart, might save the rainbow. A horrified gasp swept through the audience. Give up their
gold? Never! Not one wee drop would they part with! St. Patrick argued mightily, but to no
avail, . _

He’d nearly given up when a pair of raggedy leprechauns at the back of the audience
stood up. "You can have our gold," said Moe. "You can have all of it," said Spry. Amazed, St.
Patrick asked why they would be willing to give up all their gold. "We don’t need it,"
answered Moe. "We'd rather go fishing than guard it," added Spry. The rest of the
_ leprechauns sneered loudly at the outcasts. "Those two don’t belong here!" someone shouted.
"Stone them for their insolence!" another screamed.

__-_ St. Patrick held up his hand for silence as he studied the two misfits. Finally, he pointed

ar long, bony finger at the other leprechauns. "For your selfishness I condemn you to the rocks

- and burrows of the blighted Devil’s Bit mountains where you may stand and guard your
- hoard for all eternity.” And with a quick snap of his fingers, they all disappeared.

“~: Turning to Moe and Spry, he said, "For your honesty and generosity you will become
guardians of the rainbow, and your gift of gold will become a great legend in the human
world.” And with a twinkle in his eye, St. Patrick added in a droll voice, "I
understand there's.a wonderful fishing hole at the other end of the rainbow."

Terrace Review — March 13, 1992

Lop ta ener enim enema i A RR AR RT TE TE Ee le a ee 7"