noon
Barney told us gravely of the old woman who was in the habit of laying pishogues -LRB- charms -RRB- to break the legs of his neighbour 's cattle , because of an ancient grudge she bore him ; and also how necessary it is to put a bit of burning turf under the churn to prevent the phookas , or mischievous fairies , from abstracting the butter or spoiling the churning in any way . Irish fays seem to be much interested in dairy matters , for , besides the sprites who delight in distracting the cream and keeping back the butter -LRB- I wonder if a lazy up-and-down movement of the dasher invites them at all , at all ? -RRB- , it is well known that many a milkmaid on a May morning has seen fairy cows browsing along the banks of lakes , -- cows that vanish into thin mist at the sound of human footfall . When we were quite cross at missing the noon train from Rossan , quite tired of the car 's jolting , somewhat vexed even at the mare 's continued enjoyment of her ` iligant load , ' Barney appeased us all by singing , in a delightful , mellow voice , a fairy song called the ` Leprehaun , ' -LSB- * -RSB- This personage , you must know , if you have n't a large acquaintance among Irish fairies , is a tricksy fellow in a green coat and scarlet cap , with brave shoe buckles on his wee brogues . You will catch him sometimes , if the ` glamour ' is on you , under a burdock leaf or a thorn bush , and he is always making or mending a shoe . He commonly has a little purse about him , which , if you are quick enough , you can snatch ; and a wonderful purse it is , for whatever you spend , there is always money to be found in it . Truth to tell , nobody has yet succeeded in being quicker than Master Leprehaun , though many have offered to fill his cruiskeen with ` mountain dew , ' of which Irish fairies are passionately fond .