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Tam O'Sham Part 1 - The journey Begins |
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The journey through Tam O'Sham's life and adventures, begins a long time ago.
The Leprechauns use a much different way of measuring time than we do. Their calendar is called a "Raith". It contains "Staughs" that are very much like our years, and "Gleedoms" that are almost like our days. Their Staughs and Gleedoms are much, much, shorter then our days and years are though. Leprechauns do not have weeks or months like we do. They use the sun to measure the length of their Gleedoms, so they also do not have hours, minutes, or seconds. In human years, Tam O'Sham was born on the afternoon of July 26, 1995. Now in human years, that may not seem so long ago. In Leprechaun years, it is a very, very, long time ago.
On Gleedom 22, in the Staugh of 47894, this wee Leprechaun was born. "The Forest of Dreams", where Tam O'Sham lives, is located near a wee townland called Kinnia in County Cavan, Ireland. Some of the other Leprechauns believe that Tam O'Sham was born on a thick patch of four leaf clovers. Under the giant mushrooms that grow wild, near the end of "The Rainbow Stream". It was so long ago, that none of the wee folks can really remember.
When Tam O'Sham was born, he had tiny, pointed ears and big, green eyes. He had four fingers on each hand and four toes on each foot. He was perfect! The first thing you notice about him, is his bright, red hair. His parents took one look at him, and knew right away, that he was a "Special Leprechaun". As he grows older, he will develop a very special gift. Not all Leprechauns are this lucky though. The wee folks have told me, that only one in every seventy-one leprechauns born, would wind up with one of these special gifts. His Mam and Pap wondered just which special gift, their wee laddie would develop.
Could it be, that Tam O'Sham would be able to heal injured animals in "The Forest of Dreams"? Maybe he would develop the ablility to warn his village when danger was near. Or could it possible be, that Tam O'Sham would be able to create beautiful music from the wind? There are many gifts that "Special Leprechauns" can develop but Tam's parents will just have to wait till he grows a little, to find out.
Each Staugh, Leprechauns receive one gold coin for their celebration. Because Tam O'Sham is a "Special Leprechaun", he receives two coins. He adds these to the crock he keeps hidden in "The Forest of Dreams" near his home. Today Tam O'Sham is 130 Staughs old. That is about 6 human years old. He already has 260 gold coins and it won't be much longer before he will need a bigger crock to hold all his gold.
Tam O'Sham's parents have asked my friend Bryan and I, to write about his life and the adventures he will have. They would like everyone to know about their very special lad and the trials he will face as he develops, and learns to master, his gift.
Tam O'Sham loves to nap under the shade of the giant mushrooms, that grow down by the banks, of "The Rainbow Stream". He loves to hear the birds singing and the crickets softly chirping in the long grass, as he settles down to sleep. Every once in a while, if he is there in the late afternoon, he is lucky enough to hear the enchanting sounds of Shay McKay.
Shay McKay is also a "Special Leprechaun". She is older then Tam by about 240 Staughs. Shay has very long hair that is just as bright red, as Tam's hair is, but she has eyes the colour of saphires. Deep, deep blue like the water in "The Rainbow Stream" and not at all like Tam's big, green eyes. Shay has the gift of music and can turn the breeze into beautiful, enchanting melodies. She even has a music note necklace that contains a dark yellow "Clover Stone". Tam O'Sham is one of her favourite wee Leprechauns and she always makes wonderful music to sooth Tam O'Sham into slumber.
"Clover Stones", like the one Shay wears around her neck, are awarded for lots of different reasons. They are many, many different colours of "Clover Stones" which include red, green, blue, yellow, orange, pink and purple. Each colour has a special meaning and diffenernt background shape. Leprechauns can earn a Clover Stone for mastering their special gift but you can earn one for helping someone in need. The rarest is white, and is reserved only for Tam's very special friends. This rare white stone, comes on a diamond shaped background and is the only one that cannot be earned.
When a good deed is done, or a special gift mastered, Orbleigh brings a Clover Stone necklace to award to the person or Leprechaun who has earned it. Orbleigh is "The Keeper of the Clover Stones". He makes them from his own two hands and keeps them safe until they are earned. Orbleigh is just one of many creatures that share the Forest of Dreams with the Leprechauns. You will meet many different creatures in Tam O'Sham's adventures.
If you catch a Leprechaun, you can make them lead you to their crock of gold. It is then yours to keep. But, if they agree to grant you a wish, then you must return it. You have to be very careful though. They will try to trick you so they can escape. Tam O'Sham is very fast and can hide faster then you can blink your eyes. He will try to get you to look behind you and then your search will be spoiled. You will have to start your search all over again from the very start.
If you're a friend of Tam O'Sham, you cannot take his gold and ask him to grant your wish. Tam O'Sham loves to make new friend and would like to become friends with you. Would you like to become friends with Tam O'Sham?
 greenshamrock · Sat Oct 15, 2005 @ 11:37pm · 0 Comments |
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