After searching for many months, he had finally found a castle which was within his financial reach. Bargaining had been hard and furious with the Lords bursar, but a fair price and terms had been
arranged. There was only one problem, Malcomb had to travel to country Cork to sign the closing papers and Lord
Per dome would have to give his final approval, even though the bursar was his
agent.
Sir Malcomb Bald ridge arrived at the ancient home of the Lord near dusk, having traveled for almost twelve hours. The doorman bade him to enter, where he was seated in the guest chamber to await
the Lords acceptance of his guest. After several hours, the Lords secretary asked him to go to the Lords chamber. He
quietly seated himself, observing the large desk piled with various legal
documents. After several hours of wrangling over terms and payment, the original agreement was to be signed almost without any change, except one. The Lord demanded
Macomb's shadow.
Give his shadow for a
castle, as if monetary payment was not enough. Malcomb was aghast. Curious that the Lord wanted his shadow, for what value is a shadow. He thought about the consequences of not having a shadow and
could not think of one disadvantage, rather many advantages like being able to enter a room in a rather stately fashion with out any thing dark following or preceding him. Well he would just have to
give up his shadow for he truly wanted the magnificent castle. They signed the papers and upon leaving he noticed that his shadow continued to follow him until he reached a window on whose ledge was
placed a pot which contained a cluster of four leaf clovers. When passing, his shadow suddenly disappeared.
Even several years later Malcomb mused about why the four leaf clovers having been passed gave up his shadow, that is until he heard of the commotion in town that day from his cook, Elway.
Seems a traveling circus man had a rabbit who had a log tied to his leg by a rope. The rabbit pulled the log through the streets and alley ways of the town. With each street being traveled, more
and more town folk followed behind to marvel at the rabbit pulling the log. Such a wee creature and such a large and heavy log. Now this was a feat worthy of seeing and in later years to retell to
friends and family.
The crowd following the rabbit pulling the log grew and grew until they passed a man who was carrying kindling for fire on his back commented that he could not understand why so many people were
following a rabbit who was pulling a straw with a piece of thread. The circus man asked to purchase the kindling from the man, but he refused until he was offered three times the value of his wares.
Once having taken possession of the kindling, everyone saw the rabbit as puling a log and the crowd which now included the man who had possessed the kindling, marveled that such a wee creature could
pull such a heavy load.
Included in the pile of kindling was a four leaf clover. The circus man knew for certain a four leaf clover was in the pile, for such is the power of a shamrock which enables a human to see things
as they are in fact and not as a hood winked crowd.
As you travel the world in search of your shadow, perhaps you will venture into the land of dreams - Ireland. Look along the coast line for a castle whose grounds contain shamrocks in abundance.
Here you will also find the shadows of the ancient ones who still travel mother earth in search of those who will cheer a cheer. Once having found a human who loves poetry and the goodness which the
verse brings to the reader, you will know such a person by their mark.
A shadow of greatness perceived in the minds of the Ulitar, who with the vision of The Faerie Mother and The Keeper, cheer for the love of the cheer - not what earthly reward it may bring, but joy
pure and simple.
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