Jamie Freel by Favorite Story

Summary

Strange Tales (Old Time Radio) – “Jamie Freel” by Favorite Story

Release Date: July 12, 2026
Presented by: RelicRadio.com
Original Air Date: March 11, 1947
Host: (Possibly Ronald Coleman)
Featured actor: Sean McGlory as Jamie Freel
Chosen by guest expert: Barry Fitzgerald, famed Irish actor

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Episode Overview

This episode brings listeners one of Ireland’s enduring folk legends, as chosen by Barry Fitzgerald: the story of Jamie Freel—a tale of magic, love, and the mysterious 'little people'. Recreated in a classic radio drama format, “Jamie Freel” takes listeners on a journey into Irish folklore, exploring themes of family, bravery, belief in the supernatural, and the enduring power of love.

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Key Discussion and Story Points

1. Introduction to Irish Magic (02:30)

• The host highlights the uniqueness of this episode, presenting a Celtic tale chosen by Irish theater and film authority Barry Fitzgerald.
• The “little people”—leprechauns, elves, or fallen angels—are introduced as central figures of magic and mystery in Irish folklore.

2. Jamie and His Mother: Family Roots (04:08–06:24)

• Jamie Freel returns home to his widowed mother, giving her his wages (04:08), which establishes him as a dutiful, loving son.

• He shares stories of “neighbors … you can only see when the moon’s bright as gold”—hinting at his openness to the magical (04:44).

  “Mother, come to the door. You can’t help but hear that … It’s the music of the little people.” — Jamie (05:17)

• His mother warns him against meddling with fairy folk, but Jamie’s curiosity and sense of destiny leads him to seek out the “little people”.

3. Encounter with the Little People (06:33–11:28)

• Jamie is called by the little people, receiving both caution and invitation for adventure.

• The leprechaun warns Jamie not to count them, as “you’re likely to bewitch us... and we’d be changed into mortals.” (07:51)

• Jamie is enlisted to help them “steal a young lady … born and beauty of a Grecian goddess” (09:04).

• The journey with magical horses takes Jamie “a million miles” in a blink—blurring fantasy and reality (11:42).

  “Well, once … I heard an old wife say that the little people could girdle the globe in a wink of an eye.” — Leprechaun (11:42)

4. The Sleeping Colleen and Jamie’s Choice (10:17–13:20)

• Jamie is captivated by the sleeping maiden’s beauty and insists on carrying her himself.

• He escapes the little people and brings the maiden home, but not before the leprechauns curse her—striking her deaf and dumb (13:47).

  “You have our lovely prize away from us. But you’ll have no good of her, for we’ll strike her deaf and dumb.” — Leprechaun (13:47)

5. The Colleen at Home: Love and Trial (15:05–17:54)

• Jamie’s mother questions if such a mysterious girl could ever get used to their humble home.
• Neighbors soon turn on Jamie and the maiden, blaming her for failed crops and bad luck, calling her a witch and threatening violence (17:36).
• Jamie is forced to leave home with the maiden to spare his mother and escape the villagers’ wrath.

6. Exile and Growing Bond (18:25–21:56)

• Jamie and the girl travel across Ireland, and through his love and kindness, she flourishes despite her silence.

• Jamie is determined to break the spell and approaches the little people once more, demanding a remedy (21:56).

  “Oh, when you smile up at me that way, I know there’s a greater bridge than ever was made with words and hearing.” — Jamie (20:49)

7. The Nature of Love and the True Test (22:24–23:59)

• Leprechauns explain that love, like fairy gold, must be hard-won to be properly valued (23:12).

• They instruct Jamie to gather three drops of water from the Boyne by moonlight to break the spell (23:38).

  “Love’s like a crock of gold, lad, only worth considerable more.” — Leprechaun (23:12)

8. Spell Broken, Happy Ending (24:41–26:18)

• Jamie brings the enchanted water and follows the leprechaun’s instructions, restoring the girl’s speech and hearing (25:26).

• The colleen reveals she is not a foreigner, but from Donegal—she has learned Jamie’s language and found her place in Ireland.

  “Sure, and I love you, Jamie Freel.” — Colleen (26:06)
  “The distant land I’m from is Donegal. Right here in the green hills of Ireland.” — Colleen (26:18)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “It’s your belief in us which is important, and never the name you call us.” — Leprechaun (07:38)
• “What a mortal hears depends a great deal on what he listens for.” — Leprechaun (08:44)
• “If you knew all the answers to those questions, lad, you’d no longer have an inquiring soul. And a man without an inquiring soul might as well be dead and six feet under.” — Leprechaun (11:28)
• “Patience comes high these days, and very few village shops there are that keep a supply on their shelves.” — Leprechaun (22:32)
• “Come, Girling. I’m going back to the little people and ask them, in the name of this love I have for you, to take the enchantment off you.” — Jamie (21:52)
• “You’ve been watching the moving of me lips all these months now and you mastered the way to speak it.” — Jamie (26:10)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Scene | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------| | 02:30 | Host introduces Barry Fitzgerald’s “Favorite Story” | | 04:08 | Jamie returns home; talk of “little people” | | 05:17 | Jamie hears fairy music; insists he’s called | | 06:33 | Jamie’s first contact with the little people | | 09:04 | The fairies’ plan: Stealing a maiden | | 13:20 | Jamie escapes to his mother’s house | | 13:47 | Fairy curse: The maiden is struck deaf and dumb | | 15:05 | Jamie and his mother care for the enchanted maiden | | 17:36 | Villagers confront Jamie; threat of arson | | 18:25 | Jamie leads maiden away, shows her Ireland | | 21:56 | Jamie confronts the little people to break spell | | 23:38 | Solution: water of the Boyne, moonlit ritual | | 25:26 | Spell broken; the maiden speaks and reveals truth | | 26:18 | The maiden’s identity: she’s from Donegal |

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Episode Tone & Style

The episode is steeped in the lyrical, poetic language of Irish storytelling. The dialogue balances gentle humor, wisdom, and heartfelt emotion—evoking both the warmth of Irish folklore and the bittersweet nature of tales about the ‘little people.’ The performances, led by Sean McGlory as Jamie, bring authenticity and depth to both human and fairy characters, while the narration sustains a sense of wonder and possibility.

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Final Thoughts

“Jamie Freel” as presented on Strange Tales is a classic blend of romance, myth, and timeless life lessons. It is a tale about listening to what others miss, risking everything for love, and discovering that treasure is all the more precious for having been hard-won. The story concludes with the restoration of love and happiness, rooted not in fairy gold, but in faith, perseverance, and the music of the Irish heart.

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For more mysterious and magical episodes, visit RelicRadio.com.
Next week: “The Strange Mr. Bartleby” by Herman Melville (27:47).

Transcript

[Narrator / Host (possibly Ronald Coleman)]

Brain.

[RelicRadio Announcer]

Relicradio.com presents Tales of the strange and bizarre, the weird and the wicked. Stories not necessarily of the supernatural, but of the unnatural. Join us now for Strange Tales, featuring radio drama at its most mysterious and unusual. Welcome back to Strange Tales, a weird story every [e-mail]. if you'd like to help support this and all of the relic radio shows, make sure we keep coming back every Sunday. Visit donate. Relicradio.com or click on the support link in the show notes. You make it all possible. Thanks to those who have helped out. Thanks for joining me. This Sunday we're going to hear from Favorite Story this week, an NBC series of over 150 episodes that aired from 1946 through 1949. It was hosted by Ronald Coleman. Our story today is Jamie Friel. This one aired March 11, 1947.

[Narrator / Host (possibly Ronald Coleman)]

This is Ronald Coleman inviting you to radio's most dramatic half hour Favorite story.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Sam.

[Narrator / Host (possibly Ronald Coleman)]

We've been telling a variety of tales on this series, stories of love and mystery and imagination and a comedy or two. We thought it was high time we brought you an Irish tale, something from the great storehouse of Celtic legends, a yarn filled with leprechauns and love. So we asked an authority, Academy Award winner, Barry Fitzgerald of the Irish Abbey Theatre. Mr. Fitzgerald chose as his favorite story an old folk tale which has been handed down through generations, the story of a lad and a colleen and the little people. We asked Mr. Fitzgerald exactly who the little people were. Fallen angels, he said, who were not good enough to be saved nor bad enough to be lost, who took great pleasure in feasting and dancing, but above all, in the lilt of a Gaelic song. And all the old beautiful tunes of Ireland, it is said, are merely the music of the little people caught up by those who have ears to hear. Barry Fitzgerald's favourite story is called Jamie Freel. And to play Jamie, we've recruited another veteran of Dublin's Abbey theatre, the young RKO star, Sean McGlory. Sit back, close your eyes. We're off to a land of magic as we bring you Jamie Free.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Is that you, J? Jamie?

[Jamie Friel]

It's meself, Mother. Now sit down there and make your apron bake. It's Saturday night and I'm wanting to pour me week's wages into your lap.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Oh, the blessings of God and all the angels on you, Jamie. It's a sad widow woman I'd be if I didn't have you for the fine son yard.

[Jamie Friel]

No, no, I not be listening to. Compliments, Mother. There you are Now.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Oh, and here's a halfpenny for you, lad, for tobacco.

[Jamie Friel]

I'm thanking your mother.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

All the neighbors say me JB Is the best son that was ever known or heard of.

[Jamie Friel]

Nor do they know, but there are some of our neighbours whose opinion I never heard tell of at all.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

What neighbours, lad?

[Jamie Friel]

Neighbours who live very close indeed, but whom I've never yet seen. Neighbours you can only see when the moon's bright as gold. Like it is this night.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Jamie boy. No, put that look out of your two eyes and the thought of it out of your mind.

[Jamie Friel]

When I passed the old ruined castle this night, I thought I saw strange lights in the windows of it and. Mother, Mother, did you hear that now?

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Oh, here I am, happy as the good sunshine on St. Martin's Day. And me fine lad starts in hearing sounds in the night.

[Jamie Friel]

Mother, come to the door. You can't help but hear that. Mother. It's the music of the little people.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

No, no, Jamie.

[Jamie Friel]

Oh, mother, Mother, don't be putting your hands to your ears now. You hear them too? Clear as a lark singing in the heavens.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

It isn't wisdom, Janey, for a hard working lad as is the pride of the village, to be thinking of such as them ought to be lending his two ears to listen to the likes of em.

[Jamie Friel]

And yet, Mother, it's them that knows about all the good things of the world. The feasting and the fighting, the making of love and the playing of beautiful music. It's them too that know the seeker of the buried crocks. O gold, wealth and riches as'll make the few pence I pour into your lap. Look poor and eve. Mother, hand me me cap. I'm away to the castle to seek me rightful fortune.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

What would you venture there, lad? You. That's this poor widow's one son. Don't be so venturesome and foolish, Jamie. They'll kill you. And then what'll come? O me?

[Jamie Friel]

Oh, never fear, mother. Never fear. No harm will happen me. But I must go now.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Oh, listen to your mother, me darling, darling boy.

[Jamie Friel]

I am, I am, I do, mother. But it's the music of them that's calling.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Jamie. Jamie free.

[Jamie Friel]

The greatest treasure of all your born days is waiting for you.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Listen, Jamie. Jamie free.

[Jamie Friel]

That's what they're saying. Can't you hear it, Mother? It's in the air as sure as the stars are in the sky.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Jamie boy, don't. Oh, Jamie, it is.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Ah, welcome, welcome, Jamie Friel.

[Jamie Friel]

It's the music of you I've been hearing floating through the air. Like the green moonlight of a main ass.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Like as not it was.

[Jamie Friel]

Tell me quick now, what do they call the likes of you? An elf or a leprechaun, maybe? Will O the wisp. Perhaps a pixie Pan, are you. Perhaps you play the pipe, lad.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

We're of a generous and giving nature. Call us what you like. It's your belief in us which is important and never the name you call us.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

How many of the.

[Jamie Friel]

How many of you little people are there now? One, two?

[Little People / Leprechaun]

No, no, lad, don't count us. Now. If you go about 1, 2, 3 in US like so, you're likely to bewitch us, tote us up like so many figures. And we'd be changed into mortals. That'd be a sad, sad day indeed.

[Jamie Friel]

Well, I bid the top of the evening to all you little people. And it's happy I am to be laying eyes on you too. Well, are you not going to answer me?

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Sure. It's common knowledge, lad, that little people have not power of speech. Oh, back in the days when gifts were being handed out, so much speech was given to mortal women that when it came to the little people, there was not enough left to go round. Ah, but they'd smile on you and cry tears for you and dance for you. Ay, dance for you. But when there's speaking to be done, there's the likes of me who was a talking one.

[Jamie Friel]

Well, you called me this night. What is it you wish now?

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Oh, we called you, did we? Did we now?

[Jamie Friel]

As sure as if you shouted me name from the crest of Bottle Hill.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Well, tis said that what a mortal hears depends a great deal on what he listens for. Ah, but here you be, Jamie Freel. And you may as well spend the moonlit evenin lending us your strong right arm for our revel.

[Jamie Friel]

I'm with ye, I'm with ye. Jamie Freel's got a soul filled with adventure this night.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Aha. Good, Jamie, good. Listen now, we're going to ride to a distant spot to steal a young lady. A maiden with the born and beauty of a Grecian goddess in her and whose two eyes are like starlight shining through raindrops. Will you ride with us, Jimmy Friel?

[Jamie Friel]

Ay, that I will. That I will.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

We're riding a troop of horses, as is the sons and daughters of the winged White horse of Kilkenny. Strap yourself well in the syrups, boy, for this night we ride fast and far.

[Jamie Friel]

What place is this worth stopping at, little man?

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Questions, questions, questions. Jamie Friel, can you not speak in a simple Declarative sentence now.

[Jamie Friel]

It's so dark, black and dour as the bottom of a bog hole.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Ah, there'll be some shy, accommodating moonbeams to shine on what we're waiting to see. Put your hand to the door now and tread softly, lad. Before you can say Bridget o', Halloran, you'll be seeing the face of the prize of this night.

[Jamie Friel]

Door. Oh, here it is. Such a face as a man dreams of belongs to the angels of heaven. White is the snow that touches the top of the mountains. Her dewy lips puckered into a sad, dreamy smile. Oh, she's too beautiful to be real. Oh, to kiss the round red mouth of her and to find out.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Hold on, hold on now, Jamie Friel. We didn't bring you along to fall in love with Miss Sleep and Beauty. It's our prize, she is.

[Jamie Friel]

Oh, for the love of all the saints, tell me, tell me, is she mortal? Does she exist? Or is she some tormenting dream in the moonbeams?

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Ah, she's mortal, right enough. And as beautiful a mortal as we could find.

[Jamie Friel]

What place is this, then? If you take me away from here itself, I'll come back to find her, though she's across every sea of the seven of them. Well, don't stand there, little man, giving me no heed. Is she an Indian maiden? Is this the North Pole or south of the China Seas? Is this an island we're on or the great continent in New York? How far did we travel this night?

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Ah, if you knew all the answers to those questions, lad, you'd no longer have an inquiring soul. And a man without an inquiring soul might as well be dead and six feet under.

[Jamie Friel]

Oh, come on, man. Come on. Tell me, how far did we travel this night? A hundred miles? A thousand?

[Little People / Leprechaun]

A million? Well, once when I was souring up a pail of milk, as was one of my duties in me younger days, I heard an old wife say that the little people could girdle the globe in a wink of an eye. Well, wink your eye, Jamie Freel, and let's try it, eh?

[Jamie Friel]

And leave this maid with the glory of every morning sunrise on the face of her.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Leave her? Certainly not. She's the prize of the evening, and we're taking her with us.

[Jamie Friel]

Are we near home, little man?

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Near enough, lad.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Whoosh.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

There goes Dublin and whoosh. There's the Boyne river in the valley below. Rathmullinators now, and Gilly begs and Tanny,

[Jamie Friel]

it's close to home. We are right Enough,

[Little People / Leprechaun]

little man. Yes, Jamie, lad.

[Jamie Friel]

You've all had your turn at carrying the young lady.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Would you.

[Jamie Friel]

Would you do me the favour of letting me hold her for a bit?

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Ay, Jamie, you may take your turn at carrying her. To be sure. To be sure. Here, hold tightly, lad.

[Jamie Friel]

Oh, darling, Darling. When you open your eyes as the face of Jamie Thriel will be seen. There's me mother's house below now. Goodbye to you now, little people. Goodbye. Come back, Jamie Thriel. Is that the way you treat us? Come back. Mother. Mother.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Quick.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Wake up now, Jamie. What have you been all this night? It's worried to death I've been about you. Oh, what's that you're carrying in your two arms?

[Jamie Friel]

Mother, Mother. There's no time for questions or answers. Now hurry up and get me a handful of rice and barley to throw to the night wind.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

The little people are after chasing you.

[Jamie Friel]

Right on me heels.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

There.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

I'll throw the rice and barley. Quick now, lad. You sprinkle sand on the doorstep. That'll make them keep their respectful distance.

[Jamie Friel]

The rice, Mother. The rice and the barley too.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

There now.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

There, Jamie Friel. You have our lovely prize away from us. But you'll have no good of her, for we'll strike her deaf and dumb.

[Jamie Friel]

What?

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

What's that he's saying?

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Deaf and dumb.

[Jamie Friel]

Deaf and dumb.

[Narrator / Host (possibly Ronald Coleman)]

We're ready for Act 2 of Barry Fitzgerald's favorite story, an old Irish folk tale called Jamie Friel. Sean McLaury stars as Jamie, with Arthur Q. Bryan as the chieftain of the little people. The colleen with the glory of every morning sunrise on the face of her has been struck deaf and dumb by the little people In Jamie's cottage. She sits in a chair by the fireplace, her eyes still closed. Jamie, with a heart full of love, looks at her and waits for her eyes to open.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Poor Crater. She is a handsome one. No wonder they set their hearts under the little ones.

[Jamie Friel]

I had to bring her here, Mother. I had to. Surely you wouldn't have allowed me to let her go with them, to be lost forever.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

But she appears to be a fine lady, Jamie. How can a lady eat our poor diet and live in our poor way?

[Jamie Friel]

I'll work for her, Mother. I'll work for you both. Mother. Mother. Her eyes. The young lady's eyes. They're opening. Hello, girling. Tis me. Me Jamie free. And. And this here is me mother, Maura Freed.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Oh, don't be trembling now.

[Jamie Friel]

Mother.

[Narrator / Host (possibly Ronald Coleman)]

Mother.

[Jamie Friel]

She's trying to speak in Canis. Oh, Gerline, listen to me. The little People try to steal you, seen as you're the most beautiful creature that ever is. Or was. Oh, Mother, Mother. She can't speak or listen like the little people said.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Oh, wish, I wish. A poor sweet child. I'll get you me wool shawl. Do not be frightened now.

[Jamie Friel]

Oh, girl, I know not what corner of this wide world you're from, but I do know this. Each of your two eyes is like the whole blue vault of heaven. Oh, no, no. Don't clothe them with tears. Now, Jamie Friel's here, and his right arm and his loving heart will do their best to protect you. Yes, yes, yes. Don't tear the door down. I'm coming.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

There he is.

[Jamie Friel]

Tell me, friend, this delegation from the village is here to see you and have words with you. Well, here I am, then, to be seen. But that's no call to be pounding on me door so hard that the devil himself will rise up to be counted. Where is she? Where's who? The foreign girl that's bewitching the whole countryside take a bit to your tongue. Now, Barry o'. Rourke. I'll not have you saying an evil word against a sweet young thing who can't even speak to defend herself. The crops of hell, every farm and man for 20 miles around will tell you so. The fishing men come back with empty nets. There's a fine fat curse in this village. And the alien girl you've got at your chimney corner, is it? Crops have failed before, and it's many a time when it comes up empty without blaming a poor girl for it.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Poor girl?

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

She's a witch.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

We wouldn't mind so much if she

[Jamie Friel]

was an Irish witch. But we'll have no heathen foreign witches in this village.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Leave me. With what?

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Jerry?

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Fred.

[Jamie Friel]

Get out of me house, all of you. Get out before I take an iron poker and smash in all your narrow little heads. Go on. Just control Jamie.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Fred, listen now.

[Jamie Friel]

Send this girl away from our village or we'll burn your house down. Mother. Mother. I'll be bidding you goodbye.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Now, Jamie boy, don't you go.

[Jamie Friel]

Sure I must, Mother. I must. I'll not have your own house burned down around you.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Where will you be traveling? When will you be coming home?

[Jamie Friel]

The girl and I, we're going to travel over the whole of this island of ours. She can't hear me or speak to me. And if she could itself, it's not our tongue she'd be speaking or understanding. But I'm going to show her Ireland, Mother. I'm going to show her the rich golden valleys and the bright waters. So that she. So that she too can become one of us. And then when we come back, maybe. Maybe our neighbours will treat her more kindly.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Oh, let me kiss you, Jamie boy. Godspeed. The saints watch over you and send you back to me soon. Alanna.

[Jamie Friel]

Up the hill with your colleen. Up run and let the lovely raven hair of your head stream behind you in the fingers of the wind. You're laughing, girly. Oh, they can keep you from talking, yes, but they found no way to keep happiness from you. You're laughing and I'm. I have a happy and a warm feeling in me heart too. Like the sunshine on a spring morning. There, now, there. The top of the hill. Look, girly. Look over there. There. Shuya must be thirsty. In the sun high in the noonday heavens. Here you are, Kalin. A drink of water from the wishing well of Glengorram. Sip it easy now, and the wishes that are hidden in your heart will come true. I'll hold your hand, girling, so you don't drink too rapid like. But the water of this well, even when the sun shines on its stones, is so clear and cold it will shake the very teeth in your head. Listen how deep it is. Oh, wishing well, wishing well. I want one thing only. This girl here and the everlasting laughter and the love of her. There's so much I want to show you. The places Finn Macoo, the great giant walked in the days when there were giants in this land. The place is the two great lovers of old, dearer than Grogne went, where they slept one night in a bed of heather on the slope of a hill in Connaught. I want to show you Connemara and the castle of the pirate queen. Oh, Khalina, Khalil. Have you seen enough of this land to know that you can never be a foreigner here so long as your own true love is with you? Oh, when you smile up at me that way, I know there's a greater bridge than ever was made with words and hearing. Come, Gerling. I'm going back to the little people and ask them in the name of this love I have for you to take the enchantment off you. Stop your melody, Little man. I've come to have a reckoning with you.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Oho, so it's you, Jamie Friel. Little people all. Come have a look who's come a visiting us.

[Jamie Friel]

I'll have none of your luck. An hour tricking.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Oh, he's getting real uppity like this, Jamie Friel. And him as played such a poor trick and stole the nice young lady from us. Where is she now, Jamie?

[Jamie Friel]

I left her at me mother's house. Why did you have to strike her deaf and dumb? And I haven't so many loving things to say to her. And all of them passing by her ears like the silent breezes of the nights.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Let's say perhaps there was a plan in it now.

[Jamie Friel]

A plan? Ah, speak plain now, little man. I've lost me patience with you long ago.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Oh, you mustn't do that. Once you lose a patience, it's very hard indeed to purchase another. Patience comes high these days, and very few village shops there are that keep a supply on their shelves.

[Jamie Friel]

But why did you do it now? This lovely child and her not able to say even what distant land she comes from.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Jamie, lad. Say as how a crock of gold was lying around for anyone to pick up walking down a street, instead of being way at the end of the rainbow, A difficult place indeed to find. Let me tell you now. What would be the value then of a crock o gold? A body'd prize it as much as sneezing into the wind.

[Jamie Friel]

What's all this talk to do with me and the girl?

[Little People / Leprechaun]

Love's like a crock of gold, lad, Only worth considerable more.

[Jamie Friel]

Don't you think now? Don't you think now. I'm after knowing that for many a long, long day, Mrs. Man,

[Little People / Leprechaun]

little people all. I'm thinking our lad here has reached the end of his rainbow. Perhaps we should tell him where to be digging.

[Jamie Friel]

Don't be speaking to me in riddles now, thwarting and tormentin me.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

I'll speak right out, Jamie Freel. Go ye now to the sacred river Boyne, and take ye, by the light of the full moon, three drops of water. Place one drop on each ear and one drop on the red, red lips of your own true love. And the spell'll be broken.

[Jamie Friel]

One drop on each ear and one drop on the red, red lips of her. Oh, little man, I'm tanking you from the bottom of me joyful heart. And I'm thinking. I'm thinking that you planned it this way all along.

[Little People / Leprechaun]

That we did, Jamie Friedel. That we did, ever since you were a wee lad. But we're after appreciating your complete belief in the likes of us. Where would we be now without it?

[Jamie Friel]

Mother. Mother. Quick now. Where's the maid?

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

J.B. you're killed, surely this time, me poor boy.

[Jamie Friel]

Oh, indeed. Better luck than ever this time.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

What's that you're carrying in the glass, love.

[Jamie Friel]

Three drops of moonlit water, Mother. Enchantment breaking water from the Boyne River.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Here's your colleen, Janey. The face of a buried in her arms, crying her poor heart out.

[Jamie Friel]

Girling, let me look into your face. Oh, dry those tears from your blue eyes. Drive the magic liquid that'll make you speak and make you be able to be hearing all the grand words I have trembling on me lips. For you, God and all the saints willing, someday you'll learn to understand the tongue we speak. Hold the glass, Mother. Hold it close here by the lovely face of her. Jamie.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Jamie, lad.

[Jamie Friel]

One drop on your right ear. One drop on your left ear. And one drop on the red, red lips of me own true love. Can you talk now, Girling? Can you?

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

What.

[Jamie Friel]

What are the words you're going to speak to your Jamie? What are the first words that are going to fall from your lips? Oh, whatever language you speak, Girling, speak it from your heart. Then I'll go to all the scholars of the land to get the translation of it.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Her lips are opening, Jamie.

[Jamie Friel]

Say it, Girling. Say it.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Sure. And I love you, Jamie Freel. Saints Prison.

[Jamie Friel]

Where did you get a brogue like that, girlie? Oh, you've been watching the moving of me lips all these months now and you mastered the way to speak it.

[Mother (Maura Freed)]

Oh, no. Jamie Friel. The distant land I'm from is Donegal. Right here in the green hills of Ireland.

[Jamie Friel]

Sam,

[Narrator / Host (possibly Ronald Coleman)]

You've been listening to Jamie Friel, the favorite story of the world famous actor, Mr. Barry Fitzgerald. Do you doubt the existence of the little people? Well, after this program is over, go outside and listen. Do you think that's the wind whistling? Well, it may be, but if you listen hard enough, sure, you may hear the music of the little people. At any rate, has been a pleasure to bring you this Irish tale on our radio half hour. Our congratulations to the Abbey Theatre's Sean McGlory for his portrayal of Jamie. To all the members of our cast and orchestra, and to Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, who dramatized this delightful legend. Next week we have something which is quite off the beaten track. An adventure by Herman Melville, the author of the great American novel Moby Dick.

[Jamie Friel]

It's called the strange Mr. Bartleby, and

[Narrator / Host (possibly Ronald Coleman)]

it promises to mystify, intrigue and startle you. It was selected as a favorite story of the Universal international star and director Robert Montgomery. When we bring you Bob Montgomery's favorite story, the strange Mr. Bartleby, we hope you'll be listening.

[Jamie Friel]

Sarlicradio.com has more favorite story, Strange Tales

[RelicRadio Announcer]

and all of the other Relic Radio podc. There's also a shoutcast stream there with even more Old Time Radio. Don't forget to donate if you'd like to help out. Thanks again to those who have, and thanks for joining me this week. I'll talk to you again next Sunday with our next episode of Relic Radio's Strange Tales.