The shoemaker and the elves
There once lived a shoemaker with his wife they were very very poor but was still always happy
well I have just enough leather for one more pair of shoes
what will we do now?
don't worry my dear I'm sure something will happen and we will not starve
I am tired now so I will just cut out the leather
tomorrow morning I will wake up early and make the shoes
the shoemaker cut the leather and left it on his work table he then went to bed
I am so tired I hope I am able to wake up early or the shoes won't be ready
The next morning the shoemaker went to complete the shoes as soon as he woke up
bring in my breakfast here my dear I better get on with making the shoes
but when the shoemaker went to his work table he was in for a big surprise
what is this how did the shoes get done
hey wife I don't here quickly
what's the matter are you okay?
take a look at this the shoes are ready
what do you mean the shoes are ready you told me last night that you would complete them this morning
I know I know I don't understand how they got done
are you sure you didn't make them yourself and just forget about it?
you think I'm going crazy I remember very well I only cut the leather the night before
well I really don't know what to say
and look how beautifully they have been stitched far better than I have ever done so myself
just then a man enters the shop
hey, are those shoes for sale?
sure they are sir
they look pretty good let me try them on and see if they fit
The man tried the shoes on walking about
oh they are perfect fit and so comfortable to wear keep this money and pack them up
the shoemaker looked at the money and then at the man in surprise
now what are you looking at me for I think of giving you a fair price for those shoes pack them up fast I mean a real hurry
oh oh sure sir i'll pack them in a minute
as soon as the man left the shoemaker ran to his wife
Hey wife look at this
that's a neat sum of money we did you get it from
you won't believe a man came into the shop and bought the shoes
he liked them so much that he didn't even ask me how much they were for he just gave me the money and went away
oh the good Lord has been so kind to us
yes yes didn't I tell you something would happen
I'm off to the leather shop now with this money I can buy enough leather to make two pairs of shoes
The happy shoemaker went to buy the leather for making two more pairs of shoes
I better hurry back and start cutting leather I have to cut it out for two pairs of shoes now
the shoemaker returned home and called out to his wife
look my dear I have bought such lovely leather far better than the earlier one
I'm going to get started to get two pairs of shoes ready
you've just come back you must be tired
come have your dinner and then you can start the cutting
the shoemaker and his wife sat down to have dinner
you cooked a very delicious dinner I must say I've eaten so much I wonder how I will work now
I'm glad you enjoyed the meal you deserve it you are a good and honest man
thank you dear you're a Good Wife too
I think you better just cut the leather and finish making the shoes in the morning
make an early start and you should have them ready by afternoon
the shoemaker did as his wife said
after cutting the leather he kept it on the worktable as before and headed for bed
and what a pleasant surprise he got again the next day
two pairs of perfectly sewn shoes were lying on the worktable
wife come here look at this
you still think I was imagining things yesterday
such perfect shoes but what is happening
just then someone called out
hello anyone there?
oh it is the gentleman who bought the shoes yesterday
I hope there is nothing wrong with the shoes he bought
the shoemaker let the man into his shop
my friend has liked my shoes so much that he wants me to pick up a pair for him I hope you have something ready
come in come in sir I have two pairs ready please see if you like any
ahh these are real smart ones I'll take one for my friend and the other one for myself
I must say you've done a very good job
the shoemaker and his wife was so happy they danced with joy
that man has been very generous I now have enough money to buy leather for several pairs of shoes
every night the shoemaker would cut the leather
and in the morning there will be beautiful sound smart shoes sitting on his work table
his shoes became so popular that people from far and wide came to buy them
we had just enough leather to make one pair of shoes and now our shoes are selling faster than we can make them
yes dear husband but don't you think we should try and find out how the shoes are being made every night
oh yes why didn't I think about it
someone is being very kind to us and I think we should know who it is
but how are we going to do that?
well I have an idea tonight we will hide behind the curtain and wait to see what happens
that is indeed a brilliant idea
so that night after cutting the leather for the shoes
the shoemaker and his wife hid themselves and waited to see what would happen
and what an amazing sight they saw soon after midnight
two little elves jumped in from the open window
after playing around for some time they went to the table and sat down
their little nimble fingers went sew sew sew tap tap tap click click click with lightning speed
and soon the shoes were all ready and lined up
up they then jumped out of the window and vanished in a jiffy
goodness gracious me
it is those little darlings who have been making the shoes all these days
they are so tiny but what a wonderful job they do
I wonder who they are and where they came from
forget about that winter is setting in soon they will be feeling cold
ah yes you are right
it's time we gave them a little gift for all that they have done for us
but what can we do for them?
I know what I am going to make them tiny little shirts and pants and even little coats
and you can make them cute little shoes, what do you think?
that's a wonderful idea let's get about doing it
and so the shoemaker and his wife spent the entire day making the gifts for the elves
Oh what cute little pants and shirts the shoemaker's wife made
she even made little bow ties to go with the coats
and the shoemaker made the tiniest pairs of shoes for the little fellows
I am so excited I can't wait to see what they will do when they see these
once again that night the shoemaker and his wife hid behind the curtains
and once again after midnight the little elves jumped in and went to the table to start making the shoes
when they saw the clothes and shoes waiting for them they looked out that was surprised
then looked at each other and with a big whoop they grabbed the clothes quickly and put them on
how happy they were they clapped and jumped excitedly and dance on the table singing silly songs
we have new clothes, we have new clothes, oh we are so happy with our new clothes
after a while, the elves once again jumped out of the window and vanished
I am so glad our little gift gave them so much pleasure
yes though the gift was very small for what they did for us
Bless them the little darlings
the elves never came back
but never again did the shoemaker and his wife ever have problems again for as long as they lived