the elves and the shoemaker

the elves and the shoemaker a shoemaker, through no fault of his personal, had emerge as so terrible that at closing he had nothing left but leather-based totally for one pair of shoes. so within the night, he lessen out the footwear which he needed to begin to make the subsequent morning, and as he had an amazing moral sense, he lay down quietly in his mattress, recommended himself to god, and fell asleep. within the morning, after he had said his prayers, and become truely going to take a seat down proper all the way down to artwork, the 2 footwear stood quite completed on his desk. he turn out to be astounded, and knew no longer what to say to it. he took the footwear in his palms to take a look at them nearer, and that they had been so smartly made that there was now not one lousy sew in them, simply as though they have been meant as a masterpiece. soon after, a purchaser came in, and because the shoes pleased him so well, he paid extra for them than become ordinary, and, with the coins, the shoemaker become able to buy leather for 2 pairs of footwear. he reduce them out at night time, and subsequent morning became approximately to started out running with clean courage; but he had no want to do so, for, whilst he were given up, they have been already made, and customers additionally had been not looking, who gave him cash enough to shop for leather-based-primarily based for four pairs of shoes. the subsequent morning, too, he determined the four pairs made; and so it went on constantly, what he reduce out in the nighttime have become completed through the morning, in order that he fast had his honest independence another time, and at closing became a rich guy. now it occurred that one night no longer long earlier than christmas, at the same time as the man had been reducing out, he said to his spouse, before going to bed what assume you if we have been to stay up to night time to appearance who it's miles that lends us this supporting hand?" the lady favored the idea, and lighted a candle, and then they concealed themselves in a corner of the room, at the back of a few clothes that have been placing up there, and watched. whilst it have become middle of the night,  quite little bare men came, sat down through the usage of the shoemaker's desk, took all the work which changed into reduce out before them and started out to sew, and stitch, and hammer so skilfully and so speedy with their little hands that the shoemaker couldn't shrink back his eyes for astonishment. they did now not forestall till all became executed, and stood completed on the desk, and that they ran quick away.
subsequent morning the woman stated, "the little guys have made us wealthy, and we honestly ought to reveal that we are thankful for it. they run approximately so, and do not have some thing on, and need to be bloodless. i will inform thee what i'll do: i will lead them to little shirts, and coats, and vests, and trousers, and knit every of them a couple of stockings, and do thou, too, cause them to  little pairs of footwear." the person stated, "i may be very happy to do it;" and one night time, while everything come to be prepared, they laid their offers all collectively on the table as opposed to the reduce-out work, after which concealed themselves to look how the little men should behave. in the dark they got here bounding in, and desired to get to artwork immediately, however as they did now not discover any leather-based totally reduce out, but most effective the pretty little articles of garb, they have been in the beginning astonished, and then they confirmed severe pleasure. they dressed themselves with the exceptional rapidity, setting the quite clothes on, and creating a music,
"now we are boys so outstanding to appearance,
why ought to we longer cobblers be?"
Then they danced and skipped and leap over chairs and benches. at last they danced outdoor. from that point forth they got here no greater, however so long as the shoemaker lived all went nicely with him, and all his undertakings prospered
2nd tale
there has been as soon as a terrible servant-girl, who modified into industrious and cleanly, and swept the residence each day, and emptied her sweepings on the first-rate heap within the the front of the door. one morning at the same time as she turned into certainly going again to her paintings, she located a letter on this heap, and as she could not read, she located her broom inside the nook, and took the letter to her master and mistress, and behold it became an invite from the elves, who asked the woman to preserve a toddler for them at its christening. the female did now not apprehend what to do, however at length, after a good deal persuasion, and as they advised her that it turn out to be not right to refuse an invite of this type, she consented. then 3 elves came and carried out her to a hole mountain, in which the little parents lived. everything there was small, however extra elegant and terrific than can be defined. the child's mother lay in a bed of black ebony ornamented with pearls, the coverlids had been embroidered with gold, the cradle turned into of ivory, the bathtub of gold. the lady stood as godmother, after which desired to go home again, however the little elves urgently urged her to live three days with them. so she stayed, and surpassed the time in pleasure and gaiety, and the little dad and mom did all they'll to make her glad. at final she set out on her way domestic. then first they filled her pockets pretty entire of cash, and after that they led her out of the mountain again. whilst she had been given domestic, she desired to start her work, and took the broom, which turn out to be nevertheless status inside the corner, in her hand and started out to brush. then a few strangers got here out of the house, who requested her who she have become, and what organization she had there? and she or he or he had no longer, as she thought, been three days with the little guys within the mountains, however seven years, and in the intervening time her former masters had died.


1/3 tale
a positive mother's infant were taken away out of its cradle with the useful resource of the elves, and a changeling with a huge head and staring eyes, which would do not anything however consume and drink, laid in its place. in her trouble she went to her neighbour, and requested her recommendation. the neighbour stated that she become to carry the changeling into the kitchen, set it down on the hearth, mild a hearth, and boil a few water in  egg-shells, which may make the changeling snicker, and if he laughed, all will be over with him. the female did the entirety that her neighbour bade her. at the same time as she positioned the egg-shells with water at the fireplace, the imp said, "i am as antique now as the wester forest, but by no means but have i visible anyone boil anything in an egg-shell!" and he began out to chortle at it. even as he have become giggling, unexpectedly got here a gaggle of little elves, who delivered the right infant, set it down on the fire, and took the changeling away with them