Part 1 (2/2)

The work was so well done that those shoes were also sold very quickly.

With the money the poor shoemaker bought enough leather for four pairs of shoes.

Those he also cut out and left upon his bench.

The next morning he found four pairs of beautiful shoes, all well made.

And so it went on and on. Instead of being a very poor shoemaker, he became a very rich shoemaker.

His shoes were so well made that even the queen herself wore them.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE SHOEMAKER AND THE ELVES--II

At last the shoemaker said to his wife, ”We must find out who makes the shoes.”

So one bright moonlight night they hid behind a curtain, where they could watch the bench and not be seen.

Just on the stroke of midnight, two little elves jumped through the window.

They went skipping and dancing up to the bench.

Sitting cross-legged they took up the leather and began to work.

How their needles flew back and forth, back and forth!

How their little hammers beat rap-a-tap-tap, rap-a-tap-tap!

Almost before the shoemaker and his wife could think, the work was all done.

The tiny elves ran about, skipping and dancing, skipping and dancing.

Then, whisk! quick as a wink, they were gone.

The next morning the good shoemaker said to his wife, ”What can we do for those dear little elves?”

”I should like very much to make some clothes for them,” said his wife.

”They were almost naked.”

”If you will make their coats, I will make them some shoes,” said the shoemaker. ”Their little feet were bare.”

When the clothes and shoes were ready, they were put upon the bench.

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