The Elves and the Shoemaker
The Elves and the Shoemaker The Elves and the Shoemaker Once upon a time, when the world was young and snow fell every winter, there lived a shoemaker and his wife. He was a fine craftsman, but recently trade had not been good, and they were very poor. The time came when the shoemaker had only one piece of leather left-enough to make just one pair of shoes. So, that evening, he sat in his cold workshop and cut out the leather into all the shapes he needed for the shoes. Then his wife called him
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The Elves and the Shoemaker
The Elves and the Shoemaker
Once upon a time, when the world was young and snow fell every winter, there lived a shoemaker and his wife.He was a fine craftsman, but recently trade had not been good, and they were very poor.The time came when the shoemaker had only one piece of leather left-enough to make just one pair of shoes.So, that evening, he sat in his cold workshop and cut out the leather into all the shapes he needed for the shoes.
Then his wife called him in for their supper,and so he wearily left all the cut-out pieces on the bench ready to make up in the morning.
After a poor supper of watery cabbage soup and scraps,the shoemaker and his wife lit their last candle and made their way to bed.
When the shoemaker opened his workshop door in the morning he had the shock of his life.There on the bench stood the finest pair of shoes he had ever seen.He looked around for the pieces of leather but everything was tidy as always.Then he called to his wife to come, and together they peered closely at the shoes.It was his leather all right but the stitches were tiny and neat.
"Made by a master hand, much finer than my own," she said. "But where did they come from?'"No matter," said his wife. "Let us be glad. These shoes will make our fortune, you'll see."And she put the shoes in the middle of the shop window.
It was not long before the shoes were noticed. A gentleman came in and tried them on.Walking up and down the shop, he said they were the most comfortableand handsome shoes he had ever worn, and he happily paid twice the normal price for them.
Now there was enough money to buy leather to make two pairs of shoes, and even some left over for a good supper.
That evening the shoemaker cut out the leather and left the pieces ready for making up in the morning;and that night the soup was thicker and tastier, and the shoemaker and his wife went to bed well satisfied.
And sure enough, in the morning, when the shoemaker opened his workshop, there were two pairs of perfectly made shoes,all complete with their tiny stitching, and the leather soft and glossy with polish.
The shoes were soon sold, and the shoemaker was able to buy enough leather to make four pairs of shoes.Again the shoemaker carefully cut out the patterns,and again in the morning there stood four more pairs of exquisite shoes, and so it went on.
The shoemaker was able to buy more and more leather in all the colours of the rainbow.He cut out pieces for a great variety of shoes, and pumps, and slippers, and boots.Every morning he would come in to find them all perfectly finished as before.
He was soon thought to be the best shoemaker in the land,and one morning the king himself arrived with his page and chancellorand bought an especially fine pair of high boots in green leather.
