The Shoemaker and The Elves

Once there lived a poor shoemaker with his wife. They were going through a bad time and had to sleep hungry many a times. Things continued the same way but the couple did not lose hope. One day, the shoemaker was left with leather for only one pair of shoes. So in the evening, he cut out the leather for shoes which he wished to begin making the next morning, thanked God, and fell asleep.

In the morning, after having said his prayers, he went to his little shop to work. Can you guess what he saw? The pair of shoes was lying finished on his table. He took the shoes in his hands to observe them closely and found that they were very neatly made. Soon after, a buyer came in, and as the shoes were a masterpiece, he paid a handsome amount for them.

The shoemaker was able to purchase leather for two pairs of shoes with the money. He cut them out at night and went to bed. Next morning, again, the shoes were already made. They were also sold, fetching him enough money to buy leather for four pairs of shoes. The following morning, too, he found four pairs made; and so it went on constantly until at last he became a wealthy man. One evening, before Christmas, he said to his wife, “I think we should try to find out the helping hand that has changed our life.” The woman liked the idea, and they hid themselves in a corner of the room to watch.

At midnight, two little elves came and began to stitch, and sew, and hammer skillfully and quickly with their little fingers. They did not stop until all was done, and then they ran away quickly. Next morning, the woman stitched pretty little clothes and laid them

among many other presents on the table. At night, the elves came and danced with intense delight on seeing the presents. They put pretty clothes on, and danced and skipped, and at last, went away. From that day onwards, they never came back but the shoemaker was blessed and he prospered day by day.