An old shoemaker lived with his wife in a village. He had become so poor that there was barely enough food for both of them. He had a little leather left just enough to make one more pair of shoes.
That night, he sat down in his little workshop and cut the leather for a pair of beautiful shoes. It was getting late and the candle had burnt down. So, he left his work on the workbench, thinking, “I’ll stitch the shoes tomorrow when there’s enough light. After that, I have nothing to do.”
In the morning, he went into his workshop and stopped at the door, shocked. There was the leather he had cut, made into a pair of beautiful shoes. He went close and had a look.
“What fine stitches! And the design! These shoes are fit for a Duchess!” he thought. “Did I make these?” he wondered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, “I suppose I must have.”
He opened the windows and the doors and set the pair of shoes in the window for passers-by to see. Perhaps someone would buy them.
Soon enough, a carriage that was passing by stopped and a well-dressed lady stepped down. She wished to see the shoes and try them on. They fitted perfectly. She paid the shoemaker generously and went off with the shoes.
The shoemaker ran to his wife and showed her the golden coins he had got for the shoes. He bought leather for two more shoes. That night, he cut the leather for two more shoes: one for a lady and a pair of boots for a gentleman. Then, he went to bed, for the shoes would be stitched in the morning.
But once again, he was amazed when he came into the workshop next morning. There on his workbench were two beautifully crafted shoes! He rubbed his eyes, scratched his head, and wondered, “Have I been working in my sleep? I must ask my wife!”
But his wife slept soundly and had no idea about his work. She just stood there and admired the shoes.
That day, a couple came and bought the shoes and paid him handsomely for them. Now he had enough money to buy enough food to eat and leather for four pairs!
Soon word spread in the village and beyond that the shoemaker made exquisite shoes. More people came to buy. The shoemaker’s little shop was flourishing. But he still hadn’t discovered how the shoes were crafted so beautifully every morning.
One day, as they had their supper, he told his wife, “Let’s watch tonight to see what happens after we have gone to bed.” His wife promptly agreed.
So, they left a candle burning in the workshop and hid behind a curtain. Everything was silent in their cottage, except the large clock that struck the hour. As the clock struck twelve, they heard a rustle and peeped cautiously round the curtain.
On the workbench were two little men, in ragged green and brown smocks, with little caps on their heads through which their pointed ears stuck out. Elves! They were barely as tall as the shoemaker’s hand.
Under their astonished gaze, the elves got busy scurrying around fetching the needles and twine and nails and hammer. Soon they were sitting cross-legged on the bench and their fingers flew over the leather pieces, setting tiny stitches into the elegant shoes.
The shoemaker and his wife held their breath and watched the skilful little fellows at work. They finished the shoes and did a little jig on the bench. Suddenly, a cock crowed somewhere in the distance. They stopped, looked at one another and raced out of the workshop in a blur of green light.
The shoemaker and his wife came out and saw the beautiful shoes on the workbench – ten pairs! It was amazing!
“We must thank them, my dear,” said the shoemaker.
“Yes, you are right!” replied his wife, “Did you see their clothes? They were rather tattered. I’ll make new ones for them and you, dear, can make them some shoes.”
So, the shoemaker and his wife began to make things for the elves. Some nights later, everything was ready. The shoemaker had made two pairs of green boots for the little men, and his wife had made little green shirts with smocks, waistcoats, dark green coats, brown leggings and little red caps shaped like leaves.
That night, they put all the new clothes on the workbench with the two pairs of tiny shoes. The shoemaker’s wife had made small sandwiches, chocolate muffins, an apple pie and some lemonade. This too was put on the bench with tiny plates. Then the couple hid behind the curtain to wait.
On the stroke of twelve, the little men came with a whirl of green light. They stood on the workbench, looking surprised.
“Hey, look!” said one of them, “New clothes!”
“Wow!” said the other, “Look at all the goodies!”
The two little men had a wonderful time trying on their new dresses and caps. Then they sat down to enjoy the feast. They ate all the goodies. Then they poured the lemonade into little thimbles and drank it. When they had their fill, they did a small jig on the bench and then in a swirl of light, they had gone!
The shoemaker and his wife never saw the little elves again. But they had brought so much luck to the old couple, that their shoes became famous and they were never poor again!
