The Elves and the Shoemaker

There was once a shoemaker. He was kind and hard-working. But he was very poor. He had a tiny workshop. In it stood a bench, a lamp and his tools. His wife helped him every day. But the money was never enough. One evening the shoemaker looked in the drawer. There was only leather left for one single pair of shoes.

The shoemaker took out the leather. He cut it carefully and with great care. He laid every piece on the bench. Tomorrow he would stitch the shoes together. It was late and the lamp burned low. 'We will do our best', he said to his wife. Then they went to bed. The shoemaker fell asleep peacefully. He had a good heart, even when things were hard.

In the morning the shoemaker woke up early. He went down to the workshop. He wanted to start stitching the shoes. But on the bench stood a finished pair of shoes! They were fine and shiny and perfectly sewn. Not a single stitch was wrong. The shoemaker touched the leather. He only stared and stared. Who had done this in the night?

That same day a customer came in. He tried the shoes on right away. 'They fit me just right!' he said happily. He paid more than usual for them. The shoemaker counted the coins. Now he could buy leather for two pairs of shoes. In the evening he cut it all out. He laid the leather neatly on the bench. Then he went to bed again.

The next morning the shoemaker ran down again. On the bench stood two pairs of shoes! All was finished and fine. The shoemaker laughed out loud with joy. 'It is a wonder!' he cried. Soon customers came and bought the shoes. They gave him plenty of money. He could buy leather for four pairs. And so it went, day after day.

Soon the shoemaker grew rich. The shelves filled up with fine shoes. The workshop glowed warm and happy. His wife sang as she set the table. They had food and firewood and new clothes. But every night the same thing happened. He laid out the leather on the bench. In the morning the shoes stood finished. Who was it that helped them so?