There was once a shoemaker, who worked very hard and was very honest:but still he could not earn enough to live upon; and at last all hehad in the world was gone, save just leather enough to make one pair ofshoes.

Then he cut his leather out, all ready to make up the next day, meaningto rise early in the morning to his work. His conscience was clear andhis heart light amidst all his troubles; so he went peaceably to bed,left all his cares to Heaven, and soon fell asleep. In the morning afterhe had said his prayers, he sat himself down to his work; when, to hisgreat wonder, there stood the shoes all ready made, upon the table. Thegood man knew not what to say or think at such an odd thing happening.He looked at the workmanship; there was not one false stitch in thewhole job; all was so neat and true, that it was quite a masterpiece.

The same day a customer came in, and the shoes suited him so well thathe willingly paid a price higher than usual for them; and the poorshoemaker, with the money, bought leather enough to make two pairs more.In the evening he cut out the work, and went to bed early, that he mightget up and begin betimes next day; but he was saved all the trouble, forwhen he got up in the morning the work was done ready to his hand. Soonin came buyers, who paid him handsomely for his goods, so that he boughtleather enough for four pair more. He cut out the work again overnightand found it done in the morning, as before; and so it went on for sometime: what was got ready in the evening was always done by daybreak, andthe good man soon became thriving and well off again.

One evening, about Christmas-time, as he and his wife were sitting overthe fire chatting together, he said to her, 'I should like to sit up andwatch tonight, that we may see who it is that comes and does my work forme.' The wife liked the thought; so they left a light burning, and hidthemselves in a corner of the room, behind a curtain that was hung upthere, and watched what would happen.

As soon as it was midnight, there came in two little naked dwarfs; andthey sat themselves upon the shoemaker's bench, took up all the workthat was cut out, and began to ply with their little fingers, stitchingand rapping and tapping away at such a rate, that the shoemaker was allwonder, and could not take his eyes off them. And on they went, till thejob was quite done, and the shoes stood ready for use upon the table.This was long before daybreak; and then they bustled away as quick aslightning.

The next day the wife said to the shoemaker. 'These little wights havemade us rich, and we ought to be thankful to them, and do them a goodturn if we can. I am quite sorry to see them run about as they do; andindeed it is not very decent, for they have nothing upon their backs tokeep off the cold. I'll tell you what, I will make each of them a shirt,and a coat and waistcoat, and a pair of pantaloons into the bargain; anddo you make each of them a little pair of shoes.'

The thought pleased the good cobbler very much; and one evening, whenall the things were ready, they laid them on the table, instead of thework that they used to cut out, and then went and hid themselves, towatch what the little elves would do.

About midnight in they came, dancing and skipping, hopped round theroom, and then went to sit down to their work as usual; but when theysaw the clothes lying for them, they laughed and chuckled, and seemedmightily delighted.

Then they dressed themselves in the twinkling of an eye, and danced andcapered and sprang about, as merry as could be; till at last they dancedout at the door, and away over the green.

The good couple saw them no more; but everything went well with themfrom that time forward, as long as they lived.