The Shoemaker and the Elves

In a season of getting, let us always remember to give…

Long, long ago, in a land far away, there lived a poor old shoemaker and his wife. No one wanted to buy shoes at a shop anymore, and sales got worse and worse until finally, the poor shoemaker only had enough faux-leather left for one pair of shoes. The sad shoemaker cut the faux-leather and left it on the table, thinking he might get to work in the morning, when he felt fresh again. The next morning, the shoemaker went back to his work-table to continue, but stood still with shock – for on the table sat a beautiful pair of boots. The shoemaker called his wife, and the pair stood gaping at the boots. At that very moment, a wealthy businesswoman passed the shop. She was clutching her feet in pain – her new shoes were giving her blisters. Through the window of the shoemaker’s shop, she spied the most elegant boots she had ever seen. She hurried in and offered the shoemaker 5 golden coins for the boots. The shoemaker and his wife were astonished; this was twice the amount he’d received for any of his shoes. The woman insisted, and in a moment, she’d hurried off with her spoils. The poor shoemaker and his wife were pleased at this surprising peculiarity – but it was only delaying misfortune. The 5 golden coins would be enough for that day’s dinner, and enough faux-leather shoes for 2 pairs, but that was all. After a day of planning and cutting, the shoemaker decided again to leave the cut faux-leather pieces out to finish in the morning. With an anxious heart, the poor couple went to bed. The next morning, they stood again in shock around two pairs of dainty, embroidered court shoes.

“What fine, neat stitching!” exclaimed the shoemaker. “Who could be good enough to help us in this way?”

Two young ladies took home the court shoes and left enough gold for the shoemaker to buy food and enough faux-leather for four shoes. That night, the shoemaker left the cut leather for three pairs of shoes on his table, having finished one pair during the day. The next morning, the shoemaker and his wife were hardly surprised at all to find that there were three pairs of exquisite boat shoes sitting on the table. Day after day, the shoemaker sold more shoes and made more money. Finally, he was truly back in business.

Word spread all over the small town that wonderful shoes could be found at the dingy little shoemaker’s store, and villagers from near and far flocked to buy shoes. The shoemaker couldn’t stand the curiosity any longer.

“My dear,” said he to his wife, “We must find the people who help us so and pay them back.” And so, the shoemaker and his wife sat in hiding by the old worktable when night fell. Lo and behold, there appeared two thin little elves. They were dressed in shabby rags, and by the moonlight, the watching couple could see that they went barefoot. The elves talked and laughed and sewed, and when the first rays of dawn peeped over the surrounding hills, they put the finishing touches on two lovely pairs of evening slippers and disappeared.

All the next day, the shoemaker and his wife worked hard. Mrs. Shoemaker carefully made rows of small Christmas pies and mince tarts, and tiny baked loaves and patterned yule logs. She packed it all up in a small basket. The shoemaker himself made two small suits, with shimmery, embroidered waistcoats and velvet jackets, and two delicate, blue-ribbon pairs of shoes. They left these tokens of thanks on the table and waited for the elves to appear. That night, the elves found the gifts and pranced with joy. Never again did the elves visit the shoemaker, but still he prospered in all he did from that day forth. The End.…