The Elves and the Shoemaker and Other Tales

Once upon a time there is a shoemaker. He works hard every day, but he is very poor. At last he has only enough leather for one pair of shoes.

One evening he cuts out the leather for the shoes. "I will make them tomorrow morning," he thinks. Then he goes to bed.

In the morning he goes to his table. He wants to start work. But the shoes are already there, and they are finished! He looks at them carefully. The work is perfect. They are beautiful shoes.

Soon a man comes into the shop. He likes the shoes very much, and he pays a lot of money for them. Now the shoemaker has enough money to buy leather for two pairs of shoes.

That evening he cuts out the leather for the two pairs and goes to bed. In the morning, the two pairs are finished! People buy them for a lot of money. Now he can buy leather for four pairs.