The Elves and the Shoemaker

A shoemaker, by no fault of his own, became so poor that at last he had nothing left but enough leather for one pair of shoes. So in the evening, he cut the leather into the shape of the shoes, and he left his work on the table to finish in the morning. He lay down quietly in his bed, and before he fell asleep he asked God to help him. In the morning, just as he was about to sit down to work, he saw the two shoes standing quite finished on his table. He was astounded, and did not know what to make of it. He took the shoes in his hands to look at them them more closely and he saw that they were so neatly made that there was not one bad stitch in them. It just as if they were intended as a masterpiece. Soon after, a customer came in to the shop, and as the shoes pleased him so well, he paid more than the usual price. Now the shoe maker had enough money to buy leather for two pairs of shoes. That night, he cut out the leather. Next morning he was about to set to work with fresh hope for the future when he saw that the shoes were already made. There was no shortage of customers who wanted the shoes. The shoemaker soon had enough to buy leather for four pairs of shoes. The following morning he found the four pairs made; and so it went on. Any leather that he cut out in in the evening was finished by the morning, Soon he was no longer poor, and he even became quite rich. Now one evening not long before Christmas, the man finished cutting out the leather as usual. But this time he said to his wife, Lets stay up to-night to see who it is that lends us this helping hand? The woman liked the idea, and lighted a candle, and then they hid themselves in a corner of the room, behind some clothes which were hanging up there, and watched. When it was midnight, two little elves came into the room, both without any clothes on, and sat down by the shoemakers table. They took all the work which was cut out before them and began to stitch, and sew, and hammer so skillfully and so quickly with their little fingers that the shoemaker could not turn away his eyes for astonishment. They did not stop until all was done, and stood finished on the table, and then they ran quickly away.

Next morning the woman said, The little men have made us rich, and we really must show that we are grateful for it. They run about so, and have nothing on, and must be cold. Ill tell you what Ill do: I will make them little shirts, and coats, and vests, and trousers, and knit both of them a pair of stockings, and you can help too make them two little pairs of shoes. The man said, I shall be very glad to do it; and one night, when everything was ready, they laid their presents all together on the table instead of the cut-out work. Then hid themselves to see what the little men would do. At midnight they came bounding in, and wanted to get to work at once, but as they did not find any leather cut out, but only the pretty little articles of clothing, they were at first puzzled, and then delighted. They dressed themselves very quickly, putting the pretty clothes on, and singing, Now we are boys so fine to see, Why should we longer cobblers be? Then they danced and skipped and leapt over chairs and benches. At last they danced out of doors. From that time one they came no more, but as long as the shoemaker lived all went well with him, and all his business prospered.

CINDERELLA Once upon a time there lived a sweet little girl called Ella. Her mother had died when she was a child and soon her father too died. She lived with her mean step-mohter and her two proud step-sisters. They made Ella to do all houseworks. Clean the chimneys, dust the cupboards and iron my clothes. The young girl was always covered o soot and dast. Hence she was called Cinderella. One day the prince invited all the girls at the kingdom for the ball in the castle. Everyone, including the two stepsisters, were very excited. Cinderella too wanted to go but her sisters laughed at her: Stay at home and scrubed the floors. screamed her stepmother. The day of a ball finely came. The stepmother and stepsister left Cinderrela alone at home. She was so dissappointed that she began to cry. Suddenly she saw a shimmery light in the room. A woman with a kind smile and the wand stood in front of her. Who are you?asked Cinderela suprised. Im your fairy godmother. Ill help you to go to the ball. Now to stop crying! But I have nothing to wear. I cant go to the ball. The fairy godmother smiled. She touched the pupkins and turned it into a grant carriage. With a wave of a wand she changed six mice into six magnificat horses to pull the carriage and another mouse into a footman. Finaly she changed Cinderelas rags into a beautiful dress. Finely she changed Cinderellas into a beautiful dress. Now you look like a princess! She said to s. but remeber you should come until the twelve oclock the spel I wont forget! Thank you so much! and she went to the castle. Cinderrela was the prettiest girl at the ball. Her step sister didnt even recognise her. All the other girles were very jelous because the prince Dance with her the whole night.

Cinderella had a wonderful time at the ball However the moment the clock strights twelve she remembered the fairy-good mother words and run away. In her hurry she left one glass slipper on the castles steps. Now the Prince to fall in love with her and wanted to find hern he said to his manGo to the every house in the land. find the whose foot fits into the glass slipper. She would be the one I ll marry. The kingsman reech the Cinderellas house. The two stepsisters tried hard to thein big feet into the glassslipper Finaly Cinderella peepted out and said: May I try as well? To everyone surprice. The whicked sisters never bothered her again

Video THE SHOEMAKER AND THE ELVES

Once upon a time there lived a kind shoemaker and his wife. Sadly, nobody bought his shoes anymore and they had become poor. He only had cloth left to make one last pair of shoes. To console him his wife said: 'Don't worry too much, everything will soon be all right. Leave the cloth on the table, you can stitch the shoes tomorrow. Let us go to bed now!' However, four little elves, who had been outside their window, had heard them talking. They felt sorry for the kind man. 'We must help the poor shoemaker', they decided. The smart, talented elves fluttered into the house through the window. They took the cloth and soon began cutting, sewing and decorating it. Before morning they made the most beautiful pair of shoes in the whole world and flew away. In the morning the shoemaker and his wife were amazed to see the pretty little shoes lying on the table. 'Who made this?' they both wondered. 'They are lovely!' Soon, a merchant saw the shoes in the shop window and immediately bought them. He gave the shoemaker enough money to buy cloth for two pairs of shoes. That night too, the shoemaker left the cloth on the table before going to bed. The elves returned. Before sunrise they had made two pairs of shoes that were much prettier. This continued for many more nights: lovely shoes that the elves made used to wait for the shoemaker every morning. The shoemaker and his wife were puzzled. 'I wonder who our friends are?', they said. 'We must thank them for their kindness.' They decided to stay awake that night and hide behind the door to find out who made the shoes for them. As they waited they saw the elves flying, laughing, singing and quickly stitching the shoes. 'How lucky we are!' exclaimed the shoemaker once the elves had left. The wife suggested: 'their clothes were torn, let us make tiny clothes for them.' They both worked hard to make the best clothes including the cutest pairs of shoes for the friendly elves and left them on the table the next night. When the elves came they were thrilled to see their new clothes. They danced and sang in happiness and flew out of the window, never to return again. The shoemaker continued to make the best shoes in town and sold them. He and his wife never forgot the kind elves who had helped them in their time of need.

Why is the shoemaker so poor? He doesnt sell his shoes He is ill He is too old to work hard Why does his wife tell him to go to bed? Because it is very late Because he is tired To comfort him How do the elves get into the house? Through the window Through the chimney Through the door Where are the shoemaker and his wife hidden while the elves are making the shoes? Behind the door Behind the sofa Under the table Which of these things are not made for the elves? Toys Shoes Clothes Where do they leave the things they have made? In the shop window On the table On a chair When will the elves come back? Never Occasionaly Every night