The Elves and the Shoemaker

Once there lived an honest shoemaker who had become so poor that at last he had nothing left but enough leather for one single pair of shoes. He cut them out in the evening, intending to sew them the next morning, and went to bed with a clear conscience. To his absolute astonishment, when he entered his workshop the next day, the shoes stood finished upon the table. They were made with such exquisite craftsmanship that not a single stitch was out of place. A customer soon bought them for a high price, allowing the shoemaker to buy leather for two more pairs. Again, he cut them out at night, and again, they were finished by morning. This continued until the shoemaker became a wealthy man. One night near Christmas, he and his wife hid behind a curtain to see who their helpers were. At midnight, two tiny, naked elves appeared and worked busily until the shoes were done. Touched by their help, the wife sewed tiny clothes and shoes for the elves. When the little men found the gifts, they danced with joy, put on their new clothes, and sang, 'Now we are spruce and fine to see; why should we longer cobblers be?' They skipped out the door and were never seen again, but the shoemaker remained prosperous for the rest of his life.