The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-11-17
STORIES
FOR LITTLE
FOLKS
THE SHOEMAKER AND THE ELF.


Once upon time, in a small village,
there lived a very poor shoemaker,
His wife, who was a cross and stingy
woman, insisted that her husband was
kept poor on account Of his generosity,
i and in consequence of this she made
his life miserable by her constant
scolding
! The shoemaker. whose name was
Peter, felt very sad. He was tender
hearted and his wife's seedlings made
him miserable.
That night ne sat late before the dy-
ing embers Of his zig chimney. His
wife had gone to bed first, and he was
all alone in the kitchen. Not a sound
was heard but the rain pelting on the
patched roof Out into the silence
sounded a faint tap on the door.
Come in said Peter, kindly. The
door opened and in triDped tiny elf.
His brown robe hung wet about his
drenched limbs.
sit by the fire. said Peter. drawing
up stool to the warm glow. The lit
tie elf took the ragged shoes from his
wet feet and placed them on the
hearth to dry. Peter felt sorry for the
little man, and as lie gave him a drin1
Of water and the last crumbs Of the
bread that were left in the box, he
noticed that the little shoes were worn
out, the soIes almost gone. So he took
them up and asked the elf If he want
ed them mended
The elf did not make any reply-he
only layed lis hands on his lips.
The poor little fellow is dumb,
remarked Peter sadly. Put 7 know
these shoes need fixing and I am going
to do it for him. no matter what my
wife may do"
Tick, tack, tick went the shoemak-
er'5 hammer, and in a short While the
tiny shoes We're as good IS new. The
little elf placed them on his feet joy
ously.
4 am not dumb" he said "but I am
undergoing a punishment My father
is the king Of the elves and l have
been for years a troublesome son. self /
ish and wilIfuI. To punish me, a year
ago my father said I must wander
about the world alone; and If | could
find person kind enough to help me
without pay the spell would be broken. /
So l am now free to 90 home to my
fathers palace back far in the ieweIed |
cavern. It is there that night and day |
we make the gems which shine in the /
queens crown and deck the women Of I
earth"
He looked about the bare walls,
the dirt floor, the empty cupboard.
You gave me your last crumb Of
bread, did you not?" asked the elf.
Yes" replied Peter, who was busy
thinking about what his wife would
do. those were the last bits in The
house"
The elf dug down III his brown robe
and brought up a bag.
In this bag he said, are enough
rubies to make you rich for life.
give them to you in reward for your
kindness. Buy for yourselves land
cattle and a fine home, but remember
o always be, as you were to me, kind
% others. Tell your wife also to re
member this caution: If she ever
speaks GROSSLY to you again all the
'iches will vanish and she will be left
poorer than she has ever been And
With this the elf opened the door and
-anished.
With the gems sold and a huge sack
# gold received in payment, Peter
Fought nice house, plenty Of cattle
md kept open house for those in
rouble And his wife was very happy
90; SO happey that she never again
poke a cross word TO her husband and IN
he pair lived contentedly to a good
i'd age