a shoemaker by no fault of his own had become so poor that at last he had nothing left but leather for one pair of shoes so in the evening he cut out the shoes which he wished to make the next morning and as he had a good conscience he lay down quietly in his bed commended himself to god and fell asleep
in the morning after he had said his prayers and was just going to sit down to work lo both shoes stood all finished on his table he was astounded and did not know what to say he took the shoes in his hands to examine them closer and they were so neatly made that there was not one bad stitch in them just as if they were meant for a masterpiece soon after a buyer
came in and as the shoes pleased him well he paid more for them than was customary and with the money the shoemaker was able to purchase leather for two pairs of shoes he cut them out at night and next morning was about to set to work with fresh courage but he had no need to do so when he got up they were already made and buyers also were not wanting who gave him money enough to buy leather for four pairs of shoes the following morning too he found the four pairs made and so it went on constantly what he cut out in the evening was finished by morning so that he soon had his honest living again and at last became a wealthy man now it befell that one evening not long before christmas when the man had been cutting out he said to his wife before going to bed what thank you if we were to stay up tonight 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 there and watched when it was midnight two pretty tiny naked little men came sat down by the shoemaker’s table took all the work which was cut out before them and began to stitch so 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 much and have nothing on and must be cold i’ll tell you what i’ll do i will make them little shirts coats vests and trousers and knit both of them a pair of stockings do you 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 instead of the cut out work all together on the table and then concealed themselves to see how the little men would behave at midnight they came bounding in and wanted to get to work at once but as they did not find any other cutout only the pretty little are calls of clothing they were at first astonished and then they showed intense delay they dressed themselves with the greatest rapidity putting the pretty clothes on and singing now we are boys so fine to see why should we longer cobblers being then they danced and skipped and left over chairs and benches at last they doubt out of the doors from that time forth they came no more but as long as the shoemaker lived all went well with him and all his undertakings prospered