The Elves and the Shoemaker

Author: Brothers Grimm

Age3–6
Reading time7 min
LevelBeginner

Introduction

This is a gentle little story about gratitude. The tiny men who make shoes for the cobbler are called Wichtelmänner in German — helpful house-elves from old Germanic folk belief, who quietly do your chores at night if you treat them kindly. There is an ancient idea that if you give such a house-elf a set of clothes, it will happily consider its work done and depart — which is exactly what the elves here do, dancing away in their new outfits. (If your child knows Harry Potter, you can tell them that Dobby the house-elf, freed by the gift of a sock, was inspired by this very piece of folklore.) What is most touching is that the shoemaker and his wife give the clothes not to keep the elves working, but simply to say thank you and because they cannot bear to see the little men cold — a kindness with no strings attached. As you read, ask your child why the couple prepare their gift in secret rather than thanking the elves to their faces.

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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 begin 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, the two shoes stood quite finished on his table. He was astounded, and knew not what to say to it. He took the shoes in his hands to observe them closer, and they were so neatly made that there was not one bad stitch in them, just as if they were intended as a masterpiece.

Soon after, a buyer came in, and as the shoes pleased him so 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, for, 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 the morning, so that he soon had his honest independence 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 think you if we were to 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 pretty little naked men came, sat down by the shoemaker's table, took all the work which was cut out before them and began to stitch, and sew, and hammer so skilfully 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 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. I'll tell thee what I'll do: I will make them little shirts, and coats, and vests, and trousers, and knit both of them a pair of stockings, and do thou, 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, 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 leather cut out, but only the pretty little articles of clothing, they were at first astonished, and then they showed intense delight. 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 be?"

Then they danced and skipped and leapt over chairs and benches. At last they danced out of 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.

Vocabulary from "The Elves and the Shoemaker"

12 key words from this story with definitions and original context sentences for language learners.

conscienceB2

/ˈkɒnʃəns/n.

The inner sense of what is right and wrong.

良心；良知。

As he had a good conscience, he lay down quietly in his bed, commended himself to God, and fell asleep.
他问心无愧，平静地躺在床上，向上帝祈祷后便入睡了。

astounded(astound)B2

/əˈstaʊndɪd/adj.

Very greatly surprised; amazed.

大为惊讶的；震惊的。

The two shoes stood quite finished on his table. He was astounded, and knew not what to say to it.
那双鞋子已经整整齐齐地摆在桌子上了。他惊讶得说不出话来。

stitchB2

/stɪtʃ/n.

One loop of thread made by a needle in sewing.

针脚；一针。

They were so neatly made that there was not one bad stitch in them.
它们缝制得极其精美，每一针都非常工整。

masterpieceB2

/ˈmɑːstəpiːs/n.

A work made with the very greatest skill.

杰作；名作。

There was not one bad stitch in them, just as if they were intended as a masterpiece.
每一针都非常工整，简直就像是一件杰作。

customaryC1

/ˈkʌstəməri/adj.

Usual; done as a normal habit or custom.

惯常的；照惯例的。

As the shoes pleased him so well, he paid more for them than was customary.
因为这双鞋非常合他的心意，他付了比平时更多的钱。

purchaseB2

/ˈpɜːtʃəs/v.

To buy something.

购买。

With the money, the shoemaker was able to purchase leather for two pairs of shoes.
有了这笔钱，鞋匠又买了两双鞋的皮革。

concealed(conceal)B2

/kənˈsiːld/v.

Hid something or someone from sight.

隐藏；藏匿。

They laid their presents all together on the table, and then concealed themselves to see how the little men would behave.
他们把礼物全部摆在桌子上，然后躲起来看小精灵们会有什么反应。

gratefulB1

/ˈɡreɪtfl/adj.

Feeling or showing thanks for something.

感激的；感恩的。

The little men have made us rich, and we really must show that we are grateful for it.
这些小人儿让我们变富有了，我们真的应该表达一下谢意。

stockings(stocking)B1

/ˈstɒkɪŋz/n.

Close-fitting coverings for the feet and legs.

长袜。

I will make them little shirts, and coats, and vests, and trousers, and knit both of them a pair of stockings.
我要给他们每人缝制小衬衫、外套、背心和裤子，再织一双袜子。

rapidityC1

/rəˈpɪdəti/n.

Great speed; quickness.

迅速；快速。

They dressed themselves with the greatest rapidity, putting the pretty clothes on, and singing.
他们以最快的速度穿上漂亮的衣服，唱着歌。

cobblers(cobbler)C1

/ˈkɒbləz/n.

People who make or mend shoes.

补鞋匠；鞋匠。

Now we are boys so fine to see, Why should we longer cobblers be?
现在我们成了体面的男孩，为何还要做鞋匠呢？

prospered(prosper)C1

/ˈprɒspəd/v.

Became successful, especially by making money.

兴旺；繁荣；发达。

As long as the shoemaker lived all went well with him, and all his undertakings prospered.
只要鞋匠活着，他的一切都非常顺利，所有的生意都兴旺发达。

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

Kindness and honest work bring good fortune, and true gratitude means repaying another's goodness without expecting anything back.

Educational Value

Helps children understand gratitude and giving back, appreciate the beauty of quiet helpfulness, and value honest work.

Tips for Parents

Make a small 'thank-you gift' together for someone who has helped your family; then talk about why helping others 'without needing to be noticed' is all the more precious.

Talk About It

The couple gave the elves clothes not to keep them working, but simply to say thank you. What is the difference between a thank-you that expects nothing and one that hopes to keep the help coming?
The elves always helped at midnight, when no one could see. What kind of quality is it to do good quietly, without wanting credit?
The elves happily left once they had their clothes and never came back. Why do you think they left — were they sad or glad?
If someone had been secretly helping you, how would you want to thank them?