touched them he said their names： 〃Little Thumb； Fore… finger； Thimble…
finger； Ring…finger； Little Finger； Little Thumb； Forefinger； Thimble…
finger； Ring…finger； Little Finger！〃 And as he named the fingers； one after
another； the tiny fairies bowed their tiny heads； there was a fairy for every
name。
〃Hop！ hide yourselves away！〃 said the gray man。
Hop； hop！ The fairies sprang to Elsa's knee； then to the palms of her
hands； and then…whisk！ they were all hidden away in her little pink fingers；
a fairy in every finger！ And the gray man was gone。
Elsa sat and looked with wonder at her little white hands and the ten
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useless fingers。 But suddenly the little fingers began to stir。 The tiny fairies
who were hidden away there weren't used to staying still； and they were
getting restless。 They stirred so that Elsa jumped up and ran to the cooking
table； and took hold of the bread board。 No sooner had she touched the
bread board than the little fairies began to work： they measured the flour；
mixed the bread； kneaded the loaves； and set them to rise； quicker than
you could wink； and when the bread was done； it was the nicest you could
wish。 Then the little fairy…fingers seized the broom； and in a twinkling
they were making the house clean。 And so it went； all day。 Elsa flew about
from one thing to another； and the ten fairies did it all； just right。
When the maid saw her mistress working； she began to work； too； and
when she saw how beautifully everything was done； she was ashamed to
do anything badly herself。 In a little while the housework was going
smoothly； and Elsa could laugh and sing again。
There was no more crossness in that house。 Elsa's husband grew so
proud of her that he went about saying to everybody； 〃My grandmother
was a fine housekeeper； and my mother was a fine housekeeper； but
neither of them could hold a candle to my wife。 She has only one maid；
but； to see the work done； you would think she had as many servants as
she has fingers on her hands！〃
When Elsa heard that； she used to laugh； but she never； never told。
THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER
Once upon a time there was an honest shoemaker； who was very poor。
He worked as hard as he could； and still he could not earn enough to keep
himself and his wife。 At last there came a day when he had nothing left but
one piece of leather； big enough to make one pair of shoes。 He cut out the
shoes； ready to stitch； and left them on the bench； then he said his prayers
and went to bed； trusting that he could finish the shoes on the next day and
sell them。
Bright and early the next morning； he rose and went to his work…bench。
There lay a pair of shoes； beautifully made； and the leather was gone！
There was no sign of any one's having been there。 The shoemaker and his
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wife did not know what to make of it。 But the first customer who came
was so pleased with the beautiful shoes that he bought them； and paid so
much that the shoemaker was able to buy leather enough for two pairs。
Happily； he cut them out； and then； as it was late； he left the pieces on
the bench； ready to sew in the morning。 But when morning came； two
pairs of shoes lay on the bench； most beautifully made； and no sign of any
one who had been there。 The shoemaker and his wife were quite at a loss。
That day a customer came and bought both pairs； and paid so much for
them that the shoemaker bought leather for four pairs； with the money。
Once more he cut out the shoes and left them on the bench。 And in the
morning all four pairs were made。
It went on like this until the shoemaker and his wife were prosperous
people。 But they could not be satisfied to have so much done for them and
not know to whom they should be grateful。 So one night； after the
shoemaker had left the pieces of leather on the bench； he and his wife hid
themselves behind a curtain； and left a light in the room。
Just as the clock struck twelve the door opened softly； and two tiny
elves came dancing into the room； hopped on to the bench； and began to
put the pieces together。 They were quite naked； but they had wee little
scissors and hammers and thread。 Tap！ tap！ went the little hammers； stitch；
stitch； went the thread； and the little elves were hard at work。 No one ever
worked so fast as they。 In almost no time all the shoes were stitched and
finished。 Then the tiny elves took hold of each other's hands and danced
round the shoes on the bench； till the shoemaker and his wife had hard
work not to laugh aloud。 But as the clock struck two； the little creatures
whisked away out of the window； and left the room all as it was before。
The shoemaker and his wife looked at each other； and said； 〃How can
we thank the little elves who have made us happy and prosperous？〃
〃I should like to make them some pretty clothes；〃 said the wife； 〃they
are quite naked。〃
〃I will make the shoes if you will make the coats；〃 said her husband。
That very day they set about it。 The wife cut out two tiny； tiny coats of
green； two weeny； weeny waistcoats of yellow； two little pairs of trousers；
of white； two bits of caps； bright red （for every one knows the elves love
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bright colors）； and her husband made two little pairs of shoes with long；
pointed toes。 They made the wee clothes as dainty as could be； with nice
little stitches and pretty buttons； and by Christmas time； they were
finished。
On Christmas eve； the shoemaker cleaned his bench； and on it； instead
of leather； he laid the two sets of gay little fairy… clothes。 Then he and his
wife hid away as before； to watch。
Promptly at midnight； the little naked elves came in。 They hopped
upon the bench； but when they saw the little clothes there； they laughed
and danced for joy。 Each one caught up his little coat and things and began
to put them on。 Then they looked at each other and made all kinds of
funny motions in their delight。 At last they began to dance； and when the
clock struck two； they danced quite away； out of the window。
They never came back any more； but from that day they gave the
shoemaker and his wife good luck； so that they never needed any more
help。
WHO KILLED THE OTTER'S BABIES＇1＇？
＇1＇ Adapted from the story as told in Fables and Folk Tales From an
Eastern Forest； by Walter Skeat。
Once the Otter came to the Mouse…deer and said； 〃Friend Mouse…deer；
will you please take care of my babies while I go to the river； to catch
fish？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the Mouse…deer； 〃go along。〃
But when the Otter came back from the river； with a string of fish； he
found his babies crushed flat。
〃What does this mean； Friend Mouse… deer？〃 he said。 〃Who killed my
children while you were taking care of them？〃
〃I am very sorry；〃 said the Mouse…deer； 〃but you know I am Chief
Dancer of the War…dance； and the Woodpecker came and sounded the war…
gong； so I danced。 I forgot your children； and trod on them。〃
〃I shall go to King Solomon；〃 said the Otter； 〃and you shall be
punished。〃
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Soon the Mouse…deer was called before King Solomon。
〃Did you kill the Otter's babies？〃 said the king。
〃Yes； your Majesty；〃 said the Mouse… deer； 〃but I did not mean to。〃
〃How did it happen？〃 said the king。
〃Your Majesty knows；〃 said the Mouse… deer； 〃that I am Chief Dancer
of the War…dance。 The Woodpecker came and sounded the war…gong； and I
had to dance； and as I danced I trod on the Otter's children。〃
〃Send for the Woodpecker；〃 said King Solomon。 And when the
Woodpecker came； he said to him； 〃Was it you who sounded the war…
gong？〃
〃Yes； your Majesty；〃 said the Woodpecker； 〃but I had to。〃