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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。〃
〃Why？〃 said the king。
〃Your Majesty knows；〃 said the Woodpecker； 〃that I am Chief Beater
of the War…gong； and I sounded the gong because I saw the Great Lizard
wearing his sword。〃
〃Send for the Great Lizard；〃 said King Solomon。 When the Great
Lizard came； he asked him； 〃Was it you who were wearing your sword？〃
〃Yes； your Majesty；〃 said the Great Lizard； 〃but I had to。〃
〃Why？〃 said the king。
〃Your Majesty knows；〃 said the Great Lizard； 〃that I am Chief
Protector of the Sword。 I wore my sword because the Tortoise came
wearing his coat of mail。〃
So the Tortoise was sent for。
〃Why did you wear your coat of mail？〃 said the king。
〃I put it on； your Majesty；〃 said the Tortoise； 〃because I saw the King…
crab trailing his three…edged pike。〃
Then the King…crab was sent for。
〃Why were you trailing your three… edged pike？〃 said King Solomon。
〃Because； your Majesty；〃 said the Kingerab； 〃I saw that the Crayfish
had shouldered his lance。〃
Immediately the Crayfish was sent for。
〃Why did you shoulder your lance？〃 said the king。
〃Because； your Majesty；〃 said the Crayfish； 〃I saw the Otter coming
down to the river to kill my children。〃
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〃Oh；〃 said King Solomon； 〃if that is the case； the Otter killed the
Otter's children。 And the Mouse…deer cannot be held； by the law of the
land！〃
EARLY＇1＇
＇1＇ From The singing Leaves； by Josephine Preston Peabody
（Houghton； Mifflin and Co。）。
I like to lie and wait to see My mother braid her hair。 It is as long as it
can be； And yet she doesn't care。 I love my mother's hair。