Read the story and choose the correct sentences.
A shoemaker, by no fault of his own, became so poor that at last he had nothing left but enough leather for one pair of shoes.
So in the evening, he cut the leather into the shape of the shoes, and he left his work on the table to finish it in the morning.
When he woke up next morning, he saw two shoes standing quite finished on his table.
He was surprised.
He took the shoes in his hands to look at them more carefully and he saw that they were so neatly made.
Soon after, a customer came into the shop, and bought these shoes. Since that time the shoemaker had enough money to buy leather for two pairs of shoes.
That night, he cut out the leather. Next morning he was about to set to work with fresh hope for the future when he saw that the shoes had already made.
There were lots of customers who wanted to buy nice shoes. The shoemaker soon had enough to buy leather for four pairs of shoes.
Any leather that he cut out in the evening was finished by the morning.
Soon he was no longer poor, and he even became quite rich.
One evening before Christmas, the man finished cutting out the leather as usual. But that time he said to his wife, “Let’s stay up tonight to see who lends us this helping hand?”
The woman liked the idea, they lighted a candle and hid themselves in the corner of the room, behind some clothes which were hanging up there, and watched.
When it was midnight, two little elves came into the room, both without any clothes on, and sat down by the shoemaker’s table. They took the leather which was cut out and began to stitch, and sew 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 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. I’ll tell you what to do: I will make them little shirts and coats, and vests, and trousers, and knit both of them a pair of stockings, and you can help too – make them two little pairs
of shoes.”
The man said, “I'll be very glad to do it.” One night, when everything was ready, they laid their presents all together on the table. Then hid themselves to see what the little men would do.
At midnight they came into the room and wanted to get to work at once, but as they did not find any leather but only the pretty little articles of clothing, they were puzzled at first, and then delighted. They dressed themselves very quickly, 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. From that time they didn't come, but as long as the shoemaker lived all went well with him, and all his business prospered.
- A shoemaker became very poor at first.
- One morning the shoemaker saw two pretty shoes standing quite finished on his table.
- Any leather that the shoemaker cut out in the evening was finished by the morning.
- One evening the shoemaker and his wife wanted to watch who gave them that helping hand.
- In the evening the shoemaker left his work on the sofa to finish it in the morning.
- When it was midnight, five little elves came into the room.
- The shoemaker's wife didn't want to thank little elves for their help.
- From that time the shoemaker lived badly, without any success.