Scribd
Upload
56 views1 page

The Elvesandthe Shoemaker Fiction 6 TH Grade

An honest shoemaker and his wife were very poor and could only afford materials for one last pair of shoes. When he awoke, he found the shoes had been mysteriously finished. This continued, with pairs of shoes being completed overnight, allowing the shoemaker to buy more materials and become prosperous. One night, the shoemaker and his wife hid and witnessed tiny elves finishing the shoes. Out of gratitude, the couple made the elves clothes as a gift. The elves were pleased and brought the shoemaker good luck going forward. This story teaches that kindness and gratitude can be rewarded.

Uploaded by

Chris Pitts
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
56 views1 page

The Elvesandthe Shoemaker Fiction 6 TH Grade

An honest shoemaker and his wife were very poor and could only afford materials for one last pair of shoes. When he awoke, he found the shoes had been mysteriously finished. This continued, with pairs of shoes being completed overnight, allowing the shoemaker to buy more materials and become prosperous. One night, the shoemaker and his wife hid and witnessed tiny elves finishing the shoes. Out of gratitude, the couple made the elves clothes as a gift. The elves were pleased and brought the shoemaker good luck going forward. This story teaches that kindness and gratitude can be rewarded.

Uploaded by

Chris Pitts
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Read Skillfully

The Elves and the Shoemaker


CCSSR1: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual
evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
Public Domain Text; Questions by Center for Urban Education

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 the next
day and sell them.
Early the next morning, he rose and went to his workbench and discovered there a pair of shoes,
beautifully made. The leather was gone, and there was no sign of anyone having been there. The shoemaker
and his wife did not know what to make of it. Then 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
anyone who had been there. It was another puzzle. 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. As before, the next morning he discovered that
all four pairs were made.
It went on like this until the shoemaker and his wife were prosperous. They were concerned, 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 quiet, they made little conversation,
and they had brought tiny 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 little creatures whisked away out of the window.
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.
"I will make the shoes if you will make the coats," said her husband.
That very day they worked on this surprise for the elves. The wife cut out two tiny, tiny coats of green, two
little pairs of trousers, of white, two very small caps, bright red, and her husband made two little pairs of shoes
with long, pointed toes. They made the clothes as good-looking as could be, with nice little stitches and pretty
buttons. 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
clothes. Then he and his wife hid away as before, to watch.
Promptly at midnight, the little 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. They were so happy. Then, when the clock struck two, they left smiling.
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.

What is a lesson people can learn from this story?

Underline the parts of the story that show that is the lesson you can learn.

You might also like