A shoemaker by no fault of his own had become so poor that at last he only had money enough to buy leather for one pair of shoes. So that evening he cut out the shoes and left the cut-out leather on the table for he wished to begin making them the next morning. And as he had a good conscience he said his prayers, commended himself to God and went to sleep.

Now the next morning upon awakening he went to the table to take up his work with fresh courage, but he had no need to do so for the shoes stood quite finished on the table. The shoemaker was astounded and knew not what to think. He picked up the shoes in his hands to look at them more closely. They were so well made, with not one bad stitch, as if they were intended as a masterpiece. And a buyer was not wanting for soon one came along. The shoes pleased him so well that he paid more for them than was customary. The shoemaker thanked him and the customer went happily on his way.

Now the shoemaker had money enough to buy leather for two pairs of shoes. So that evening he cut out the leather for two pairs of shoes and left the cut-out leather on the table for again he wished to make them in the morning. He said his prayers and went to sleep. The next morning upon awakening he went to the table to take up his work but once again the shoes stood already finished on the table. (sing)

A merry cobbler man am I.

Tra la la la la dear ra.

You’ll hear me sing as you pass by.

Tra la la fala dear ra.

Soon along came two buyers who greeted the shoemaker. They too were well pleased with the shoes and paid more for them than was customary. They thanked the shoemaker and went merrily on their way.

Now the shoemaker had money enough to buy leather for four pairs of shoes. So that evening he cut out the leather for four pairs of shoes, said his prayers and went to sleep. The next morning upon awakening he found that once again the shoes stood quite finished on the table.

And so it went, whatever the shoemaker cut out the night before was made by the morning and at last the shoemaker had his honest independence again and was at last a wealthy man. (sing)

A merry cobbler man am I.

Tra la la la la dear ra.

You’ll hear me sing as you pass by.

Tra la la fala dear ra.

Now it happened one evening not long before Winter’s Eve when the shoemaker was working busily at his table cutting out leather, when his wife entered the room and said:

“Husband, what think you if we stayed up tonight to see who it is that lends us this helping hand?”

The shoemaker liked the idea so the woman went and lit a candle in the corner of the room and then the two went and hid themselves behind some clothes that were hanging there and then they waited and watched. When it was midnight (ring a chime 3 times) two little men with nothing on came bounding over the snow.

By oak and ash and hawthorn tree

Come all elves and so come we

Moonbeams lead us on our way

We work by night and sleep by day.

The two little men came into the shoemaker’s shop and went right to the table to take up the work that was laid out for them. Well, they stitched and sewed with such skill and rapidity that the shoemaker could not avert his eyes for astonishment. (sing)

Pull the thread. Stitch the shoe

Pull it tight and that will do

Elfin fingers nimble light

First the left shoe and then the right.

When the two little men finished their work, they bounded out of the room and disappeared among the snow and trees.

The next morning the woman said, “Husband, these little men have made us rich and we really should show we are grateful. They run about with nothing on and surely must be cold. I’ll tell you what I am going to do. I will make them both a pair of pants and shirts and knit them hats and stockings if you will cobble them both a pair of shoes.”

The shoemaker liked the idea and he and his wife set about making the gifts. (sing)

A merry cobbler and his wife.

Tra la la la la dear ra

You’ll hear them sing as you pass by.

Tra la la fala dear ra

With a stitch, stitch, stitch

They heal and sole

With a tap, tap, tap

They make shoes whole

And as they work, they sing this song

Tra la la fala dear ra.

Now it was Christmas Eve and the gifts were all finished and instead of leaving the cut-out leather on the table as usual, the shoemaker and his wife left the pretty articles of clothing. Then they went and hid themselves and waited and watched to see how the little men would behave themselves. When it was midnight, (ring a chime 3 times) two little men with nothing on came bounding over the snow.

By oak and ash and hawthorn tree

Come all elves and so come we

Moonbeams lead us on our way

We work by night and sleep by day.

The two little men came into the shoemaker’s shop and went right to the table to take up their work but instead of finding the cut-out leather, they found the little articles of clothing. At first, they were astonished and knew not what to think, but then they showed intense delight. And with the greatest of speed, they put on their new clothing while singing: (sing)

What spruce and dandy boys are we

No longer cobblers we must be

There is no more work to do

Good by clobber, God bless you!

Then they danced about the room

What spruce and dandy boys are we

No longer cobblers we must be

There is no more work to do

Good by clobber, God bless you!

Then they danced out of doors

What spruce and dandy boys are we

No longer cobblers we must be

There is no more work to do

Good by clobber, God bless you!                                (The elves pause…)

We are warm when humans are kind

Our coats with human love are lined

We live beneath the hawthorn tree

And what your house feels, so do we

Bless the cobbler and his wife

They’ll be happy the rest of their lives

From that day forth the little elves came no more. And from that day forth all went well with the shoemaker and his wife and all their efforts prospered. (sing)

A merry cobbler and his wife

They’ll be happy the rest of their lives

Tra la la la la la la la

Tra la la fala dear ra