were the shoes all finished in the same beautiful manner.

7. So it went on; what the shoemaker cut out at night was always completed by the morning, till he had only to buy the leather and cut out the shoes. In fact, so much money came pouring in that he soon became a prosperous tradesman, as he had been before.

sev-er-al

ex-pect-ing dis-cover-ed

1. Now it happened one evening, not long before Christmas, that after the shoemaker had cut out several pairs of shoes, he said to his wife, My dear, I should very much like to find out who these good people are who help us in this kind way. Suppose we sit up to-night and watch.'

2. The good wife was pleased at the thought, so, leaving the candle burning, they hid themselves in a corner of the room,

and watched with great attention. As the clock struck twelve there came bounding into the room two pretty little elves. Seating themselves on the shoemaker's table, they took up the leather which he had cut out, and set to work so nimbly, stitching, and sewing, and hammering so swiftly, that the shoemaker became quite bewildered, although he could not take his eyes off them. They did not stop work for a moment till all the shoes were completed; then they skipped off the table and vanished.

3. Next morning, the wife said to her husband: These little men have been so kind to us, that we ought to do something for them in return. I will tell you what I have thought of. I am sure they must be almost frozen, running about as they do, without clothes. So I mean to make them little shirts, trousers, and coats; and if you will get a pair of little shoes ready for each of them, I will knit some stockings, and then these good little men will be warm and comfortable during the cold weather.'

4. I shall be only too glad to help you, my dear,' said the husband.

5. So they set to work, and very soon the clothes were quite ready. ready. In the evening,

instead of leaving the leather for the shoes, the shoemaker and his wife laid out their gifts on the table in the shop, and hid themselves in a corner as before, to see what would happen. At midnight the little elves came bounding in, and jumped upon the table, expecting to see the leather cut out for them. But there was nothing to be seen but the beautiful little clothes.

6. At first they were much surprised, but as soon as they discovered that the shirts and stockings and coats were for themselves, they began to dress with eager haste. They were so delighted that they danced about the room, jumping over stools and chairs, singing:

'Happy little elves are we,

Smartly dressed, as you may see,
No more shoemakers to be.'

And at last they danced out of the room through the door, and never came back any

more.

7. But the shoemaker and his wife, who had been kind to those who helped them, prospered in everything they did, and never wanted money again as long as they lived.

(By permission of Messrs. Warne & Co.)

I. 'I HAVE brought your dinner, father,'
The blacksmith's daughter said,
As she took from her arms a basket,
And lifted its little lid;

'There's not any pie or pudding,

So I will give you this: '
And upon his toil-worn forehead
She left a childish kiss.

2. The blacksmith took off his apron,
And dined in happy mood,
Wondering much at the savour
Hid in his humble food;
While all about him were visions
Full of contented bliss,
But he never thought of magic
In his little daughter's kiss.

3. While she, with her basket swinging,
Merrily trudged away,
Stopping at sight of a squirrel,
Catching some wild bird's lay;
And I thought how many a sorrow
Of life and fate we should miss,

If always our frugal dinner

Were seasoned with a kiss.