The Nimble Shoemaker

'Now tell me, Emma,' said Mr Finn to Emma Rees when he met her on the street one day, 'have you ever heard of a nimble shoemaker?'

'A nimble shoemaker? Of course I have, more than once. How often have I heard my father speak of one!'

'But have you ever seen one yourself?'

'No, not once in my entire life. But my grandfather, he saw one once. He even had one in his hands.'

'In his hands! Emma, you must tell me about it!'

'It would be my pleasure.

'My grandfather had been outside on the moor driving home some peat. His poor old horse was tired and Grandfather went into the stable to see if it had eaten its fodder. As he approached the door, he heard something hammering — like a cobbler when he makes shoes.

'My grandfather immediately thought of a nimble shoemaker and said, "I will catch him if I can and then I will have enough money for the rest of my life."

'He gently opened the door and looked all around. But there was nothing to see, and yet, he could still hear hammering and whistling. Then he discovered the little fellow. He had a little apron coat on, a hammer in his hand and a little red nightcap on his head. The cobbler was so preoccupied with making the shoe that he didn't even notice my grandfather until the moment he grabbed him with his hand.

'"Now I've got you and I will not let you go until you give me your change purse!"

'"Stop, stop," replied the shoemaker. "I will go and get it!"

'My grandfather, the fool, opened his hand and the little fellow hopped away laughing. He never saw him again. All that remained was a little shoe the cobbler had left behind.

'My grandfather was terribly upset with himself for letting the cobbler escape. But he kept the shoe as long as he lived and my mother told me that it was the sweetest shoe she had ever seen.'