童话故事第 2 课: The Little Sprite Cobbler 小妖鞋匠-2

As midnight struck two naked little men came in and sat at the cobbler's table. 午夜钟响起来的时候，两个光身子的小人儿走进来，坐在鞋匠的工作台旁，

They at once took hold of the work which had been cut out, and with their tiny fingers began sewing, stitching, and hammering, so that the cobbler, full of admiration, could not take his eyes from them. 立刻拿起剪好的活儿，用他们那小巧的手指缝缝连连，敲敲打打，干起来了。鞋匠怀着钦佩的心情看着，目光离不开他们。

They did not leave off till they had finished the work, when they put everything in order and hurried away. 他们干完了活才住手，把每样东西都放好后，急忙走了。

The next morning the cobbler's wife said, "The little men have made us rich; we must give them some proof of our gratitude. 第二天早晨，鞋匠的妻子说： “这两个小人儿使我们富了，我们得给他们点东西表示谢意。

Running about at night as they do, they must be frozen without any clothes. 像他们那样夜间不穿衣服跑来跑去，一定感到很冷。

I tell you what we will do-I will make each a little shirt, waistcoat, and trousers, and knit them a pair of stockings, and you shall make them a pair of shoes." 我告诉你我们该怎么办吧，我给他们每人做一件小衬衣，一个小背心，一条小裤子，织一双长袜，你给他们每人做一双小鞋。”

Her husband approved the plan, and in the evening, when the clothing was ready, they placed their present, instead of the cut-out leather, on the table, 她的丈夫赞成这个意见。到晚上，衣服做好了，他们就把这些礼物放到工作台上，却没有放铰好的皮子，

and then concealed themselves, to see what the little man would say. 然后藏起来，看小人儿们会说些什么。

At midnight the little men hopped in and were going to set to work at once, but not finding the leather and only the charming little suits of clothes, they showed signs of the greatest delight. 午夜时分，小人儿们跳跳蹦蹦地进来了，马上打算着着手干活，但没有找到皮子，却发现两套可爱的小衣服。他们显出十分高兴的样子，飞快地穿上衣服。

Quick as lightning, they put the things on sang. And they jumped and danced about over the chairs and tables. 他们在桌椅上到处欢跃、跳舞。

At last they danced out at the door. 最后，手舞足蹈地出去了。

From that day they never came again, but the cobbler remained well-off, and everything he undertook prospered. 从那一天起，他们就不再来了，不过鞋匠仍然很富裕，他着手做的事都很成功。