l as it was before.

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, "they
are quite naked."

"I will make the shoes if you will make the coats," said her husband.

That very day they set about it. The wife cut out two tiny, tiny coats
of green, two weeny, weeny waistcoats of yellow, two little pairs of
trousers, of white, two bits of caps, bright red (for every one knows
the elves love bright colors), and her husband made two little pairs of
shoes with long, pointed toes. They made the wee clothes as dainty as
could be, with nice little stitches and pretty buttons; and 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 gay little fairy-clothes. Then he
and his wife hid away as before, to watch.

Promptly at midnight, the little naked 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. Then they looked at each other and made all kinds of
funny motions in their delight. At last they began to dance, and when
the clock struck two, they danced quite away, out of the window.

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.

WHO KILLED THE OTTER'S BABIES[1]?

[1] Adapted from the story as told in Fables and Folk Tales From an
Eastern Forest, by Walter Skeat.

Once the Otter came to the Mouse-deer and said, "Friend Mouse-deer,
will you please take care of my babies while I go to the river, to
catch fish?"

"Certainly," said the Mouse-deer, "go along."

But when the Otter came back from the river, with a string of fish, he
found his babies crushed flat.

"What does this mean, Friend Mouse-deer?" he said. "Who killed my
children while you were taking care of them?"

"I am very sorry," said the Mouse-deer, "but you know I am Chief Dancer
of the War-dance, and the Woodpecker came and sounded the war-gong, so
I danced. I forgot your children, and trod on them."

"I shall go to King Solomon," said the Otter, "and you shall be
punished."

Soon the Mouse-deer was called before King Solomon.

"Did you kill the Otter's babies?" said th