The elves


Os gnomos (Histórias de anões)


FIRST STORY
A shoemaker, by no fault of his own, had become so poor that at last he had nothing left but leather for one pair of shoes. So in the evening, he cut out the shoes which he wished to begin to make the next morning, and as he had a good conscience, he lay down quietly in his bed, commended himself to God, and fell asleep. In the morning, after he had said his prayers, and was just going to sit down to work, the two shoes stood quite finished on his table. He was astounded, and knew not what to say to it. He took the shoes in his hands to observe them closer, and they were so neatly made that there was not one bad stitch in them, just as if they were intended as a masterpiece. Soon after, a buyer came in, and as the shoes pleased him so well, he paid more for them than was customary, and, with the money, the shoemaker was able to purchase leather for two pairs of shoes. He cut them out at night, and next morning was about to set to work with fresh courage; but he had no need to do so, for, when he got up, they were already made, and buyers also were not wanting, who gave him money enough to buy leather for four pairs of shoes. The following morning, too, he found the four pairs made; and so it went on constantly, what he cut out in the evening was finished by the morning, so that he soon had his honest independence again, and at last became a wealthy man. Now it befell that one evening not long before Christmas, when the man had been cutting out, he said to his wife, before going to bed, "What think you if we were to stay up to-night to see who it is that lends us this helping hand?" The woman liked the idea, and lighted a candle, and then they hid themselves in a corner of the room, behind some clothes which were hanging up there, and watched. When it was midnight, two pretty little naked men came, sat down by the shoemaker's table, took all the work which was cut out before them and began to stitch, and sew, and hammer so skilfully and so quickly with their little fingers that the shoemaker could not turn away his eyes for astonishment. They did not stop until all was done, and stood finished on the table, and they ran quickly away.
Next morning the woman said, "The little men have made us rich, and we really must show that we are grateful for it. They run about so, and have nothing on, and must be cold. I'll tell thee what I'll do: I will make them little shirts, and coats, and vests, and trousers, and knit both of them a pair of stockings, and do thou, too, make them two little pairs of shoes." The man said, "I shall be very glad to do it;" and one night, when everything was ready, they laid their presents all together on the table instead of the cut-out work, and then concealed themselves to see how the little men would behave. At midnight they came bounding in, and wanted to get to work at once, but as they did not find any leather cut out, but only the pretty little articles of clothing, they were at first astonished, and then they showed intense delight. They dressed themselves with the greatest rapidity, putting the pretty clothes on, and singing,
"Now we are boys so fine to see,
Why should we longer cobblers be?"
Then they danced and skipped and leapt over chairs and benches. At last they danced out of doors. From that time forth they came no more, but as long as the shoemaker lived all went well with him, and all his undertakings prospered.
SECOND STORY
There was once a poor servant-girl, who was industrious and cleanly, and swept the house every day, and emptied her sweepings on the great heap in front of the door. One morning when she was just going back to her work, she found a letter on this heap, and as she could not read, she put her broom in the corner, and took the letter to her master and mistress, and behold it was an invitation from the elves, who asked the girl to hold a child for them at its christening. The girl did not know what to do, but at length, after much persuasion, and as they told her that it was not right to refuse an invitation of this kind, she consented. Then three elves came and conducted her to a hollow mountain, where the little folks lived. Everything there was small, but more elegant and beautiful than can be described. The baby's mother lay in a bed of black ebony ornamented with pearls, the coverlids were embroidered with gold, the cradle was of ivory, the bath of gold. The girl stood as godmother, and then wanted to go home again, but the little elves urgently entreated her to stay three days with them. So she stayed, and passed the time in pleasure and gaiety, and the little folks did all they could to make her happy. At last she set out on her way home. Then first they filled her pockets quite full of money, and after that they led her out of the mountain again. When she got home, she wanted to begin her work, and took the broom, which was still standing in the corner, in her hand and began to sweep. Then some strangers came out of the house, who asked her who she was, and what business she had there? And she had not, as she thought, been three days with the little men in the mountains, but seven years, and in the meantime her former masters had died.
THIRD STORY
A certain mother's child had been taken away out of its cradle by the elves, and a changeling with a large head and staring eyes, which would do nothing but eat and drink, laid in its place. In her trouble she went to her neighbour, and asked her advice. The neighbour said that she was to carry the changeling into the kitchen, set it down on the hearth, light a fire, and boil some water in two egg-shells, which would make the changeling laugh, and if he laughed, all would be over with him. The woman did everything that her neighbour bade her. When she put the egg-shells with water on the fire, the imp said, "I am as old now as the Wester forest, but never yet have I seen any one boil anything in an egg-shell!" And he began to laugh at it. Whilst he was laughing, suddenly came a host of little elves, who brought the right child, set it down on the hearth, and took the changeling away with them.
PRIMEIRO CONTO
Houve, uma vez, um sapateiro que, não por sua culpa, ficara tão pobre que só lhe restava couro para um único par de sapatos.
A noite, cortou o couro para fazer os sapatos no dia seguinte; e, como tinha a consciência tranquila, deitou-se na cama, encomendou-se ao bom Deus e dormiu sossegada mente.
Pela manhã, após recitar as orações, dirigiu-se á mesa para trabalhar; mas deparou com o# sapatos já prontos, file admirou-se e não sabia o que pensar a este respeito. Pegou nas mãos os sapatos para observá-los mais de perto e viu que estavam tão perfeitos que não havia um único ponto errado; eram, realmente, uma obra-prima.
Logo depois, chegou um comprador; os sapatos lhe agradaram tanto, que pagou muito acima do preço estipulado. Com esse dinheiro, o sapateiro pôde comprar couro para dois pares de sapatos.
A noite, cortou o couro para fazê-los, com a melhor disposição, no dia seguinte; mas não foi preciso. Quando se levantou pela manhã, os sapatos já estavam prontos, e não faltaram compradores que lhe deram tanto dinheiro, que lhe permitiu comprar couro para quatro pares de sapatos.
De manhã cedo, ao levantar-se, encontrou prontos também esses; e assim prosseguiam as coisas: o que ele cortava à noite, encontrava feito de manhã; dessa maneira melhorou muito de situação e acabou ficando abastado.
Ora, aconteceu que uma noite, pouco antes do Natal, o sapateiro preparou e deixou cortados os sapatos. Antes, porém, de ir para a cama, disse à mulher:
- Que tal se ficássemos acordados esta noite, para ver quem é que nos auxilia tão generosamente?
A mulher concordou alegremente; acendeu uma luz; depois esconderam-se atrás das roupas dependuradas nos centos da sala, e ficaram aguardando a lentamente.
Ao dar meia-noite, chegaram dois graciosos gnomos completamente nuzinhos; sentaram-se à mesa de trabalho, pegaram o couro preparado, e com seus dedinhos ágeis puseram-se a furar, a coser e a bater, com tunta rapidez, que o sapateiro não conseguia despregar os olhos, de admiração.
Não pararam enquanto não ficou tudo pronto; depois deixaram os sapatos acabadinhos sobre a mesa e, rápidos, safram saltitando pela porta fora.
Na manhã seguinte, a mulher disse:
- Os gnomos nos enriqueceram; devemos demonstrar-lhes nossa gratidão; eles andam por aí sem nada no corpo e devem ficar gelados de frio. Queres saber uma coisa? Vou coser para eles uma camisinha, um gibão, um colete e um par de calçõezinhos; farei, também, um par de meias para cada um; tu podes acrescentar os sapatinhos.
O marido respondeu:
- Alegro-me muito com tua ideia.
E à noite, quando tudo ficou pronto, colocaram os presentes no lugar do trabalho cortado e depois esconderam-se para ver que cara fariam os gnomos.
À meia-noite, chegaram eles; pulando, dirigiram-se à mesa para trabalhar mas, ao invés do couro, encontraram todas aquelas graciosas roupinhas. Primeiro admiraram-se muito, depois manifestaram grande alegria. Com uma rapidez incrível vestiram-se, alisaram as roupas no corpo e puseram-se a cantar:
Nós somos rapazes elegantes e faceiros,
Para que sermos ainda sapateiros?
e divertiam-se dando cabriolas, dançando e pulando sobre os bancos e as cadeiras. Por fim, saíram, dançando, pela porta fora.
Desde aí não mais voltaram, mas o sapateiro passou muito bem, enquanto viveu, e teve sempre muita sorte em tudo quanto empreendia.
SEGUNDO CONTO
Houve, uma vez, uma pobre criada, muito asseada e trabalhadeira. Todos os dias, varria a casa e jogava o lixo num monturo, em frente à porta.
Certa manhã, estava para começar o trabalho quando encontrou uma carta; como não sabia ler, pós a vassoura num canto e levou a carta à sua patroa; era um convite da parte dos gnomos para que servisse de madrinha a um menino.
A moça não sabia que fazer, mas como lhe haviam dito que essas coisas não podem ser negadas, ela consentiu. Então, vieram os gnomos buscá-la e a conduziram à caverna de uma montanha, onde moravam.
Tudo lá era minúsculo, mas gracioso e luxuoso até mais não poder. A gestante estava deitada numa cama de ébano incrustada de pérolas; as cobertas eram bordadas a ouro; o berço era de marfim e a banheira de ouro.
A moça serviu de madrinha, depois quis voltar para casa; mas os gnomos instaram com ela para que ficasse mais três dias com eles. Ela ficou e passou os dias muito alegre, divertindo-se bastante e os anões cumularam-na de gentilezas.
Finalmente, decidiu voltar para casa; os anões, então, encheram-lhe os bolsos de ouro e a reconduziram para fora da montanha.
Quando chegou a casa, quis retomar o trabalho, pegou na vassoura, que ainda estava no canto, e começou a varrer. Nisso apareceram de dentro da casa algumas pessoas estranhas e perguntaram-lhe quem era e o que desejava.
Então ela compreendeu que ficara, não três dias como julgara, mas sim sete anos na caverna dos gnomos, e, durante esse tempo, seus antigos patrões haviam falecido.
TERCEIRO CONTO
Os gnomos roubaram uma criança de uma mãe e no berço desta puseram um monstro que tinha uma cabeça enorme e dois olhos bovinos, e que não parava nunca de comer e de mamar. Desesperada, a pobre mãe foi pedir conselho à vizinha. A vizinha aconselhou-a a levar o mostrengo à cozinha e aí sentá-lo sobre o fogão, acender o fogo e fazer ferver água em duas cascas de ovo: assim o faria rir e, quando ele risse, tudo se acabaria.
A mulher fez o que lhe aconselhou a vizinha. Quando pôs no fogo as cascas de ovo cheias de água, disse o mostrengo:
- Bem velho eu sou.
como o mundo, meu povo,
mas nunca vi
cozinhar em casca de ôvo!
e caiu na gargalhada.
Enquanto estava rindo, surgiu um bando de gnomos trazendo a criança legítima; puseram esta sobre o fogão e carregaram consigo o mostrengo.