Карлик-нос

           Ihadwarnedhermanyatimetokeepacarefuleyeuponourprettyboy,tellinghertherewerebadfolksinthetownwhomightstealhimforthesakeofhisgoodlooks.Butshewasproudofhim,andoften,whenthegentryboughtfruitandvegetablesofher,shesenthimtocarryhometheirpurchases.Butonedayanuglyoldwomancameintothemarketandbegantobargainwithher.Intheendsheboughtmorethanshecouldcarry,andmywife,beingakind-heartedwoman,lethertaketheboywithher,andfromthathourtothishehasneverbeenseenagain."

           "Andthatwassevenyearsago?"askedJacob."Sevenyears,alas!Wesoughthimhighandlow,andourneighbours,whohadallknownandlovedthedearlittlefellow,helpedinthesearch;butwithoutavail.Neithercouldwehearanynewsoftheoldwomanwhohadtakenhimaway.Nooneseemedtoknowanythingaboutherexceptoneoldwomanwhowasoverninetyyearsofage,andshesaidshemustbethewickedFairyHerbina,whovisitedthetownonceeveryfiftyvearstobuythingssherequired."

           ThusspokeJacob’sfather,ashehammeredawayathisshoeanddrewthethreadbackwardsandforwardsbusily,andthepoorlittlefellowbegantounderstandatlastwhathadhappenedtohim.Ithadbeennodream,but,transformedintoasquirrel,hehadreallyservedthewickedfairyforsevenyears.Hisheartwaswell-nighreadytoburstwithrageandgrief.Sevenyearsofhisyouthhadbeenstolenfromhimandwhathadhereceivedinreturn?Hehadlearnttopolishcocoa-nutshoesandglassfloors.