Карлик-ніс

           Manyyearsago,inacertaincityinGermany,therelivedanhonestcobblerandhiswife.Thegoodmansatalldayandmendedbootsandshoes;hemadenewonestoo,ifhecouldgetacustomertotrusthimwiththejob,butthenhehadfirsttobuytheleather,forhewastoopoortokeepastockinhand.Hiswifesoldfruitandvegetables,whichshegrewinalittleplotofgroundoutsidethecitygates.Shehadmanycustomers,forshewascleanandtidy,andhadaknackofsettingoutherwarestobebestadvantage.Thecobblerandhiswifehadabeautifullitdeboy,namedJacob.Althoughhewaseightyearsofgehewastallandwell-grown,andsohesatbyhismother’ssideinthemarket-place,andactedaserrandboytothehouse-wivesandcookswhomadelargepurchasesfromhismother,carryingthefruitandvegetableshomeforthem.

           Veryoftenhecamebackwithapieceofmoneyinhispocket,oratleastwithacake,orsomesweetmeats,forhewassoprettyandobligingthatpeoplelikedtoseehimintheirhomes.Onemorningthecobbler’swifewassittinginheraccustomedplaceinthemarket.Shehadasupplyofcabbagesandothervegetables,freshherbsandseeds,andasmallerbasketofearlvpearsandapricots.LittleJacobsatbesideherandcalledoutinhisshrilllittlevoice:"Comebuy,comebuy,finecabbages,freshherbs,earlypears,fineripeapplesandapricots.Comebuy,buy,buy,mymother’sgoodsarecheaptoday."

           Anoldwomancameslowlyacrossthemarket-place.