Карлик-ніс

           "Shemustbeoutofhermind,"saidthelittleone,"howevershallIgetherbackhome?Motherdear,lookwellatme,IamyourownlittlesonJacob."

           "Nowyouhavegonetoofarwithyourimpertinence,"criedthewoman."Notcontent,youhideousdwarf,withstandingthereandfrighteningmycustomersaway,youmustneedsmakegameofmygriefandsorrow.Neighbours,listentothisfellow,whodarestosayheismysonJacob."

           HerneighboursallcamecrowdingroundherandbegantoabusepoorJacobinnomeasuredterms,tellinghimitwascrueltojokewithabereavedmotherwhohadhadherlovelyboystolenawavsevenlongyearsagoandtheythreatenedtotearhimlimbfromlimitifhedidnotgoawayatonce.PoorJacobknewnotwhattomakeofitall.Hehadgonethatmorningwithhismothertothemarket-place,orsohebeheved,hadhelpedhersetoutherwaresoffruitandvegetables,hadcarriedhometheoldwoman’scabbages,takenalittlesoupandfallenasleepforashorttime,andyethismotherandtheneighboursdeclaredhehadbeenabsentsevenyears.Andtheycalledhimahorribledwarf!Whatcouldhavetakenplace?

           Whenhesawthathismotherwouldhavenothingtodowithhimthetearscameintohiseyes,andheturnedsadlyawayandwentupthestreettowardsthelittleshopwherehisfathersatandmendedshoesduringtheday-time."Iwillseeifhewillrecogniseme,"hesaidtohimself."Iwilljuststandinthedoorwayandspeaktohim."

           Whenhereachedthecobbler’sshophestoodinthedoorwayandlookedin.