Карлик-ніс

           Theoldmanwassobusythathedidnotnoticehimatfirst,butpresently,onlookingup,hedroppedtheshoehewasmendingandcriedout:"Goodgraciousme,whatisthat?""Goodevening,master,"saidthelittleman,asheenteredtheshop,"howistradejustnow?"

           "Bad,verybad,littlegentleman,"saidthecobbler,"IcannotworkaswellasIdid,Iamgettingoldandhavenoonetohelpme,forIcannotaffordanassistant."Jacobwasastoundedthathisfathershouldnothaverecognisedhimeither,soheanswered:"Haveyounosonwhomyoucouldtraintohelpyou?"

           "Ihadone,Jacobbyname;heshouldbeatall,well-grownyouthbynow,whowouldhavebeenabletobemyrighthand,forevenasalittlefellowhewashandyandcleveratmytrade.Hewassohandsometoo,andhadsuchpleasantmanners,thathewouldnodoubthavebroughtmemorecustomers;verylikelybythistimeImighthavegivenupcobblingshoesandhavemadenewonesinstead.Butalas!suchislife!"

           "Whereisyoursonthen?"enquiredJacobwithtremblingvoice.

           "Noonecantell,"repliedtheoldman,"forsevenyearsagohewasstolenfromus."

           "Sevenyearsago,"criedJacobinhorrorstrickentones.

           "Yes,littlegentleman,sevenlongyearsago.Irememberitasthoughitwereyesterday.Mywifecamehomefromthemarketweepingandwringingherhands,thechildhadbeenabsentallday,andthoughshehadsearchedforhimeverywhereshehadnotbeenabletofindhim.