Карлик-ніс

           "Come,come,don’ttalksuchrubbishtothechild,"saidthecobbler’swife,vexedatlength,"ifyouwishtobuyanythingmakeyourchoiceforyouarefrighteningothercustomersaway."

           "Verywell,"answeredtheoldwomangrimly,"Iwillbuythesesixcabbages.Butyoumustletyourlittlesoncarrythemhomeforme,forIhavetosupportmyselfonmystickandcancarrynothingmyself.Iwillrewardhimforhistrouble."

           Thelittleboydidnotwanttogoandbegantocry,forhewasafraidoftheuglyoldwoman,buthismotherbadehimgoquitesternly,shewould’vebeenashamedtolettheweaklyoldcreaturecarrysuchaheavyburden,soheputthecabbagesinaclothandfollowedtheoldwomanfromthemarket-place.Shewalkedsoslowlythatitwasaboutthree-quartersofanhourbeforetheyreachedherhome,whichwasinaveryout-of-the-waypartofthetown,andwhichwasamiserable-lookinglittlehouse.

           Theoldwomandrewarustykeyfromherpocketandslippeditintothekeyhole,andthedoorsprangopen.ButwhatwaslittleJacob’sastonishmentonenteringthehousetofinditmostbeautiful.Thewallsandceilingwereofmarble,thefurnitureofebonv,inlaidwithgoldandpolishedjewels,andthefloorwasofglassandsoslipperythatthelittleboyfelldownseveraltimes.Theoldwomandrewalittlesilverwhistlefromherpocketandblewitsoshrillythatthetonesresoundedallthroughthehouse.