Карлик-ніс

           Thenhebegantodream,suchstrangedreams!

           Itseemedtohimasthoughtheoldwomantookoffallhisclothesanddressedhimupinasquirrel’sskinandhewasatonceabletojumpaboutliketheothersquirrelsinthehouseandbegantotakehisplacewiththemandtheguinea-pigs,andthat,likethey,hetoobecameoneoftheoldwoman’sservants.Atfirsthewastheshoe-blackanditwashisdutytopolishthecocoa-nutshellstheoldwomanworeinsteadofshoes.Hehadlearnttopolishshoesinhisownhome,andashisfatherwasacobblerhehadbeenparticularlywelltaught,sothathewascleverathiswork.

           Ayearseemedtopassandthenhedreamtthathewasgivenmoreimportantduties.Heandsomeothersquirrelsweresettoworktocatchthesunbeamdustandsiftitthroughfinesieves.Thisdustwasusedinsteadofflourtomakethebreadtheoldwomanate,forshehadnoteeth,andsunbeamdustmakestheverysoftestandfinestofbread.

           Anotherdreamyearpassedandthenhewaspromotedtobeoneofthewater-carriers.Youmustnotimaginetheoldwomankeptawater-cisternorawater-butthandy.Oh!dearno!Jacobandthesquirrelshadtodrawthedewfromtherosesintohazel-nutshells;thiswastheoldwoman’sdrinkingwater,andasshewasalwaysthirstyitwashardworktokeephersuppliedwithit.Attheendofanotheryearhewasappointedtodotheindoorwork.Hisparticulardutywastokeeptheglassfloorinorder.