The Elves and the Shoemakers

The elves and the shoemakers.

小精灵和鞋匠的故事。

Molly and Ollie made very good shoes. They lived and worked together. To make good shoes, they had to use the very softest leather. The cost of leather went up and up. They had no money for more. The very last pair of shoes was sold. Now Molly and Ollie were poor.

莫莉和奥利做的鞋子特别好。 他们一起生活，一起工作。 要做出好鞋子，他们得用上最柔软的皮革才行。 可是皮革的价格涨得越来越高。 他们没钱再买皮革了。 最后一双鞋子也卖出去了。 现在莫莉和奥利变得很穷。

A bit of red leather was all they had. They shut the shop and went to bed. No money for leather, no leather for shoes. We have nothing to sell, they said.

他们只剩下一小块红色皮革，于是关了店门就上床睡觉了。 没钱买皮革，没皮革做鞋子，我们啥都没得卖啦，他们叹着气说。

In the night, six elves came in. They sat down in a row. They snipped the leather and stitched some shoes, the finest they could sew.

到了夜里，六个小精灵溜了进来，他们排成一排坐好，剪好皮革缝起鞋子，做的鞋子要多精致有多精致。

Did you make these shoes dear Molly? They're lovely, Ollie said. It wasn't me, said Molly. I was asleep in my bed.

亲爱的莫莉，这些鞋子是你做的吗？太好看啦！奥利惊讶地说。 不是我呀，莫莉说，我一直躺在床上睡觉呢。

A rich man came and bought the shoes. You make good shoes, he said. Here is the money to make some more. Make me a hundred pairs in red. They must be made by Friday noon, for that's my wedding day. And if those pairs of shoes are late, I shall refuse to pay.

一位有钱人来把这双鞋子买走了。 你们做的鞋子真不错，他说。 这些钱给你们，再多做一些鞋子吧。 给我做一百双红色的鞋子。 周五中午前一定要做好，那天是我的婚礼。 要是鞋子做晚了，我可就不付钱啦。