The Elves and the Shoemaker Chapter Notes | English Class 4 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

This story is about a kind shoemaker and his wife who are very poor. Two tiny elves secretly help them by making perfect shoes at night. The couple becomes rich and decides to thank the elves. It teaches us about kindness and being grateful.

Key Points

This story is about a poor shoemaker who works hard but has little money.

• He cuts leather for one pair of shoes, and it’s finished perfectly by morning.
• A customer pays well, so he buys leather for two more pairs.
• Next day, those are done too, and he keeps getting richer.
• Near Christmas, he and his wife hide to see who helps them.
• At midnight, two tiny elves come, sing, dance, and make shoes fast.
• The couple sees the elves have no clothes and decide to help them.
• The wife makes tiny clothes, and the shoemaker makes small shoes.
• They leave these gifts on the table on Christmas Eve and hide.
• The elves find the gifts, wear them happily, and dance away.
• The elves never return, but the shoemaker stays rich and happy.

Explanation

Once there was a kind shoemaker who worked hard but was very poor because few people bought his shoes. He had only enough leather for one pair of shoes. He cut it and went to bed, planning to sew it the next day. In the morning, he found the shoes finished perfectly! A customer loved them and paid a lot, so he bought leather for two pairs.

That night, he cut the leather for two pairs, and by morning, they were done too, just as perfect. Customers paid well, and he bought leather for four pairs. This kept happening, and his shop grew busy, making him rich.

One evening near Christmas, the shoemaker and his wife wanted to know who was helping. They hid in the shop with a light on. At midnight, two tiny elves with no clothes came in, singing and dancing. They quickly made the shoes, and the couple watched in wonder. The elves finished before dawn and left.

The next day, the wife said, “The elves helped us so much, but they’re cold without clothes. Let’s thank them!” She sewed tiny clothes, and the shoemaker made tiny shoes. On Christmas Eve, they left the gifts on the table and hid. The elves came, saw the clothes and shoes, and laughed happily. They wore them, danced, and ran out into the moonlight.

The elves never came back, but the shoemaker kept making beautiful shoes. He and his wife stayed rich and happy forever.

Message

The story teaches that being kind and grateful to those who help you is important. It shows how helping others without expecting anything can bring good things, and saying thank you in a nice way makes everyone happy.

New Words with Meanings

• Make ends meet: earn enough for basic needs   
• Conscience: sense of right and wrong        
• Amidst: in the middle of 
• Workmanship: skill in making something  
• Masterpiece: excellent work of art
• Handsomely: well (here)
• Rapping: making noise by striking
• Tapping: making soft rhythmic sounds
• Spellbound: attention held completely