THE SHOEMAKER AND THE ELVES Class 8 English Lesson 2 PROSE

Once there was a very poor shoemaker. He and his wife lived in a little house on the edge of a wood. There were not many people who would buy shoes from the shoemaker. Each day his store of leather became less and less. He did not have
money to buy more leather. Day by day the shoemaker and his wife grew poorer. At
last, there was leather for only one pair of shoes. The shoemaker cut out the last pair of shoes. He said to his wife, “Tomorrow I will sew them.”

एक बार एक बहुत गरीब मोची था। वह और उसकी पत्नी जंगल के किनारे एक छोटे से घर में रहते थे। बहुत कम लोग थे जो उस मोची से जूते खरीदते थे। हर दिन उसके पास चमड़ा कम होता जा रहा था। उसके पास और चमड़ा खरीदने के लिए पैसे नहीं थे। दिन-ब-दिन मोची और उसकी पत्नी और गरीब होते गए।
आखिरकार, उसके पास सिर्फ़ एक जोड़ी जूते बनाने लायक चमड़ा बचा था। मोची ने उस आखिरी जोड़ी जूते का चमड़ा काटा। उसने अपनी पत्नी से कहा, “कल मैं इन्हें सिलूँगा।”

What are the problems that the shoemaker faced?

मोची को किन-किन मुश्किलों का सामना करना पड़ा?

The next morning the shoemaker got up and went into his shop. He was surprised at what he saw. There he saw a pair of shoes. He had never seen a better pair of shoes. The shoes were perfect; the stitches were fine. They were so very well made that they were sold at once.

अगली सुबह मोची उठा और अपनी दुकान में गया। जो उसने देखा, उसे देखकर वह हैरान रह गया। वहाँ उसने जूतों की एक जोड़ी देखी। उसने इससे पहले कभी इतने बढ़िया जूते नहीं देखे थे। जूते एकदम सही थे; उनकी सिलाई बहुत बारीक थी। वे इतने बढ़िया बने थे कि वे तुरंत बिक गए।

Who, do you think, kept the shoes in the shop?

आपको क्या लगता है, दुकान में जूते किसने रखे थे?

The shoemaker went to the market with the money. He bought leather for two pairs of shoes. The shoemaker cut out the two pairs of shoes and said to his wife. “Tomorrow I will sew them.” The next day when the shoemaker went into his shop he was again surprised to see two airs of shoes beautifully finished. The shoes were very well made with very fine stitches. He was surprised. He showed them to his wife who was also surprised to see such fine pairs of shoes. She said, “These shoes are very fine and the stitches are excellent; they will bring good money.”

मोची उन पैसों को लेकर बाज़ार गया। उसने जूतों की दो जोड़ी बनाने लायक चमड़ा खरीदा। मोची ने उन दो जोड़ी जूतों का चमड़ा काटा और अपनी पत्नी से कहा, “कल मैं इन्हें सिलूँगा।” अगले दिन जब मोची अपनी दुकान में गया, तो वह फिर से हैरान रह गया, क्योंकि वहाँ जूतों की दो जोड़ियाँ बहुत ही खूबसूरती से तैयार रखी थीं। जूते बहुत बढ़िया बने थे और उनकी सिलाई भी बहुत बारीक थी। वह हैरान था। उसने वे जूते अपनी पत्नी को दिखाए, जो इतने बढ़िया जूते देखकर हैरान रह गई। उसने कहा, “ये जूते बहुत बढ़िया हैं और इनकी सिलाई भी बहुत अच्छी है; इनसे हमें अच्छे पैसे मिलेंगे।”

The shoemaker went to the market at once and sold the two pairs of shoes for a good price. With the money, he bought leather for four pairs of shoes. He cut out the leather and said to his wife. “Tomorrow I will sew them.” The shoemaker got up the next morning and went to his shop. What did he find? Once again he found that his work had already been done. Four pairs of beautiful shoes were lying ready-made on the table. They were perfectly made with very fine stitches and were sold very quickly in the market.

मोची तुरंत बाज़ार गया और उसने जूतों की वे दोनों जोड़ियाँ अच्छे दाम पर बेच दीं। उन पैसों से उसने जूतों की चार जोड़ी बनाने लायक चमड़ा खरीदा। उसने चमड़ा काटा और अपनी पत्नी से कहा, “कल मैं इन्हें सिलूँगा।” अगली सुबह मोची उठा और अपनी दुकान में गया। वहाँ उसने क्या देखा? एक बार फिर उसने देखा कि उसका काम पहले से ही हो चुका था। मेज़ पर जूतों की चार सुंदर जोड़ियाँ तैयार रखी थीं। वे एकदम सही बने थे, उनकी सिलाई बहुत बारीक थी, और वे बाज़ार में बहुत जल्दी बिक गए।

Every day the shoemaker would get up and go into his shop. There he would find his work already done for him. The shoes were always very nicely made. The shoemaker became very famous. Soon everybody wanted to buy shoes from him. His shoes were so very well made that even the queen of the country wore them. She was very pleased with the shoes. She called the shoemaker and gave him one hundred gold pieces.

हर दिन मोची उठता और अपनी दुकान में जाता। वहाँ उसे अपना काम पहले से ही किया हुआ मिलता। जूते हमेशा बहुत ही बढ़िया बने होते थे। जूता बनाने वाला बहुत मशहूर हो गया। जल्द ही हर कोई उससे जूते खरीदना चाहता था। उसके जूते इतने अच्छे बने होते थे कि देश की रानी भी उन्हें पहनती थी। वह जूतों से बहुत खुश हुई। उसने जूता बनाने वाले को बुलाया और उसे सौ सोने के सिक्के दिए।

‘The shoemaker no more poor.’ Give your opinion

‘जूता बनाने वाला अब गरीब नहीं रहा।’ अपनी राय दें।

The shoemaker grew very rich. One day he and his wife made up their minds to find out who made the shoes. They said to each other, “We must find out who makes the hoes.” So, when night came, they went into the shop. There they hid themselves behind the curtains. From there they could watch the bench on which the leather for shoes was kept. What, do you think, they saw? They waited for a long time. Nothing happened. They got very tired of waiting for something to happen. Just then the clock struck twelve. What do you think happened next? Two little elves jumped into the shop from the window. The elves wore pointed caps and wore only rags. They went dancing and skipping up to the table. With a hop and a skip, they jumped onto the table. The elves sat cross-legged and took up the leather left there by the shoemaker. They began to work. Their needles flew in and out, in and out of the leather. Their little hammers went rap-a-tap, rap-a-tap on the leather. The elves worked very fast. Almost in no time, the work was complete.

जूता बनाने वाला बहुत अमीर हो गया। एक दिन उसने और उसकी पत्नी ने यह पता लगाने का फैसला किया कि जूते कौन बनाता है। उन्होंने एक-दूसरे से कहा, “हमें ज़रूर पता लगाना चाहिए कि जूते कौन बनाता है।” इसलिए, जब रात हुई, तो वे दुकान में चले गए। वहाँ वे पर्दों के पीछे छिप गए। वहाँ से वे उस बेंच को देख सकते थे जिस पर जूतों के लिए चमड़ा रखा था। आपको क्या लगता है, उन्होंने क्या देखा? उन्होंने बहुत देर तक इंतज़ार किया। कुछ नहीं हुआ। वे किसी घटना के होने का इंतज़ार करते-करते बहुत थक गए। ठीक तभी घड़ी में बारह बजे। आपको क्या लगता है, आगे क्या हुआ? दो छोटे-छोटे एल्फ खिड़की से कूदकर दुकान में आ गए। एल्फ ने नुकीली टोपियाँ पहन रखी थीं और सिर्फ़ फटे-पुराने कपड़े पहने थे। वे नाचते-कूदते हुए मेज़ तक गए। एक छलांग और उछाल के साथ, वे मेज़ पर चढ़ गए। एल्फ पालथी मारकर बैठ गए और जूता बनाने वाले का छोड़ा हुआ चमड़ा उठा लिया। उन्होंने काम करना शुरू कर दिया। उनकी सुइयाँ चमड़े के अंदर-बाहर, अंदर-बाहर तेज़ी से चलने लगीं। उनके छोटे-छोटे हथौड़े चमड़े पर ‘रैप-ए-टैप, रैप-ए-टैप’ की आवाज़ करते हुए चलने लगे। एल्फ बहुत तेज़ी से काम कर रहे थे। पलक झपकते ही, काम पूरा हो गया।

Then the two elves started dancing. They jumped up and down, up and down. They raced in and out and around the shoes. Before the shoemaker and his wife had time to think, they were gone.

फिर दोनों एल्फ नाचने लगे। वे ऊपर-नीचे, ऊपर-नीचे कूदने लगे। वे जूतों के अंदर-बाहर और चारों ओर दौड़ लगाने लगे। इससे पहले कि जूता बनाने वाला और उसकी पत्नी कुछ सोच पाते, वे जा चुके थे।

The next morning the husband and wife decided to do something for the little elves. The shoemaker said to his wife, “What can we do for the nice little elves ?” His wife said, “The elves did not have good clothes. They wore only rags. I shall make them little coats and trousers to wear.” “That will be very nice,” said the shoemaker, “I will make tiny shoes for the good elves. Their little feet were bare.”

अगली सुबह पति-पत्नी ने उन छोटे एल्फ के लिए कुछ करने का फैसला किया। जूता बनाने वाले ने अपनी पत्नी से कहा, “हम इन प्यारे छोटे एल्फ के लिए क्या कर सकते हैं?” उसकी पत्नी ने कहा, “एल्फ के पास अच्छे कपड़े नहीं थे। वे सिर्फ़ फटे-पुराने कपड़े पहनते थे। मैं उनके लिए पहनने के लिए छोटे कोट और पतलून बनाऊँगी।” “यह बहुत अच्छा रहेगा,” जूता बनाने वाले ने कहा, “मैं उन अच्छे एल्फ के लिए छोटे-छोटे जूते बनाऊँगा। उनके छोटे-छोटे पैर नंगे थे।”

So the shoemaker and his wife worked and worked. When the clothes and shoes were ready they were put on the table. The shoemaker and his wife again hid behind the curtains. They waited silently. Once again when the clock struck twelve the elves jumped into the shop from the window.

तो जूता बनाने वाले और उसकी पत्नी ने खूब मेहनत से काम किया। जब कपड़े और जूते तैयार हो गए, तो उन्हें मेज़ पर रख दिया गया। जूते बनाने वाला और उसकी पत्नी फिर से पर्दों के पीछे छिप गए। वे चुपचाप इंतज़ार करते रहे। एक बार फिर, जब घड़ी में बारह बजे, तो एल्व्स खिड़की से कूदकर दुकान के अंदर आ गए।

They danced and jumped onto the table to do their work. There they saw little coats, trousers and neat little shoes left for them by the shoemaker and his wife. The elves were very happy. They clapped and laughed with joy. What do you think the elves did next? They put on their little clothes and skipping and dancing went out of the window.
The little elves never came back again. But the shoemaker and his wife always Have good luck. They grew richer and richer and lived happily ever after.

वे नाचते-कूदते हुए मेज़ पर चढ़ गए ताकि अपना काम कर सकें। वहाँ उन्होंने छोटे-छोटे कोट, पतलून और साफ़-सुथरे छोटे जूते देखे, जिन्हें जूते बनाने वाले और उसकी पत्नी ने उनके लिए वहाँ रखा था। एल्व्स बहुत खुश हुए। वे खुशी से तालियाँ बजाने लगे और हँसने लगे। आपको क्या लगता है कि इसके बाद एल्व्स ने क्या किया? उन्होंने अपने छोटे-छोटे कपड़े पहन लिए और उछलते-कूदते, नाचते हुए खिड़की से बाहर निकल गए।
वे छोटे एल्व्स फिर कभी वापस नहीं आए। लेकिन जूते बनाने वाले और उसकी पत्नी का भाग्य हमेशा अच्छा रहा। वे और भी ज़्यादा अमीर होते गए और हमेशा खुशी-खुशी रहने लगे।

This story revolves around a poor shoemaker and his wife, who face financial difficulties. With only enough leather left for one pair of shoes, the shoemaker cuts the leather, planning to sew it the next day. To his surprise, he finds the shoes perfectly made when he enters his shop the next morning. This mysterious help continues, enabling the shoemaker to sell the shoes, buy more leather, and eventually prosper. Curious about their secret helpers, the shoemaker and his wife discover two little elves making the shoes at midnight. Moved by the elves' generosity and noticing their ragged clothing, the couple prepares tiny clothes and shoes as a gift. When the elves find the gifts, they joyfully dance, put on their new clothes, and disappear forever. The shoemaker and his wife continue to prosper, attributing their happiness to the kindness they received and give in return.
यह कहानी एक गरीब मोची और उसकी पत्नी के इर्द-गिर्द घूमती है, जिन्हें आर्थिक मुश्किलों का सामना करना पड़ता है। उनके पास सिर्फ़ एक जोड़ी जूते बनाने लायक चमड़ा बचा था, इसलिए मोची ने चमड़े को काट कर रख दिया, यह सोचकर कि वह अगले दिन उसे सिलेगा। उसे तब हैरानी हुई, जब अगली सुबह अपनी दुकान में घुसने पर उसने देखा कि जूते एकदम सही बने हुए थे। यह रहस्यमयी मदद जारी रही, जिससे मोची जूते बेच पाया, और चमड़ा खरीद पाया, और आखिरकार वह खुशहाल हो गया। अपने गुप्त मददगारों के बारे में जानने को उत्सुक, मोची और उसकी पत्नी ने आधी रात को दो छोटे-छोटे एल्फ़ (परियों जैसे जीव) को जूते बनाते हुए देख लिया। एल्फ़ की दरियादिली से प्रभावित होकर और उनके फटे-पुराने कपड़े देखकर, उस जोड़े ने तोहफ़े के तौर पर उनके लिए छोटे-छोटे कपड़े और जूते तैयार किए। जब एल्फ़ को वे तोहफ़े मिले, तो वे खुशी से नाचने लगे, अपने नए कपड़े पहने, और हमेशा के लिए गायब हो गए। मोची और उसकी पत्नी खुशहाल होते रहे, और अपनी खुशी का श्रेय उस दयालुता को देते रहे जो उन्हें मिली थी और जो वे बदले में दूसरों को देते थे।

20 MCQs with Answers

Where did the shoemaker and his wife live?
a) In a city
b) On the edge of a wood
c) Near the marketplace
d) In a large house
Answer: b) On the edge of a wood
What was the shoemaker’s main problem at the beginning of the story?
a) Lack of skill
b) No buyers for his shoes
c) Not enough leather to make shoes
d) A broken shop
Answer: c) Not enough leather to make shoes
What did the shoemaker plan to do with the last piece of leather?
a) Make a belt
b) Make a pair of shoes
c) Sell it
d) Save it for later
Answer: b) Make a pair of shoes
What surprised the shoemaker the next morning?
a) The leather was missing
b) The shoes were already made
c) Someone bought the leather
d) The shop was robbed
Answer: b) The shoes were already made
How were the finished shoes described?
a) Poorly stitched
b) Ordinary
c) Beautifully made with fine stitches
d) Incomplete
Answer: c) Beautifully made with fine stitches
What did the shoemaker do with the money from the first pair of shoes?
a) Saved it
b) Bought food
c) Bought leather for more shoes
d) Repaired his shop
Answer: c) Bought leather for more shoes
Who secretly made the shoes for the shoemaker?
a) Fairies
b) Elves
c) Magical animals
d) His wife
Answer: b) Elves
What time did the elves arrive to work in the shop?
a) 10 PM
b) Midnight
c) Early morning
d) Afternoon
Answer: b) Midnight
What did the shoemaker and his wife notice about the elves’ clothing?
a) It was colorful
b) It was made of silk
c) It was torn and ragged
d) It was too big
Answer: c) It was torn and ragged
What did the shoemaker’s wife decide to make for the elves?
a) Hats
b) Clothes
c) Shoes
d) Scarves
Answer: b) Clothes
What did the shoemaker make for the elves?
a) Coats
b) Shoes
c) Hats
d) Gloves
Answer: b) Shoes
Where did the shoemaker and his wife hide to watch the elves?
a) Behind a cupboard
b) Outside the shop
c) Behind the curtains
d) Under the table
Answer: c) Behind the curtains
How did the elves react to the gifts left for them?
a) They were angry
b) They danced with joy
c) They ignored them
d) They made more shoes
Answer: b) They danced with joy
What did the elves do after receiving the gifts?
a) Continued to make shoes
b) Disappeared forever
c) Took the gifts and left the shop untidy
d) Told the shoemaker their secret
Answer: b) Disappeared forever
Why did the shoemaker and his wife prosper in the end?
a) Because of the elves’ help
b) Because of their own hard work
c) Because of a royal order
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Who wore the shoemaker’s shoes and rewarded him with gold?
a) The king
b) The queen
c) The prince
d) The villagers
Answer: b) The queen
What did the shoemaker learn from his experience with the elves?
a) Hard work pays off
b) Kindness brings good fortune
c) Magic solves all problems
d) Both a and b
Answer: d) Both a and b
What was the moral of the story?
a) Be self-reliant
b) Hard work and kindness lead to happiness
c) Depend on others for help
d) Always expect rewards
Answer: b) Hard work and kindness lead to happiness
What made the shoemaker famous?
a) His fine shoes
b) His generosity
c) His shop’s location
d) The elves’ story
Answer: a) His fine shoes
How did the shoemaker and his wife live after the elves left?
a) Poorly
b) Happily and prosperously
c) In fear
d) In loneliness
Answer: b) Happily and prosperously

Reading Comprehension

A. Tick the correct answer:

1. The shoemaker wanted to sew shoes :
(a) Carly in the morning
(b) the next day
(c) at midnight (d) the previous day.

2. When the shoemaker saw a better pair of shoes, he was::
(a) annoyed
(b) surprised

3. The elves wore:
(a) overcoat (b) raincoat
(c) suit
(d) rags.

4. The beautiful shoes were made by :

(b) magician
(a) elves
(c) joker
(d) fairies.

5. How many gold pieces were given to the shoemaker:
(a) one hundred
(b) two hundred
(c) three hundred

5. How many gold pieces were given to the shoemaker:

(a) one hundred
(b) two hundred
(c) three hundred (d) four hundred.

Ans. 1. (b), 2. (b), 3. (d), 4. (a), 5. (a)

B.Say whether the following statements are true or false:

1. The shoemaker was very poor.
2. The shoemaker was surprised when he saw a better pair of shoes.
3. The shoes were made by the elves at night.
4. The elves wore beautiful clothes. 5. The shoemaker and his wife made little coats and trousers for the elves.

Ans. 1. True, 2. True, 3. True, 4. False, 5. True

answer the following questions:

1. Where did the shoemaker live
Ans. The shoemaker lived in a little house on the edge of a wood..

2. Why was the shoemaker poor?
Ans. The shoemaker was poor because there were not many people who would buy shoes from him.

3. What did the shoemaker do when he saw a better pair of shoes?
Ans. When the shoemaker saw a better pair of shoes, he was surprised. He sold them.

4. How did the shoemaker become rich?
Ans. The shoemaker became rich by selling the fine pair of shoes made by the elves.

5. What did the shoemaker and his wife give the little elves?
Ans. The shoemaker and his wife gave coats, trousers and neat little shoes to the elves.

6. Why did the little elves never come back?
Ans. The little elves became happy with the gift. They blessed the shoemaker and his wife with good luck. Now they did not have to look back. So the little elves never came back.