The Elves and the Shoemaker is a fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm. Though decently-known as a single tale about a poor cobbler who's assisted by elves, that tale was originally only the first of three. However, the three tales have little to do with each other aside from involving elves.
Summary[]
Once upon a time, there was a poor shoemaker struggling to make ends meet. He could barely even buy enough leather for one pair of shoes. One evening, he left his work unfinished before heading to bed. When he awoke the next day, the shoes had miraculously been finished.
Those shoes were soon sold, and the shoemaker was able to buy enough leather for two pairs of shoes. As per before, he left it overnight, and that morning the shoes were made. They were sold as well, and the shoemaker and his wife were pulled out of poverty.
Then one evening, the shoemaker's wife suggested they stay up and find out who has been helping them. Stowing away where they couldn't be seen, they beheld a pair of elves coming to finish the shoes on their behalf. Noting the state they were in, the wife proposed to repay the elves by making them some new clothes. The shoemaker began crafting small pairs of shoes, while his wife got to sewing the rest.
The following night, when the elves emerged, they were delighted to find the new clothes made for them. They then vanished into the night, while the shoemaker and his wife continued to prosper.
Second Tale[]
There was once a poor servant girl who, while hard at work, discovered a peculiar letter. As she couldn't read, she had to bring it to her employer. It was an invitation to an elf baptism, and she was to be made a godmother to an elf child. She wasn't sure whether to attend, but her employers convinced her to go, since it wouldn't be right to decline.
The servant was led by the elves to the hollow mountain where the little people lived. Though everything was small, it was also extravagant. The elf mother laid on an ebony bed, while the servant girl stood in as godmother. However, when she wanted to return home, the elves asked her to stay with them for three days.
But as good of a decision it first seemed, this came with a consequence. When the servant girl finally made her way home, she found that while only three days passed in the elves' domain, seven years had passed in the outside world, with her employers having passed away during that time.
Third Tale[]
There was once a mother who had a baby. At some point, elves took the baby, and substituted a changeling. It was an odd, uncanny being that would do nothing but consume.
The mother sought advice from a neighbor. She was told to put the changeling on the hearth in the kitchen, and then light it. She was then to boil water in two eggshells, which would make the changeling laugh. She did as instructed, and got the results that were promised.
When the changeling laughed, a band of elves appeared to return the mother's baby, and take the changeling away.