The Little Elves :

Once upon a time there was a poor servant girl who was industrious and loved cleanliness. Everyday she dusted the house and shook out the sweepings on a great heap before the door.

One morning, just as she was going to throw them away, she saw a letter lying among them and as she could not read, she put her broom in a corner and took it to her master. It contained an invitation from the elves asking the girl to stand godmother to one of their children.

The girl did not know what to do...but at last after much consideration, she consented, for the little men would not easily take a refusal. So there came three elves who conducted her to a hollow mountain where they lived. Everything was very small of course, but all more neat and elegant than one could tell.

The mother lay in a bed of ebony studded with pearls and the coverings were all wrought with gold. The cradle was made of ivory and the bath was of gold. The girl stood godmother and after wards wished to return home, but the little elves pressed her earnestly to stay three days longer. So she remained passing the time in pleasure and play, for the eves behaved very kindly to her.