Clever Shoemaker | Stories for Teenagers | @EnglishFairyTales

Summary

In this tale, a destitute shoemaker leaves his village for a city in search of work. After gaining some success, he cleverly outwits a band of thieves by selling them a 'gold-making' donkey and later, his loyal dog. Each time, the thieves realize they've been duped, but the shoemaker escapes with their gold. Finally, he tricks them into a sack, leaving them to the mercy of pigs, while he returns home to live a peaceful life with his wife.

Takeaways

• 👞 The story revolves around a poor shoemaker who decides to leave his village for the city in search of work.
• 🏙️ In the city, the shoemaker's persistence pays off as he starts getting work by offering shoe repair and new shoe making services.
• 👠 A woman's request to repair her shoes marks the beginning of the shoemaker's success in the city.
• 💰 Through hard work, the shoemaker earns enough to buy a donkey, symbolizing his progress and newfound financial stability.
• 🐴 The shoemaker's clever plan to sell the donkey to thieves by claiming it produces gold coins showcases his wit and ability to think on his feet.
• 🤔 The thieves' greed leads them to believe in the donkey's ability to create gold, resulting in a high price for an ordinary donkey.
• 🔄 The donkey and the dog, Milo, both return to the shoemaker, indicating their loyalty and the thieves' gullibility.
• 🐷 The shoemaker's escape from the thieves involves a humorous turn of events where a swineherd willingly trades places with him in a sack.
• 💍 The shoemaker tricks the thieves into believing there is a magical place with gold guarded by pigs, further highlighting his cunning.
• 🛍️ The thieves' ultimate downfall comes when they willingly lock themselves in sacks, allowing the shoemaker to exact his revenge.
• 🏡 The shoemaker returns home safely and lives happily with his wife, having outsmarted the thieves and secured a better life for himself.

Q & A

What was the main problem the shoemaker faced in the village?

The shoemaker faced unemployment and poverty, to the extent that he had no money to buy food.

Why did the shoemaker decide to move to the big city?

He believed there might be better job opportunities in the city, which could help him and his wife escape poverty.

What was the shoemaker's initial occupation in the big city?

He continued his trade as a shoemaker, making new shoes and repairing old ones.

How did the shoemaker manage to earn his first money in the city?

He earned his first money by repairing a pair of shoes for a woman, who paid him one copper coin.

What was the shoemaker's clever plan when he encountered the thieves in the jungle?

He pretended that his donkey could create gold coins, which led the thieves to believe they were getting a valuable asset.

How much did the thieves pay for the donkey that they believed could create gold?

The thieves paid 50 gold coins for the donkey.

What did the shoemaker do with the money he received from selling the donkey?

He used the money to buy a poultry farm, which indicates his intention to establish a stable livelihood.

Why did the thieves return to the shoemaker after purchasing the donkey?

They returned because they realized the donkey did not create gold and felt they had been tricked.

What was the shoemaker's strategy when the thieves came back for revenge?

He hid and instructed his wife to send their dog, Milo, to call him from the farm, buying time to think of another plan.

How did the shoemaker trick the thieves into buying his dog, Milo?

He implied that Milo had some special ability, and after some refusal, agreed to sell Milo for 40 gold coins.

What happened when the thieves tried to keep Milo?

Milo would always return to the shoemaker, showing that the thieves were fooled again.

How did the shoemaker escape from the thieves when they captured him in a sack?

He tricked a swineherd into taking his place in the sack by claiming he was being forced to marry the king's daughter.

What was the final trick the shoemaker played on the thieves?

He convinced the thieves to lock themselves in sacks to get to the 'magical gold,' and then he left them in the mud to be found by pigs.

What was the outcome for the shoemaker after all these events?

The shoemaker was able to live peacefully and happily with his wife, having outsmarted the thieves multiple times.