Now it so happened that a certain rich woman heard of the wonderful genius of Lars.
She invited him to play in one of her numerous palaces and offered him more money than he had ever earned.
Lars played at her palace and was covered with new honors. Other wealthy people followed her example, invited Lars to their mansions and he found himself courted and admired on all sides.
At first he did not care for it at all, and went only because it brought him gold for the far-off cottage.
After awhile the smiles of rich men and the soft words of beautiful women became as precious to the great musician, as the gold.
Then he began to feel dissatisfied with himself. He thought less of the far-off cottage and more of the glittering palaces.
He began to find fault with everything connected with himself, and most of all with the pair of old shoes that his parents had given him.
One night he was going to play in the palace of a king. When he was all ready to start he happened to notice his shoes.
“They are old-fashioned,” said Lars, “and people will laugh at them.”
Poor, foolish Lars! He took them off and put them away in a corner. Then he encased his feet in very stylish shoes and went to the palace. But the new shoes, although very fine to look at, pinched his feet and made Lars feel awkward and uncomfortable.