“Take me into your employment,” said the son of the Great White Tsar.
“But do you know how to make shoes?” was the cautious enquiry.
“Oh yes,” said Ivan, with such confidence that the man could do nothing but believe him.
“I have the means of doing everything—not only making shoes but clothes as well.”
“Come along, then,” said the jolly shoemaker, and they went to his house. As soon as they had entered, the man took Ivan to the workshop and pointing to a seat near a bench he said: “Sit down there and get to work. I will go out to sell my wares, and when I return to-morrow I shall be able to judge exactly of your skill.”
As soon as the man was gone Ivan took out his whistle and summoned Lame and Crooked.
“What is your pleasure?” asked he.
“To have shoes ready by to-morrow.”
Lame and Crooked smiled a smile which seemed to wander round the room. “That is not work,” he said, “but recreation.”
“Here is the leather,” said Ivan, and Lame and Crooked looked at it with a curving upper lip. “That is poor stuff,” he said, “and the proper place for it is out of the window.” Then he jumped out very nimbly after it and Ivan saw him no more; but when the young man awoke next morning he saw on the table beside his bed several pairs of shoes of the very best. He had scarcely dressed himself when the jolly old shoemaker came into his room and said, “Well, young man, are the shoes ready?”