Page:The shoemaker's apron (1920).djvu/295

 shoemaker said. “In the meantime you sit down here on my stool and rest yourself.”

The devil who had been walking up and down the earth since sunrise was tired and so was glad enough to sit down.

After supper the little shoemaker said:

“Now then, I’m ready. Come on.”

The devil tried to stand up but of course he couldn’t. He pulled this way and that. He stretched, he rolled from side to side until his bones ached, but all to no avail. He could not get up from the stool.

“Brother!” he cried in terror, “help me off this cursed stool and I’ll give you seven more years—I swear I will!”

At that promise the shoemaker allowed the devil to stand up, and the devil scurried off as fast as he could.

He was true to his word. He didn’t come back for seven years. When he did come he was too clever to risk sitting down again on the cobbler’s stool. He didn’t even venture inside the cottage door. Instead, he stood at the window and called out:

“Ho, shoemaker, here I am again! Your time has come! Are you ready?”