The Heinzelmännchen are a mythical race of creatures,
appearing in a tale connected with the city of Cologne
in Germany akin to gnomes, or elves.
The tale: The little house gnomes are said to have done
all the work of the citizens of Cologne during the
night, so that the inhabitants of Cologne could be very
lazy during the day. According to the legend, this went
on until a tailor's wife got so curious to see the
gnomes that she scattered peas onto the floor of the
workshop to make the gnome...(+)
The Heinzelmännchen are a mythical race of creatures,
appearing in a tale connected with the city of Cologne
in Germany akin to gnomes, or elves.
The tale: The little house gnomes are said to have done
all the work of the citizens of Cologne during the
night, so that the inhabitants of Cologne could be very
lazy during the day. According to the legend, this went
on until a tailor's wife got so curious to see the
gnomes that she scattered peas onto the floor of the
workshop to make the gnomes slip and fall. The gnomes,
being infuriated, disappeared and never returned. From
that time on, the citizens of Cologne had to do all
their work by themselves.
Beginning of the story in rhyme:
Wie war zu Köln es doch vordem
mit Heinzelmännchen so bequem!
How good it was in old Cologne
When brownies helped in hearth and home!
https://de.wikisource.org/wiki/Die_Heinzelm%C3%A4nnchen
PARTITION