The Miser Elf by Oliver Herford
A miserly elf hoards a vast collection of precious items, including silver motes, grains of ore, and various rare treasures. Despite his wealth, he is plagued by anxiety and fear of theft, which prevents him from enjoying his riches. Each night, he buries his treasure in different locations to protect it, but the burden of his possessions brings him no peace. One night, he discovers a peculiar tree, which he decides is the perfect hiding spot for his treasure. After burying it, he finally sleeps soundly, free from worry. However, upon waking, he finds multiple identical trees surrounding him, leading to confusion and panic. The realization dawns that he is lost in a forest of these trees, unable to locate his treasure. The elf's plight serves as a cautionary tale about the burdens of greed and the futility of hoarding wealth. His endless search for the lost treasure beneath the umbrella-trees symbolizes the never-ending cycle of anxiety that accompanies materialism. The story concludes with a reminder of the elf's ongoing quest, represented by a toadstool in the woods, signifying his eternal struggle with his misplaced riches.
By Oliver Herford · First published 1910 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Poetry · 596 words
First lines
There was a little miser elf who had a precious store Of silver motes from moonbeams and priceless grains of ore, And shiny dust of marigold, and glittering jeweled eyes Of burnished stars and spangles from the wings of butterflies, And bales of wondrous gossamer and green-gold beetles' wings, And many other marvelous and rare and costly things.
But, alas! with all his golden dust and jewels rich and rare, This little elf was never free from misery and care.
What this Textopian page supports
The Miser Elf is listed on Textopian as a short story by Oliver Herford, dated 1910 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Oliver Herford
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Poetry, Fable, Adventure
- Length: 596 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Miser Elf by Oliver Herford
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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- Old King Cole by L. Frank Baum
Genres
- Fantasy — The story features magical elements such as an elf and enchanted treasures, characteristic of the fantasy genre.
- Children's Literature — The narrative style and themes are suitable for a young audience, focusing on moral lessons about greed and the burdens of wealth.
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and rhythm typical of poetic forms.
- Fable — The story conveys a moral lesson about the consequences of being miserly, akin to traditional fables.
Tags
Fiction · Children's Literature · Fantasy · Humor · Satire · Poetry · Nonsense Verse · Elf · Mischief · Magic · Adventure · Imagination