The Little Elf-man!

This vintage piece is from a children's book I found in an antique store a while ago. It was my father's favorite poem and he often recited it to my siblings and me when we were children.

My father was a "man's man" who worked hard as a boss in an iron mine, as a carpenter in after-work hours, and as a builder on weekends. He was the strongest man we'd ever seen or known and the fact that he would—eyes twinkling—recite a poem was so much out of character for him that I always remember it with a rush of sweetness and fond memories.