The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter. Short summary

5 seconds

A tailor from Gloucester had to make a suit for the mayor for Christmas. The craftsman was short on silk cord and there was no money left to buy it. The old man realizes he won’t be able to finish the job on time.

1 minute

There was an elderly tailor who lived in Gloucester. All day long he sat in the store, cross-legged on the table, and cut fabric with scissors. The old man sewed silk for his neighbors. He himself was poor and could not afford expensive outfits.

Before Christmas, the tailor sewed a suit for the mayor. It consisted of a silk coat with embroidered flowers and cords and a satin vest with lace. The craftsman made the patterns and connected them with pins. Late that night the man left the store, intending to finish the work tomorrow morning.

The tailor went to the house where he rented the kitchen. He lived with Simpkin the cat. The old man gave him the last of his money, with which he was to buy food and the missing skein of silk. The returning cat did not bring his master the cord.

The tailor realized that he would not be able to finish the suit. During the night, he began to have a fever. In the morning, the illness receded. Simpkin gave his master the silk skein. The old man was worried that he had no time left to finish the work, but when he went into the store he saw the finished surcoat lying on the table.