The Tailor of Gloucester

The Tailor of Gloucester is a tale written by Beatrix Potter and first published in 1903.

This story tells of a poor tailor who falls ill before he can finish an important commission: a waistcoat for the Mayor of Gloucester's wedding on Christmas morning.

The tailor is overwhelmed and worried as he realizes that he will not be able to finish it in time, but then a group of mice come to his rescue.

They are very grateful to him for rescuing them earlier and decide to show their gratitude by working all night to finish the vest.

The story highlights the themes of kindness, gratitude and the magic of Christmas.

"In the time of swords and periwigs and full-skirted coats with flowered lappets—when gentlemen wore ruffles, and gold-laced waistcoats of paduasoy and taffeta—there lived a tailor in Gloucester.
He sat in the window of a little shop in Westgate Street, cross-legged on a table, from morning till dark.
All day long while the light lasted he sewed and snippeted, piecing out his satin and pompadour, and lutestring; stuffs had strange names, and were very expensive in the days of the Tailor of Gloucester."

This book is illustrated with original drawings by Beatrix Potter herself.