And now he tried to disentangle a strangely intricate genealogy; but be was unable to find the right thread, and succeeded only in getting the different relationships more and more mixed up, like a skein of yarn.  And at last he always concluded by saying: 

“You may believe me on my word that we are related; for we are related, although I can’t quite figure out how.”

And now the time before his end had really come, when he no longer gave away merely bad grosschens; it did him good to donate at last a part of his possessions having some real significance and value.  For one evening he called Amrei out behind the house and said to her: 

“Look, my girl, you are good and sensible, but you don’t know just how it is with a man.  My John has a good heart, but some day it may possibly annoy him, the thought that you had absolutely nothing of your own.  So then, take this, but don’t tell a soul anything about it, or from whom you got it.  Say that you worked hard and saved it up.  There—­take it!”

He handed her a stocking full of round thalers, and added: 

“That was not to have been found until after I was dead; but it is better so—­he’ll get it now and think it came from you.  This whole affair is out of the common way, so that it can easily be added that you had a secret sum of money.  But don’t forget that there are also thirty-two feather-thalers in it, which are worth a grosschen each more than ordinary thalers.  Take good care of it—­put it in the chest where your linen is, and always keep the key with you.  And on Sunday, when the entire family is assembled, pour it out on the table.”

“I don’t like to do that.  I think John ought to do that, if it is necessary to do it at all.”

“It is necessary.  But if you like, John may do it—­but sh! put it out of sight!—­quickly!  Hide it in your apron, for I hear John coming!  I think he is jealous.”  And the two parted in haste.

And that very evening the mother took Amrei up into the attic, and out of a drawer drew forth a tolerably heavy bag.  The cord which held it together was tied and knotted in a remarkable manner.  She said to Amrei: 

“There—­untie that!”

Amrei tried, but it was hard work.

“Wait!  I’ll get a pair of shears and we’ll cut it open!”

“No,” objected Amrei.  “I don’t like to do that!  Just have a little patience, mother, I’ll undo it all right!”

The mother smiled; and Amrei, with great difficulty, but with a skilful hand, finally got the cord untied.  Then the old woman said: 

“Good!  That’s fine!  Now look at what’s inside of it.”

Amrei looked in and saw a quantity of gold and silver coins.  Then the mother went on to say: