'I told you I did not think there was much work in your
"treasure." When you go up you'll see what a fine mess the place is
all in; and as to the hemp, you had better have left it locked up,
for a fine mess she has made of that.'
But the husband went up and found the place all in shining order,
and so much hemp spun and woven as could scarcely be got through in
twenty years. But the wife was laid up in bed.
When the husband came near the bed she moved the bag of walnuts and
they went c-r-r-r-r.
'You have done a lot of work indeed!' said the husband.
'Yes,' replied the wife; 'but I have put all my bones out of joint;
only hear how they rumble!' and she moved the walnuts again, and they
went c-r-r-r-r. 'It will be sometime before I am about again.'
'Oh, dear! oh, dear!' said the husband; 'only think of such a treasure
of a wife being laid up by such marvellous diligence.'
And to his mother he said: 'A mother-in-law has never a good word
for her daughter-in-law; what you told me was all pure invention.'
But to the wife he said: 'Mind I will never have you do any work
again as long as you live.'
So from that day forth she had no work to do, but ate and drank and
amused herself from morning till night.
2