Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/192

186 offerings of those who, afflicted with diseases, had sought and received help at her feet.

The prayers being ended, the leader arranged such matters as were necessary with the sexton, and led his little flock to their lodgings. He did not have to seek these, for as the swallows coming in the spring seek their old nests, so the pilgrims went where year by year they had received, if not a rich hospitality, still a pleasant welcome, bread and salt, and a clean bed. The miller's wife and Grandmother were in the habit of staying at the house of the steward who was in charge of the iron mines in the neighborhood. They were old people, holding to the good old ways, and for this reason Grandmother felt at home with them. The stewardess hearing that Zernov pilgrims had come, sat on a bench before her house waiting to welcome them. Before they went to bed she exhibited to them her treasures, whole rolls of linen and dimity and skeins upon skeins of yarn. This was her own work, to which she added some each year.

"For whom, my good woman, are you saving this, seeing that your daughter is married?" asked the miller's wife.

"O, but I have three grandchildren, and linen and yarn never come amiss."

With this the other women fully agreed; but when the steward came along, he said: "Well, mother, you are again spreading out your wares; shall I have the drums beat for an auction?"

"Wait a while, till I have saved some more," she replied.

It worried the stewardess not a little that she could not entertain Grandmother with anything