Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/197

Rh Not far from Grandmother stood Mrs. Fousek who wanted to buy a bladder-nut rosary; but when the shopkeeper told her it was twenty kreutzers, new coin, she laid it back, saying it was too dear.

"Too dear!" exclaimed the excited shopman, "you never saw a bladder-nut rosary in your life, if you say this is too dear. You had better buy a gingerbread one. "Well, sir, it may not be too dear for others, but it is too dear for me, for twenty kreutzers is all the money I have in the world," she replied, sadly. Mrs. Fousek went away, but Grandmother followed her, and advised her to go to another stand, where everything was a great deal cheaper. And behold! that shopman seemed to sell everything for a song, just as Grandmother wanted it, so that the twenty kreutzers paid not only for the bladder-nut rosary, but also for pictures and various knicknacks.

When she left the stand, Barunka said: "Grandma, you paid the shopman what was lacking; I saw how you winked at him, when Mrs. Fousek was not looking."

"Suppose you saw, that is no reason why you should tell. The left hand must not know what the right hand doeth," replied Grandmother.

Christina bought a silver ring with two flaming hearts, and Milo seeing this at once bought one that had two clasped hands. All these things the pilgrims had touched with relics or blessed; and a rosary, ring, picture, or prayer book so "touched" or blessed was kept as a precious memento.

All the duties being performed, the pilgrims thanked their friends for their hospitality, prayed once more by the sacred well, and commending