Only there is no need to chatter about it all over the place . You understand ? Eh ? ' And without waiting for an answer he whispered to the basket : ` Little basket , little basket , do your duty . ' The innkeeper and his wife thought that their customer had gone suddenly mad , and watched him closely , ready to spring on him if he became violent ; but both instinctively jumped backwards , nearly into the fire , as rolls and fishes of every kind came tumbling out of the basket , covering the tables and chairs and the floor , and even overflowing into the street . ` Be quick , be quick , and pick them up , ' cried the man . ` And if these are not enough , there are plenty more to be had for the asking . ' The innkeeper and his wife did not need telling twice . Down they went on their knees and gathered up everything they could lay hands on . But busy though they seemed , they found time to whisper to each other : ` If we can only get hold of that basket it will make our fortune ! ' So they began by inviting Father Grumbler to sit down to the table , and brought out the best wine in the cellar , hoping it might loosen his tongue . But Father Grumbler was wiser than they gave him credit for , and though they tried in all manner of ways to find out who had given him the basket , he put them off , and kept his secret to himself . Unluckily , though he did not SPEAK , he did drink , and it was not long before he fell fast asleep . Then the woman fetched from her kitchen a basket , so like the magic one that no one , without looking very closely , could tell the difference , and placed it in Father Grumbler 's hand , while she hid the other carefully away . It was dinner time when the man awoke , and , jumping up hastily , he set out for home , where he found all the children gathered round a basin of thin soup , and pushing their wooden bowls forward , hoping to have the first spoonful . Their father burst into the midst of them , bearing his basket , and crying : ` Do n't spoil your appetites , children , with that stuff . Do you see this basket ? Well , I have only got to say , `` Little basket , little basket , do your duty , '' and you will see what will happen . Now you shall say it instead of me , for a treat . ' The children , wondering and delighted , repeated the words , but nothing happened .
Again and again they tried , but the basket was only a basket , with a few scales of fish sticking to the bottom , for the XXXXX 's wife had taken it to market the day before .
Grumbler children fire first floor innkeeper knees one rolls table