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 innkeeper 's wife had taken it to market the day before . ` What is the matter with the thing ? ' cried the father at last , snatching the basket from them , and turning it all over , grumbling and swearing while he did so , under the eyes of his astonished wife and children , who did not know whether to cry or to laugh . ` It certainly smells of fish , ' he said , and then he stopped , for a sudden thought had come to him . ` Suppose it is not mine at all ; supposing -- Ah , the scoundrels ! ' And without listening to his wife and children , who were frightened at his strange conduct and begged him to stay at home , he ran across to the tavern and burst open the door . ` Can I do anything for you , Father Grumbler ? ' asked the innkeeper 's wife in her softest voice . ' I have taken the wrong basket -- by mistake , of course , ' said he . ` Here is yours , will you give me back my own ? ' ` Why , what are you talking about ? ' answered she . ` You can see for yourself that there is no basket here . '
And though Father Grumbler DID look , it was quite true that none was XXXXX be seen .
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