` 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 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 XXXXX you , Father Grumbler ? '
So before for from in into than though under with