The crofter lived alone in the roadside cottage. Therefore, he was happy to get the peddler to talk to in his cottage. He gave him supper, tobacco for his pipe and played cards with him until bedtime.

The old man informed him of his days of prosperity at Ramsjo Ironworks. He told him of his cow that supported him now and he received thirty kronor in payment last month.

He showed the stranger the thirty kronor picking out of the pouch hung at the window frame. He stuffed them back and put it as usual. He did so to test the integrity of the peddler. In other words it was a bait for the peddler to verify his honesty.