Beside her was an elf to whom she told her sad story. With a smile he said, "Go into the next forest. The pinecones there will serve you much better."
When she reached the next forest, she was very tired and sat her basket down ... and down fell dozens of pinecones! She gathered them and returned home.
When she reached the doorstep, she discovered every cone had turned to silver. This family would never be poor again.
To this day, the people of the Hartz Mountains keep a silver pinecone on their dresser, for as legend has it, a silver pinecone will bring good fortune your way.
