Jozef hurried to swallow the food in his mouth.
"I know the kingdom all went to smash after he died," he shouted more loudly than he intended.
His father and mother exchanged pleased looks.
"Do you know why?" asked the tinker. "You don't? Well, I'll tell you as I heard a priest tell it to some boys.
"When Svatopluk knew he must die, he called his three sons to him. He selected the eldest to rule after him. The two younger to whom he left large estates, he bade be loyal to their brother.
"At his orders, a servant brought in three stout twigs fastened tightly together. 'Break this,' he said, handing the twigs to his oldest son. But the Prince found it impossible. Then he handed it to the second son and then to the third, but the twigs remained unbroken.
"'Cut the cord,' he ordered the servant.
"This was done and Svatopluk handed a twig apiece to each of the princes.