"Dear me," said the landlord, "that is an easy way of getting ducats; a purse of money like that is no bad thing."
After that the guest paid his reckoning and went to bed; but the landlord slipped down to the stable in the middle of the night, led the gold-ass away, and tied up another ass in his place. The next morning early the apprentice set forth with his ass, never doubting that it was the right one. By noon he came to his father's house, who was rejoiced to see him again, and received him gladly.
"What trade have you taken up, my son?" asked the father.
"I am a miller, dear father," answered he.
"What have you brought home from your travels?" continued the father.
"Nothing but an ass," answered the son.
"We have plenty of asses here," said the father. "You had much better have brought me a nice goat!"
"Yes," answered the son, "but this is no common ass. When I say, 'Bricklebrit,' the good creature spits out a whole clothful of gold pieces. Let me call all the neighbours together. I will make rich people of them all."
"That will be fine!" said the tailor. "Then I need labour no more at my needle;" and he rushed out himself and called the neighbours together. As soon as they were all assembled, the miller called out to them to make room, and brought in the ass, and spread his cloth before him.
"Now, pay attention," said he, and cried, "Bricklebrit!" but no gold pieces came, and that showed that the animal was not more scientific than any other ass.