How the Daughter in Law Got the Coins

Synopsis

A man marries a rich woman who did not help his mother. He gives his mother a bag full of pottery shards. The mother contracts leprosy, but since she shakes the bags where the daughter-in-law can hear and announces that whoever cares for it will have, the daughter-in-law tends her. After the mother dies, the woman realizes it was shards, not coins.

Variants

The tale is widespread, with many ways to trick the heirs into thinking there is wealth to be had.