Satan was there, too; which was proper, for it was on account of his efforts that the funerals had happened.

Nikolaus had departed this life without absolution, and a collection was taken up for masses, to get him out of purgatory.

Only two-thirds of the required money was gathered, and the parents were going to try to borrow the rest, but Satan furnished it.

He told us privately that there was no purgatory, but he had contributed in order that Nikolaus's parents and their friends might be saved from worry and distress.

We thought it very good of him, but he said money did not cost him anything.
At the graveyard the body of little Lisa was seized for debt by a carpenter to whom the mother owed fifty groschen for work done the year before.