The German walked to the head of the bed and took down a blue bag that hung there.

Blue bags were a speciality of the German's.
He kept above fifty stowed away in different corners of his room--some filled with curious stones, some with seeds that had been in his possession fifteen years, some with rusty nails, buckles, and bits of old harness--in all, a wonderful assortment, but highly prized.
"We have something here not so bad," said the German, smiling knowingly, as he dived his hand into the bag and took out a handful of almonds and raisins; "I buy these for my chickens.

They increase in size, but they still think the old man must have something nice for them.

And the old man--well, a big boy may have a sweet tooth sometimes, may he not?
Ha, ha!" said the German, chuckling at his own joke, as he heaped the plate with almonds.

"Here is a stone--two stones to crack them--no late patent improvement--well, Adam's nut-cracker; ha, ha! But I think we shall do.