One day in Tungelroij, a sandy hamlet of Weert, a gnome entered the house of a peasant woman. He begged her for alms, but the stingy woman gave him nothing and chased the little man outside. Some time later, when the woman wanted to take her child from its cradle to feed it, the child had disappeared, and the gnome was lying in the cradle. The gnome had such a vicious look on its face that the woman jumped back in shock.

Then a gypsy woman entered her house, who gave her the following advice: The woman had to take half an eggshell, put flour and milk into it, and stir in it with a little spoon as if she was mixing dough. The woman followed her advice.

The gnome observed what she was doing and suddenly called out, "I have lived for hundreds of years, I have seen three sail axles being sawn out of one tree, but I have never seen anyone cooking in such a small kettle."

And all of a sudden, he disappeared and the child was back in its cradle.