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Läsebok. X:o 72.
67
which he was as poor as ever. He continued to work a
little, and to pray a good deal, and keep Saint’s days and
holidays, from year to year, while his family grew up as
gaunt and ragged as a crew of gipsies.
As he was seated one evening at the door of his hovel,
he was accosted by a rich old curmudgeon, who was noted
for owning many houses, and being a griping landlord. The
man of money eyed him for a moment from beneath a pair
of anxious, shagged eye-brows, —
»I am told, friend, that you are very poor». »There is
no denying the fact, SeSor — it speaks for itself».
»I presume, then, that you will be glad of a job, and
will work cheap?» »As cheap, Sefior, as any mason in
Granada». »That’s what I want. I have an old house fallen to
decay, which costs me more money than it is worth, to keep
it in repair, for nobody will live in it. So I must contrive
to patch it up and keep it together at as small an expense
as possible».
The mason was accordingly conducted to a large
deserted house that seemed going to ruin. Passing through
several empty halls and chambers, he entered an inner court,
where his eye was caught by an old Moorish fountain. He
paused for a moment, for a dreaming recollection of the
place came over him.
»Pray», said he, »who occupied this house formerly?»
»A pest upon him!» cried the landlord; »it was an old
miserly priest, who cared for nobody but himself. He was said
to be immensely rich, and having no relations, it was thought
he would leave all his treasures to the Church. He died
suddenly, and the priests and friars thronged to take
possession of his wealth; but nothing could they find but a few
ducats in a leathern purse. The worst luck has fallen on
me; for since his death the old fellow continues to occupy
my house without paying rent, and there’s no taking the law
of a dead man. The people pretend to hear the clinking
of gold all night in the chamber where the old priest slept,
as if he were counting over his money, and sometimes a
groaning and moaning about the court. Whether true or
false, the stories have brought a bad name on my house, and
not a tenant will remain in it».
»Enough», said the mason sturdily: »let me live in your
house rent-free, until some better tenant present himself, and
I will engage to put it in repair, and to quiet the troubled
spirit that disturbs it. I am a good Christian and a poor
man, and am not to be daunted by the devil himself, even
though he should come in the shape of a big bag of money».
The oflfer of the honest mason was gladly accepted; he
moved with his family into the house, and fulfilled all his
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