Page:Popular stories of The spectre bridegroom and The mason of Granada.pdf (NLS104186075).pdf/23

 profits of his two nights' work; after whiehwhich [sic] he was as poor as ever.

He eontinuedcontinued [sic] to work a little, and pray a good deal, and keep saints' days and holidays, from year to year, while his family grew up as gaunt and ragged as a erewcrew [sic] of gypsies. As he was seated one evening at the door of his hovel, he was aeeostedaccosted [sic] by a riehrich [sic] old eurmudgeoncurmudgeon [sic], who was noted for owning many houses, and being a griping landlord. The mauman [sic] of money eyed him for a moment from beneath a pair of anxious shagged eyebrows.

"I am told, my friend, that you are very poor."

"There is no denying the fact, Señor—it speaks for itself."

"I presnmepresume [sic], then, that you will be glad of a job, and will work eheapcheap [sic]."

"As eheapcheap [sic], my master, as any mason in Granada."

"That's what I want. I have an old house fallen into deeaydecay [sic], that eostscosts [sic] me more money than it is worth to keep it in repair, for nobody will live in it; so I must eontrivecontrive [sic] to patch it up and keep it together at as small expense as possible."

The mason was aeeordinglyaccordingly [sic] eonductedconducted [sic] to a large deserted house that seemed going to ruin. Passing through several empty halls and ehamberschambers [sic], he entered an inner eourtcourt [sic], where his eye was eaughtcaught [sic] by an old Moorish fountain. He paused for a moment, for a dreaming recolleetionrecollection [sic] of the plaeeplace [sic] came over him.

"Pray," said he, "who oceupiedoccupied [sic] this house formerly?"

"A pest upon him!" eriedcried [sic] the landlord, "it was an old miserly priest, who earedcared [sic] for nobody but himself. He was said to be immensely riehrich [sic], and, having no relations, it was supposed would leave all his treasures to the Churehchurch [sic].  He died suddenly, and the priests and friars thronged to take possession of his wealth; but nothing eouldcould [sic] they find but a few duecatsducats [sic] in a leathern purse.  The worst luck