Page:The shoemaker's apron (1920).djvu/212

 “I have a dear son in heaven,” the lady said. “Do you know him?”

“Of course I know him. The last time I saw him he was sitting far back in the chimney corner looking very sad and lonely.”

“What! My son sitting far back in the chimney corner! Poor boy, he must be in need of money! My good man, will you take him something from me? I’d like to send him three hundred golden ducats and material for six fine shirts. And tell him not to be lonely as I’ll come to him soon.”

The laborer was delighted at the success of his yarn and he told the lady of the castle he’d gladly take with him the ducats and the fine shirting and he asked her to give them to him at once as he had to get back to heaven without delay.

The foolish woman wrapped up the shirting and counted out the money and the laborer hurried off.

Once out of sight of the castle he sat down by the roadside, stuffed the fine shirting into the legs of his trousers, and hid the ducats in his pockets. Then he stretched himself out to rest.

Meantime the lord of the castle got home and his wife at once told him the whole story and asked him if he didn’t think she was fortunate to find a man who