The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-04-20
NUMBER g.
The Adventure Of a Mason.
BY wAsHINGToN tRyrNG.

prlcklayer, In Grenada, who kept all the SANITY
days and holydays, and saint Monday into the
bargain, and yet with all his devotion, he grew
poorer and poorer, and could scarcely earn
bread for his numerous family One night
he was reused from his first sleep by knock
ing at his door. He opened it, and beheld be-
fore him tall, meagre, cadayerous- looking
preist
'Hark ye, honest friend { said the stranger;
1 have observed that you are good Chris
tan, and one to be trusted; will you under
take job this very nightT
with all my heart, Senor Padre, on condi-
ton that am paid accordingly,
That you shall be; bat yon must suffer
yourself to be blindfoIded.'
To this the mason made no objection; so
being hoodwinked, be was led by the preist
through various rough lanes and winding
passages, until they stopped before the pOr-
tai of house. The priest then spilled a key,
turned a breaking lock, and openened what
sounded like ponderous door. Then enter
ed, the door was closed and bolted, and the
mason was conducted through an echoing cor
ridor, and spacious hall, to an interior part Of
the building. Here the bandage vas Fefnov-
/ ed from his eyes, and he found himself 10
partio, or court. dimly lighted BY a single lamp
In the centre was the dry basin Of an old
Moorish fountain. under which the priest re-
Iquested him to form small vault, brick and
mortar being at hand for the purpose He
accordingly worked all night, but without FIN
ishing the job Just before day y-break, the
priest put a piece of gold into his hand, and
having again blindfolded him, conducted him
back to his dwelling
Are you willing, said be, TO return and
complete your work 2
Gladly. Senior Padre, provided I am 20
well paid
We'll then, tomorrow at midnight will
call again He did go, and the vault was
completed Now, said the priest, you must
help me bring forth the bodies that are to be
buried in this vault,
The poor mason's hair rose on his head at
these words; he followed the priest with
trembling steps, into a retired chamber of the
mansion, expecting to behold some ghasslg
spectacle of death, but was relieved on seeing
three or four portIy jars standing IN one cor
ner They were evidently full Of money and
| it was with great labor that he and the priest
carried them forth and consigned them to their
tomb The vault was then closed the pave
ment replaced, and all traces of the work OBJ
liberated, The mason was again hood winked
and led forth by a route different from that
by which he had come After they had wan
dered 70, long time through q perpIexed
maze of lanes and alleys, they halted The
priest then put two pieces Of gold into his
hand Watt here said he, until you hear
the cathedral bell toll for mathis. If y6n pre-
sumo TO uncover your eyes before that time,
evil viii befaA you So saying he.departed
The mason waited faithfully 3 amusing himself
| by weighing the gold pieces in his hand and
fciinking them against each ether The mo-
ment the cathedral bell rang its matinpeal be
uncovered his eyes and found himself on the
banks of the Xenib from whence he made the
best of his way home, and reyeled with his
family for a whole fortnight on the prfts Of
his two nights labor; afser which he was Is
poor as ever.
He continued to work a little, and pray
good deal, and keep saints days and holydays,
| from year to year, while his family grew up
as gaunt and ragged as crew of gypsies.--
As he.was seated one evening at the door Of
/ his hovel, he was accosted BY rich old cur
mudgeon who was noted for owning many
houses, being gripping landlord. The man
/ of money eyed him for moment from be-
tween pair of anxious shagged eyebrows
4 am told friend, that you are very poor.
There is no denying the fact Senor--it speaks
for ITSELF 4 presume, then. that you will be
glad of a job, and will work cheap AS cheap
my master, as any mason in Grenada That's
what want / have and old house fallen in-7
TO decay, that costs me more money than It is
worth to keep it in repair for nobody win live
lin it; SO l must eontrive to patch it up and
keep it together at as small expense as pos
sible'
| The mason was accordingly conducted toa
large deserted house that seemed going %
ruin, Passing through several empty halls
and chambers, he entered an inner court where
his eye was caught by an old Moorish founL
tain. He paused for moment for dream
ing recollection of the place came over him.
Pray said he, who occupied this house
formerly p
"A pest apon himl' cried the landlord, 1t
was an old miserly priest, who cared for mo-
body but himself He was said to be I'M
Intensely 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 bis
wealth; but nothing could they find except
few buckets in a leathern purse. The worst
luck has fullen on me, for. since his death, the
cid fellow continues to occupy my house with
out 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 cham.
Der where the old priest slept. as if he were
counting over his money, and sometimes
groaning and moaning about the court
Whether true or false, these stories have
brought bad name upon my house, and not
tenant will remain in it
Enough said the mason, sturdily, let me
live in your house rent-free until some bet
ter tenant present. and wilI engage to put
it in repair and quiet the troubled spirit that
disturbs it, am a coed christian and apoor
man, and am not to be daunted by the devil
himself even though he should come in the
shape of a bag of money!
! The offer Of the honest mason was gladly
accepted; he moved. with his family. into the