Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1858-02-18
A Lucky Mason.

holidays and st. Monday in the ba
gain, and yet, with all bis deyotiol
he grew poorer and poorer, and coul
scarcely earn bread for his nume
GUS family. One night he was arOu!
ed from bis first sleep by a knoekin
at The door, lie opened it, and b
held before him tall, meagre, ca
daverous looking priest.
'Hark ye, honest friend said th
stranger. / have observed tha
you are a good Christian and one t
be trusted, will you undertake a jol
this very night?'
with all my heart, Senor Padre
on condition that am paid accor
dinghy.
That you shall; but you mnstsuf
fer yourself to be blndfolded.
To this the mason made no OBJ
lection: SO, being hoodwinked, be
was led by the priest through vari-
Gus lanes and winding passages, un'
til they stopped before the portal ol
a house. The priests then applied a
key, turned creaking lock, and
opened what sounded ike ponderous
door. They entered, the door vas
closed and bolted, and the imasoa
was conducted through an ecboing
corridor, ard a spacious hall, 10 the
interior of the building Here the
banGage was removed from his eyes
and he found himself in pario OF
court, dimly lighted by a single lamp
In the centre WAS the dry basin oI
an old Moorish fountain, under
which the priest requested him to
form small vault, bricks and NOR
tar being at hand for the purpose. -
He accordingly worked all night but
without finishing the job. Just be-
fore day break the priest put piece
OF gold into bis hand, aud having
again blind-Iolded him, conducted
him back to bis dwelling.
Are you wiling said be, sto re-
turn and complete your work.
GLADLY, Senor Padre provided
| am SO we'll paid
well, then, tomorrow at mid
night, will call again. @
He did so--and 4 the vault was
completed. siasH
Now, said the priest, SOU must
hep me to bring forth these bodies
that are to be buried in this vault.
The mason's hair rose on his head
al these words; he followed the priest
with trembling steps into retired
cham Der Of the mansion, expecting
10 bel old some CHASTITY spectacle OF
death, but was relieved on perceiv.
ing three or four portly jars stand
ing iu one corner. They were evil
IDENTIFY full Of money: and with great
labor he aud the priest carried
them forth and consigned them to
their tomb. The vault was then
closed, the pavement replaced, and
all traces Of the work obliterated.-
The mason was again hoodwinked
and led forth by a route different from
that by which he had come. After
they had wandered for long time
through a perplexed maze Of lanes
and alleys, they halted. The priest
then put two pieces Of gold into bis
band
tWait. here,' said be, until yor
hear the cathedral bell toll for ma
tins. If you rresume to uncovel
your eyes before that time, evil vii
befal you,' SO saying, he departed.
The mason waited faithfully, anu
sing himself by weighing the gol'
rpieces in bis hand, and chinking then
against each other. The smomen
the cathedral bell rung its matin peal
he uncovered bis eyes and fouh'
himself on the banks Of Xenil, frau
where he made the best of his -ws,
home. and revelled with bic tamil.
! for a whole fortnight on the prof
of his two nights mcrk; after whic
he was poor as ever, 80 "
He continued to work a little an
pray a good deal, and keep Saints
day aud holidays. from year to yeal
while bis family grew up as gaur
and rapid as a crew Of gypsies. 4
be was seated one evening ut th
door Of his howell. he was accoste
by rich old curmudgeon, who wa
noted for owning many houses an
being gripping landlord. The ma