"Yes, it's a story, but it's true for all that, for it happened at Grohovo, and my grandfather, who was alive at that time, knew both the miser and the idiot. Well, the miser--who had as much money as his trees had leaves, and that is more than he could count--was one day brewing _rakee_, when an old man, who lived on the public charity, or in doing odd jobs that could be entrusted to him, stopped at his door.
"'I smell _rakee_,' said Old Nor" (ninny), "who, by-the-bye, was not quite such an idiot as he was believed to be.
"'Oh, you do!' quoth the miser, sneeringly.
"'Yes,' said Nor, his eyes twinkling and his mouth watering.
"'And I suppose you'd like to taste some?'
"'That I should; will you give me a sip?'
"Thereupon the miser dipped a small ladle in a kettle of boiling water and offered it to Old Nor.
"The idiot drank down the hot water without wincing.
"'It's good, isn't it?' asked the rich man.
"'Delicious!' and the old man smacked his lips.
"'It warms the pit of your stomach nicely?'
"'It's rare stuff, I can tell you; will you have some more?'
"'It's of your own brewing, one can see; I'll have some more.'
"The miser once more dipped the ladle in the hot water and offered it again to the beggar, who quaffed the contents unflinchingly.
"'You see, bad tongues say I'm a miser, but it's all slander; for when I like a fellow, I'd give him the shirt off my back, and I like you, Old Nor. Will you have another ladleful?'
"'Willingly,' and the ninny's eyes flashed.
"Thereupon he again swallowed up the scalding water, but not a muscle of his face twitched.
"'Are you not afraid it'll go to your head, old man?' asked the miser, mischievously.
"'Old Nor's head isn't muddled with so little,' added he, scowling.
"'No,' replied the ninny, shaking his head, 'for to-day I've had enough. As soon as the _Cesar_' (emperor) 'sends me the money he owes me, and I marry the Virgin Mary--for that was his craze--I'll give you something that'll warm the pit of your stomach, too.'
"Then he turned round and went off without any thanks or wishing the blessing of God on the miser's dwelling, as he was wont to do.
"The miser's house was all surrounded by sheds, storehouses and stables; barns groaning under the weight of corn, hay and straw; his sacks were heaped with flour and wheat; his cellars overflowed with wine and oil; in his dairies you could have bathed in milk, for he neither lacked cows, nor sheep, nor goats. Well, not long after the beggar had been scalded with hot water, a fire broke out in his granaries at night, and all the wealth that was stored therein was wasted by fire.