Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-06-20
MONTPELIER, VERMONT, JUNE 20, 1850.

The ruffian laid the infant for a moment on
the sward as he sought about for combustibles
wherewlth to execute his latter threat In this
search he espied, perhaps, the only possible
clandestine entrance to the building 1t was
large aperture in the wall, communicating with
the great wheel and the other machinery of the
Dl, and was a point entirely unprotected, for
the reason that the simple occupants had never
supposed it feasible for any one TO seek admis-
sion through such a dangerous inlet Elated
with his discovery, the rulfiOn returned to the
infant, and tying the hands and feet of the little
innocent, and threw it on the ground even as a
butcher will fling lamb destined for the saugh-
ter, to await his time for Staying. He then stole
back 10 the aperture, by which he hoped to ef.
feet an entrance. All this was unseen by the
dauntless girl within.
In the meanwhile her mind was busted with
thousand cogitatons. She clearly perceived
that no means would be left untried to effect an
entrance, and she knew that on the exclusion Of
her foe depended her own existence. A thought
struck her.
at is Sunday" said she to herself" the
mill never works on the Sabbath-suppose set
it going now? 1t can be seen afar off--and
haply master, Or some of his neighbors, wonder
ing at the sight, may haste hither 10 know the
cause. A lucky thought" she exclaimed-'' It's
God sent it to me-"
No sooner said than done. Being all her
life accustomed to mill gear, it was but the work
of moment for her to set the machinery in mo
ton.
A brisk breeze sprang up, as it were by the
special interposi!ion of Providence, at once set
the sails flying. The arms of the huge engine
whrcd round with fearful rapidity the great
wheel slowly revolved on its axis; the smaller
gear turned, and craked and groaned, according
as they came into action and the mill was in
fnll operation.
1t was in that very instant that the rufiiian
Diether had succeeded in squeezing himself
throagh the aperture in the wall, and getting
safely lodged in the interior of the great drum
Wheel
His dlsmay was indescribable when he began
to be whrled about with its rotation, and found
that all his efforts to put stop to the powerful
machinery which set it in motion, or to extrcate
himself from his perilous situation, were fruit
less. His cries we're most apalllng-hs shrikf
Uara trrl, faa rf,l his cuteas and i'm nrac
were horrible to hear. Hannechen hasened tt
the spot, and saw him caught like reptile a
he was, in his own trap.
1t need not be added That she did not liberatt
him. She knew that he would be more fright
ened than hurt, if he kept within his rotary pris
on; and she knew, also, that unless he attempt
ed to escape, there was no danger of his falling
out Of it, even though he were insensible ant
sbe and inanimate all the while In the meat
time, the wheel went round and round with it
steady unceasing motion, and round and rount
went the ruthan along with it, steadily and un
ceaslngly too.
In vain did he promise the stout hearted cir
to work her no harm; in vain did he implore he
pity on his helpless condition-.in vain did h
pray to all the powers of heaven, and adiure al
the powers of hell to his aid. She would no
hear or heed them-and, unheard and unheede
of them likewise, muttering curses, he was whirl
ed round and round in the untirng wheel, unit
at last feeling and perception failed him, and h
saw and heard no more. He fell senseess o.
the bottom of the engine, but even then his in
animate body continued to be whirled round an
round as before; the brave girl not daring t
trust temperatures in connection with such
villain, and being, therefore afraid to suspen
the working of the machinery, or top the mill
gear and tackle from running at their fulles
speed.
A loud knocking at the door was shortly ahe
heard, and she fastened thither. 1t was he
master and his family, accompanied by severn
of their neighbors. The unaccustomed appear
ance of the mill sails in full swing on the Sur
day, had, as she anticipated attracted their a
tention, and they had FASTENED home fro
church for the purpose ofascertaning the caus
of the phenomenon. The father boro his litt
boy in his arms-he had cut the cords wher
with he was tied, but he was unable to obtai
any account of the extraordinary circumsanc,
that had occurred from the frightened little il
nocent.
Hannechen, in a few words, told all--ar
then the spirit which had sustained her so lor
and SO well while the emergency lasted, forsot
) her at once as it passed away. She fell sens
= less into the arms of the mler's eldest son, al
was with great dffulty recovered.
The machinery Of the mill was at once stop
ed, and the nannmate rufian dragged for
from the great wheel. The other ruffian w
brought down from his prison. Both were thu
bound and than sent off to Boon under stron
escort, and, in due course, came under Il
the hands of the town cxecutioner.
1t was not long till Hannechen became
bride. The bridegroom was the miller's SC
who had loved her long and well, but with
passion previously unrequited. They liv
thenceforh happily together for many years, a
died at good old age, surrounded by a fouris
; ing family. To the latest hour of her life, Il
brave hearted woman would shudder as she tc
the tale of her danger, and her remarkable
Ii verence.
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Wonders will never cease in Paris. A d