Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-09-01
LIZZIE IN THE MILL
A BEAUTIFUL STORY.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.


am about to relate, Lizzie Stone,th only daugh-
ter of the miller.
Lizzie was child whom every body loved;
not only because she was so pretty, lively and
intelligent, but for her being so sweet, gentle
and peaceable-so truly good Lizzie had two
brothers few years older than herself, who
were very fond of her, and of whom she was
very fond These three children always went
to school and to church together, and played in
perfect agreement.
1t happened that one sunny summer after
noon they had visit from two little girls their
cousins, who lived about mile distant They
had wild, joyous time. They played in the
yard, in the barn, and all over the house. Mrs.
Stone, who was a kind, pleasant woman, look
ed on and laughed, if she did not mingle in their
sport She got them nice early tea by them
selves; and when the visitors, after one last
merry game, were about leaving she said to Liz
Zie-
"Your brothers will 90 home with Alice and
Celia. You may 90 with them as far as the mill,
but be sure you stop there, and come home with
your father"
AS the cousins set out, laughing and frolick-
ing along, Mrs. Stone stood in the little front
portico of her cottage, looking after them as
they went down the lane, and thinking what
handsome, and above all, what good children
they were. She smiled at Lzzie's affectionate
way of taking leave Of her, though she was to
be gone for so short time Lizzie never part
ed from her mother, even for half-hour, with
out kissing her lovingly, and bidding her good
bye in voice as sweet and tender as the cooing
of dove. Now, as Mrs. Stone went into the
honse, she said softly to herself, ct is nearly
ten years since God gave me that child, and
she has never yet caused me one moments
sorrow"
The cousins played so much along the road,
and stopped so often to pick up flowers and ber-
ries that it was nearly dark when they reached
the mill. Then, when the girls came to part,
they had yet so many things to tell to each 9TH
er, so many invitations to give, so many good
byes to say, it was no wonder they fingered
awhile.
1t seemed that Lizzie could not let her cous.
ins 90. She parted from them, in her loving
way, so many times, that her brothers grew
little impatient, and George, the eldest, said
"Why, sister, don't see but that Ned and
will have to help you in your kissing, or you'll
never get through"
Then Alice and Celia, blushing and laughing
broke away from their cousins, and ran fast
down a little hill towards their home. The
boys soon overlook them, and Lizzie, after watch
ing the group awhile, and thinking how good
God was to give her such amiable cousins, such
noble brothers, and such dear parents to love,
turned and went into the MILL She found it
going, and was almost frightened by the din it
made, and by the darkness; for night was fast
coming on. She called her fathers name, and
he answered, but the machinery made so much
noise that she did not hear. Thinking that he
had already gone, she turned to 90 home alone
She took way she had often taken safely, over
the flume, by the great water-whee But to-
night she was bewildered-lost her footing, and
fell off on the wheel which whired her down.
crushing and tearing her in shocking manner !
1t happened just at that moment her father think
ing that Lizzie had been sent to call him home
stopped the mill, and began to search for her.
Led by her cries, he came TO the wheel, and
there found what had occurred.
"Are You badly hurt, my daughter" he asked
in great grief and terror.
eyes, father | seem to be all crushed to
pieces, and cannot stir but shall live till
you get me out. Leave me here, and 90 for
help"
The neighborhood was soon reused, and ma
ny men hurried, with saws and axes, to the mill.
But they found that only one or two could work
at a time in cutting away the strong, heavy tim
bers, and that it would be some hours before
Lizzie could be taken from the place where she
was held so fast, and crushed so dreadfully; and
they said that to move the wheel backward or
forward might kill her at once!
When Mrs. Stone came, one of the men let
down light into the wheel, so that she could
sec her poor child. When she saw Lizzie's
white face, and the bleeding arms held toward
her, she shrieked and cried bitterly. But Lizzie
called up to her as sweetly and cheerfully as she
had ever done in her life, and said
"Don't cry, mother! They will get me out
before long; keep up good courage and pray to
God for me-"
And so she continued to talk, hour after hour,
while the men kept cutting and saving at the
great tmbers; SO she cheered and comforted her
parents, and her poor brothers, who then too
had come to the mill
Once her voice grew very low and indstinct
then it ceased altogether; the doctor looked
down, and said she had tainted away, and they
sprinkled water upon her. As soon as she re-
vived she began again to say comforting things,
and to beg her mother and brothers not to cry.
She said she did not suffer as much pain as at
first and that she was sure she should live to be
carried home
1t was midnight when the last timber that
held her was sawed away, and workman lifted
her gently up, and laid her in her fathers arms.
The pain of being moved caused the poor child