Amador weekly ledger., 1857-11-28
The Mill in the Sea.

poor. When Christmas was near at hand,
the poor one had not so much as bit of
meat or q crust of bread in the house. so he
went to his brother and begged him, in Gods
name to give him trife. Now, it happen
ed that this was not the first time that the
rich brother had given the poor one some
thing, and he was not particularly delighted
when he saw him coming.
If you will do as l tell yon," said he to
the unwelcome visitor, you shall have ham
that is hanging up to be smoked"
The poor brother said he would do what
he told him and thank him too.
"There it is," said the rich brother, nnging
him the ham, now go to the lower regions"
Since ] have promised it, must OBJ
served the other, taking up his ham and 60
ing his way
| After wandering about the whole day, just
as it grew dark he perceived bright light at
no great distance from him.
at must be here thought he On going
somewhat further in the forest, however, he
found an old man with long white beard,
who was cutting wood
Good evening" said he with the ham.
Good evening" replied the man; whittier
may you be going?"
oh I'm only going to the lower regions;
right way replied the poor simpIe-hearted
man.
Yes, you are quite right said the old
man, the entrance is just here:' and then he
added when you have got down below,
they will all want to buy your ham, for
swine's flesh is great rarity there; but you
must not sell it for money; so rather ask to
exchange it for the old hand-mill that stands
behind the door. When you come up again,
then | will teach you what to do with the
mill, for it has its use, can tell you"
On entering the underground dwelling, ev-
erything happened just as the old man had
told him. All the imps, great and small,
gathered around, and began outbidding each
other for the ham.
had intended feasting upon it on holy
Christmas eve, with my wife, said the man;
but as you seem SO bent on having it, I'm
willing to part with it; but will not take
anything in exchange except the old hand
mill that stands behind the door,"
The chief imp did not at all relish parting
with his mill, and he began to haggle and
bargain with the man, but the latter remain
ed firm; so at last the imp was fain to let
him take the mill away. When the man had
emerged from the underground dwelling, he
asked the old wood-cutter how he used
the mill, and, when he told him, he thanked
him, and returned home; but let him make
what speed he would, he did not reach it till
twelve O'Clock at night.
Where in the world have you been?"-
said his wife. as he came in; I've been sitting
here aud waiting hour after hour, and had
not as much as a couple OF splintcrs to lay
across each other under the gruel-pot, to
cook our Christmas dinner"
Oh replied the man, Il could not come
sooner, for had some business to mind and
was obliged to go a long way about it. But
you shall see what | have brought back with
me-"
lie then placed the mill on the table, and
made it grind, first of all, candles; then a
table cloth; then food and beer-in short, all
that was wanting for Christmas feat; and
whatever was called for, the mill ground it
Immediately. His wife stood by and crossed
herself many times over, and was very anx-
ious to know how her husband had come by
the MILL But this he took care not to tell.
1T matters not how | got it, wife, said
he; you see that it is u good mill, whose wa
ter does not cease to flow, and that's enough
And then he ground eatables and drinka-
bles, and every possible dainty for Christmas
week; and on the third day he invited his
friends to banquet. When the rich brother
saw what feast was in preparation, he turn
ed hot and cold with vexation, for he grudg-
ed his brother the least windfal
"On Christmas eve,' said he to the other
guests, 'he was SO miserably poor, he came
to ask me for trille in Gods name, and
noy, all of a sudden, he is as grand as if he
had become an earl or king Then turn
ing to his brother he said:
"Where on earth did you get all these
rches?"
Behind the door, answered the other,
who had no mind to let the cat out of the
bag But towards evening, when he had ta-
ken drop too much, he could not keep his
counsel any longer, but brought out his magic
MILL
Here is the golden goose that has bro't
me all my riches and made the mill grind
first one thing and then another, On seeing
this, the brother wanted to buy the mill OF
him, but the other would not hear of it at
first At length, however as his brother
seemed to wish for it so very much, he said
he would take three hundred pounds for it,
only he barganed not to part with it till har-
vest, for said he, if l keep it till then, j
shall be able to grind enough to do me for
many year"
During this space of time we may easily
imagine that the mill was not allowed to
grow rusty; and when harvest time came, the
brother had it given him, only the other had