Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-12-18
A German Christmas Story.
II3 MILL lM TIE SEA-

| In olden times there lived two brothers,
one of whom was rich and the other poor.
When Christmas was near at hand, the
poor one had not SO much as bit Of
meat or crust of bread in the house SO
he went to his brother, and begged him to
give him trife. This was not the first
time that the rich brother had given the
poor one something, and he was not par
ticularly delighted when he saw him COM
ing. If you do as 1 tell you," said he
to the unwelcomc visitor, "you shall have
a whole 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,
fiingiug him the ham, Sand now go to the
ioioer rcytOns.'
"Since 1 promised, it, I must" observ-
ed the other, taking up his ham, and 60.
ing his way. After wandering about the
whole day, just as it grew dark he per-
ceived bright light at no great distance
from him. "Is must be here" thought
he. On going somewhat further in the
forest, however, he found an old man,
with long white beard, cutting wood.
"Good morning." said be with the ham.
"Good morning." replied the old man,
"whither may you be going?
"Oh, I'm going to the lower regions; !;
only don't know sa I've come the right
gay," replied the simple-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 l will teach you
what to do with the mill for it has its
use, 1 can tell you"
On entering the underground dwelling,
everything happened just as the old man
had told him. All the imps, great and
small, gathered around, and began out-bid-
ding each other for the ham.
q" had intended feasting upon it, on
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 I will
not take anything in exchange except the
old handmill behind the door"
The chief imp did not at all relish part
ing with his mill, and he began to haggle
and bargain with the man, but the latter
remained firm; so, at last, they let him
take the mill away. When the man had
emerged from the underground dwelling,
be asked the old wood cutter how to use
the mill? When he told him, he thank
ed 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 can you have
been?" said his wife, as he came in;
"Pve been sitting here and waiting hour
after hour, and had not as much as a
couple of splinters to lay across each 9TH
er under the gruel.pOt to cook our Christ
mas dinner"
"Oh," replied the man, "I could not
come sooner, for I had some business to
mind, and was obliged to 60 . long way
about it. But you shall sec what have
brought back with me-"
He then placed the mill on the table,
and made it grind, FIRST Of all, candles;
then . table cloth then, food and beer;
in short, all that was wanting for . Christ
mas feast; and whatever he called for,
the mill ground it, Immediately.
His wife stood by, aud crossed herself
many times over, and was very anxious to
know how her husband had come by the
mill But this he took care not TO tell.