Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-01-09
THE MILL IN THE SEA.
A CHRISTMAS LEGEND.

In olden times once lived two brothers. one Of
whom was rich, and the other poor. When Christ
mas vac near ct hand, the poor one had net so
much as n bit of meat or a crust OF bread In the
house, 50 he went to his brother, and begged MN,
in Gods name to give him Il trife. Now, II hap
pcned that this was not the first time that the rich
brother bad given the poor one something, and
was net particularly delighted when he saw him
coming.
IF you will do as 1 tell you," said he to the
unwslcome visitor, you shall have q whole ham
that is hanging mp to be smoked" -,
The poor brother said he would co what ne toId
him, and thank him too.
.sThere it is," said the rich brother, hinging
him the ham, 'and now 20 to the lower regions.
s'.Since | bave promised it, | must" observed the
other. taking up his ham and going his way.
After wandering about the whole day, just as It
grew dark, he perceived a bright light at no great
distance from him.
ut must be here" thought he. On going some
what further in the forest, he found an old man
with a long white beard, who was cutting wood.
s-"Good evening"" said he with the ham.
81 'Good evening" replied the man. "whither may
you be going2" ,
.'Oh, I'm only going to The lower regions, only !
don't know whether Ive CONS the right way"
replied the poor simple hearted man
Yes you nre quite right" said the old man
"the entrance is lust here" and then he added,
'when you have got down belos, they will all
want to buy your ham, for swine's flesh is a great
rarity there; but you must not sell 1t Tor money
90 rather ask to exchange it for the old hand'm'l
that stands behind the door. When you cnme W
again, then | will teach you what to 60 with thu
mill, for it has its use, l can tell YOU"
On entering the underground dwelling every
thing happened Just as the Ole man had told him
All the imps. great and small, gathered ROUND
and began outbiiding each other for the ham.
II had intended ieasting upon it on holy Christ
mas eve, With my wife," SAID the man; but a
you seem intent on having it, I'm willing to par
with it, but ! will not take anything in ezchang
except the old hand-mill that stands behind to
door,"
The chief INN did not at oil relish parting wit
his mill, and he began to haggle and bargain wit
the man, but the latter remained firm, 50 at La
the inn Was fain 10 let bin take the mill away
When the man had emerged from the undergroun
dwelling, he asked the old wood cutter how /
used the mill. and when he told him, he thanke
him, and returned home, but let him make VIII
speed he could. he did not reach it till twel'
O'Clock at night.
"Where in the world can you have been?" sa
his vie. as he came in, i've been sitting he
and waiting hour after hour. and | had not
much as q couple of splinters to lay across en-,
other under the gruel-pot, to cook our Christm
dinner"
"Oh," replied the man, II could not come 500
or. for | had some business to mind, and was OBJ
ged To 20 a long way about it. But you shall e
what | have brought back with me-"
He then placed the mill on the table, and tbs
made it grind, first of all, candles; then a tabl
cloth; then food and beer-in short. all that W
wanting for q Christmas feast; and whatever
called for, the mill ground it Immediately. II
wife stood by, and crossed herself many tim
over, and was very anxious to know how her hu
band had coms by the mill. But this he took ca
NOT to tell.
1t matters not how | got it. wife," said b
"you see i: is a good mill, whose water does n
cease 10 flow, and that's enough"
Aud then he ground eatables and drinkablt
and every possible dainty for Christmas wee
and on the third day he invited bis friends to
banquet. When the rich brother saw what q fea
was Ia preparation. he turned hot and cold wi
v~eIation. for he grudged his brother the least win
fall.
"0n Christmas eve" said he to the other gue'
.'he was 80 miserably poor that he came to ask
for a trihe in Gods name and now, all of a 81
den, he is rs grand as if he had become an earl
aking." Then turning to his brother he said:
"Where on earth did you geta these riches 2"
Behind the door" said the other who had
mind to let the cat out Of the bag. But towar
evening. when he had taken n drop too much,
could not keep his eounsels any longer, |
brought out the mill.
es"IIere Is the golden goose that has brought
all my riches" said he, and made the mill gri
Srst one thing and then another. On seeing tn
the brother wanted to buy the mill Of him. |
the other would not hear il at FIRST. At lepg
however, his brother seemed to wish for i, so "
much. be said he would take three hundred pour
for Il, only he bsrgainsd not 70 part with 1t till