Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-09-09
[FIom the MONTGOMERY lA.a D Main /

short yarn was spun to us on last evening,
OF and concerning the ezpeyi menfs an milling
Of couple of friends of ours, now or lately so.
journing for health and pleasure at the Talla-
dega Springs. 1t is unnecessary to give the
names Of these gentlemen, but for convenierce
we Will call them, respectively, John and Joel
They, II may be remarked, have great simi-
larity of tastes, and among other peneha ants,
are very fond Of fishing; and everybody
knows that the vicinity Of Talladega Springs
the fly. ra.- .. - = 77e7''''
Thus John and Joel--thsre being no religious
services at the Springs that day-went out,
Sunday before last, to the mill of Mr. p
mile or two down the creek, with view to
a. dinner Of small trout and cream. With
them went their invited guest, MIR. Smith, and
Miles "contrived " them down a bottle or
two Of wine. 49,
The party was snug; the wind was propi-
tious and the fish altogether amiable. A
cosy, hne dinner OF brown and crisp mountain
fish was soon washed down with a few glasses
OF champagne; and then cigars were lit. AS
the smoke eurled languidly al out their noses 8,
Satan, (whO was invisibly present, without an
lnvitation,) suggested to John, that that mill
was "a slow coach" and couldn't cut mucb
lumber; and John expressed the same opinion
to Joel. Joel thought differently, and 50 did
Smith.
"Let's try her," said John.
agreed said Joel and Smith
1t was short work large pine log Law at
right angles across the carriage of the mill /:
and 1t was agreed to "let her rip'' through
this Accordingly the gate was raised and i'm
mediately the stiffness Of the grand old woods
was broken BY the rapid, sharp strokes of the
saw In minute the log was brought up and
the saw went rapidly through.
NOW stop her, said Joel-and Smith and
John essayed to do so.
But the mill wouldn't be stoned. but want
gathering away, as hard as ever.
stop her, John, or by the Lord she III split
herself in two, shouted JOEL But all the
fixtures were obstinate and refused to yield To
the exertiOns of John and Smith On went the
saw, while John and Joel perspired.
Presently the carriage presented some metal
ic obstruction to the passage OF the saw, but
'true as steel, it went against the obstruction
and then the teeth few. lSome pieces of mill
iron had been left upon the carriage way. But
yet IT ceased not-up and down, up and down,
the true steel to the dull cast iron, until md
denly a small flame broke out among the dust
and splinters near the point of contact.
"GreatG Cd, John, said Joel, ''the Internal
machine is on fire. What shall we do ?''
Kun down to the creek and bring up your
hat full of water" said John. Joel looked af.
fectionately at his handsome tile. which is al
ways kept neatly brushed, but, submitting to
dire necessity, he straightway made il fire.
bucket and commenced fighting the flames
John and Smiths straws were unavailable
nevertheless, they did all those wild, incousid.
crate things which most persons will do in case
OF ire, when there is no possibility of doing any
good
Still that toothless saw ripped on. singing a
demon song as it scraped against the dull cast
iron; and the fire kept gaining a little.
Joel iabored faithfully, and every two min
utes brought up his hat full of water. and
threw it upon the ire. John stood despairipyly
leaning against post in the mill, and hallooed
70 bis friend, as he seemed to pause ut the brink
"Another hat-full, Joel, for Gods sake, The
if it burnsI"
'Besides my hat" said JOEL but he brought
the water and poured it on
On went the devilish saw, raking, rasping and
tearing itself to pieces.
At this juncture, Mr. P, the owner of the
mill, having seen the smoke, came down to the
mill, and with great difficulty the saw was
stopped and the fire put out. Joel was griev-
ously "blown" with carrying water in his hat,
aud John was quite used up with excitement
while Smith was breathiess from his exertious
at some lever which he supposed might have
some influence in quieting the demon saw.
dentiemen, said the proprietor very Do
litely, iti easy enough to see why you couldn t
stop the saw after you set it a-going. This
mill has some new arrangements which can
easily explain
"FOr Heavens, Mr. p. =" said John, mo sr-
plInattOn, on tint point, It's the irst mill [
ever set a-agoing and shall neusr start auo-
tner! Just send US your bill for the damages,
aud lets say no more about it,"
The boys paid 500 for not knowing how to
stop saw, and that night John, in a feverish
sleep, lhe has that blessing, chills and fever)
shouted TO his room mate
Zone moro hat-full, Joel ~