The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-06-13

and Robin was called Robin Ready.
Just before the father died he said TO his
sons, " leave Richard my mill. because all
he has to do is to put the corn in and let II
come out -four. and there is no risk OF dan
ger about it.
q And TO Robin leave my farm. Ii IS a
poor bit of land not WORT, half 50 much as
the mill. But Robin inherits my energy
and hopeful temper, and they are treasures
1 in themselves. So boys, you will soon be
equally rich. and l don't know how ! could
do more fairly by YOU
When the old man was dead, his two sons
separated--One went to his mill and the 9th
er to his farm.
II was winter, the time for improvements,
fencing, &c. Robin went heartily to work,
and by the labor of his hands he put up sub
stantial stonewalls, trenched meadow,
built spring house, and hauled of stones
that numbered his fields He repaired the
house and barn, and made all snug about the
place. In the Spring the tax assessor said
his farm was nearly doubled in value.
The old miller had just completed fine
new dam to the mill pond-which required
very strong aud high one-but the machi-
merry Ct the mil was little out Of order and
pretty old.
Why don't you set about renewing the
belts, aud getting those cog-wheels mended,
Dick !" asked Robin.
"Oh there is so much to be done that
don't know where to begin"
I" No, there is not much the matter. All
is right but few trifles, and it don't make
any difference where you begin. Now Id
have that wheel br!ted this very day,
and nne Of your stones has ground uneyen.'
Yes, yes; know. There are thous-
and things TO be done, and | can't bear TO
begin. don't know when could stop"
!" Now Dick. you've heard that old proyerb
which SAYS. il you can't master the whole
don't forsake the whole You could make
a good spec out Of this mill il you would on.
" set to work. But if yon spend your time
sucking your thumbs, you must expect to
live on the milk there is in them -
Dick only sigl.ed FOR an anwser, and Ro-
bin went away quite sTieted.
When the spring came, and the deep snow.
banks began to melt. the pond filed TO the
over flow finely. The mill hummed and rat
tied, and ground snowy -four, or golden
meal, all day long. But very warm. copi.
Gus rain fell aud produced great freshet.
Robin went over to see il his brothers
new dam was safe, and when he got there he
saw Despairing Dick, setting in tie ram. on
a bank above the pond, crying and bemoan-
iEs.
WHATS the matters Is your wife or
child drowned :" asked Robin 10 fright.
"0h no! Oh no : But the freshtt will
sweep away my new dam, the only thing
about tie mill that is FIRST rate Oh dear !!
dear, don't gau see the swifl in that corner,
aud the JET Of water under the main TALL II
is uudermined-my new dam! all is over
wilh II there 20 hundreds Of dollars!'
+" M, no." said Robin, but lie looked pref
|, lsle "ne won't be beat yet We must
sa,e itm
. But we can't. It's no use to try."
/" But we WILL" said Robin. I'm not
going t. give up to every little freshet that
comes Here Dica, you run home and send
one Of your hands with cart load Of straw.
Hurry, now !"
Oh, i i no use to hurry! It will all 60.
Fin sure
well now, Dick. you know don't give
up 50 easy as all that. Ii will go against me
% zee this line dam lost So do YOU hurry
home and order out your men for nv sake,
aud won't spare myself for yours"
Dicks hired hands were li;tle more &C.
tive than himself, 81 it was not long before
load Of straw arrived, with pitchforks and
poles for ranming. Meanwhile. Robin had
been working hard, thrus,ing down into the
little whirlpuol the elumps Of dead leaves
and grass which floatcd by-just 70 gain
time.
With The long poles they nov rammed the
straw. lutte by tittle, into the hole which the
water had made inside the dam. At last
they filed il, aud thus the gravel and mud, /,
which the freshet brought with it. settled
down until all was tight. aud instead Of low
ing inside Of the dam the water poured over
Il again.
Well" sail Robin. privately, 10 his bro
thcr. who came dcjcctedly along just as il
Was done. "all's safe, Dick IL didn't take
long, anil where was the use in sitting down
70 cry when little bit u hearty work would
set matters righiw
But how could imagine that could
prop up a mill dam with. a straw.
/" You never know what you can do ill
you tfy. Dick and az any rate, whether you
succeed always or not. believe in the old
song which says:
"Up,u up,-neter despair"
-.-.-...-s.,-1-.
A GOOD REMEDY.