Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-04-15
Murfester 9ailg Spg.
THE TWO sPINDLEs.
A FAIRY STORY WITH A MORAL.
Translated from the German


running yet, but the machinery had long been
worthless. The last miller was very old
man and lived near by in little matched
cottage. Ills wife had been dead eleven years,
and his two daughters, by their labor, sup
ported him in his decTepitude and almost con-
tinual sickness. They would spin fax, and
collect bundles of kindling wood, and gather
berries by all of which means they succeeded
in laying up enough money 10 supply their
household with every necessity.
One day, when their father was doing in
his old willow CHAIR Martha and Crisel went
of TO gather nuts aud leaves for their goat
They had gone about halt mile, when they
saw young squirrel lying in the path before
them. 1t had fallen from tree and was very
seriously hurt. CriStel picked it up and
wrapped 1t in her apron, and the sisters re-
turned home with it, and strengthened it by
saucer OF milk that they placed before it, 1t
was, at first, very wild and shy, though it was
so lame that it could not climb or even rum
But after some days, it began to get better, and
was evidently growing less fearful Of its pro-
tectors. In time. il was very tame, followed
Cristel and Martha wherever they went, ard
knew by heart every branch of tree within
a stones throw OF the old millers cottage
Winter was coming on, and Cristel made for
her playful squirrel-which, in future, we must
call Freddy, tor that was his name---a soft bed
of WOOL and placed it in its little house.
Freddy's supply OF cabbage stalks, and corn,
and hazle-nuts was very large enough to last
all winter. He was an object of great love in
the family, no less to the old miller than to his
daughters. Every want was met ; never was
a squirrel better ted and cared Tor.
One cold morning in December Freddy was
missing His house was pulled down and his
bed taken out, but he was not there. Martha
oli.ll Ia, Il, ,,l.f,,I 4
not look for him. But Cristel went all about
the house, examined the old mill, and went
down through the forest but it was all to no
purpose. Finally, she took his bed and pulled
it all apart ; and us she did this, there dropped
on the ground two spindles, one of wood and
OF dull color, the other very bright and of
metal. Cristel said this latter one was the
loveliest thing she had ever seen but Martha.
who was older, and pretended to a great deal
of wisdom, said it was nothing but brass.
Shl, it was wonder TO them both how the
spindles came in Ere ddy's bed.
Martha took the yellow metal spindle for
herself, and gave tie wooden one to Crstel
When they began to spin, ii was wonderful to
see how much flax they could convert into the
finest thread. Martha could do more in one
hour nov than formally in the whole day. 1t
was, indeed, a lucky thing for these two girls
to be SO well provided for. They soon
astonished the thread merchant, by the great
quantity of thread they brought to him for
sale he said he had never seen such spiuners
as they were. In three months time enough
money was made TO repair the cid mill, and
hire miller, besides improving the little cot
tage.
"Now, if we had money enough to buy
COW, should be glad,' said Martha
Buy COW What can you be thi king
of, sister You know it is very hard TO get a
COW, and the price is enormous"
- Griss.eel Agles9 e Ge@id sell my spindle
this very day for money enough 10 buy Nv
See how brightit is getting all the time
"Wosild you think Of such thing? am
astonisdled beyond all measure"
"ON you are very silly young girl Say
AZ Alsase Sssl :, - Hn,n ,i,s
passionately.
The next morning, Martha made every
arrangement and started with her spindle for
the city, which was twenty miles off. She
could not have walked that distance, and must
have returned home, had not the driver OF
coal wagon taken pity on her, and permitted
her TO ride with HIM. Having reached the
city, and being on the point of passing a gold.
smiths shop, she jumped down and looked at
the glittering jeweIry. Then she thought the
man might buy her spindle, SO she went in and
showed it to him.
"Ha, ha, my girl; what are you doing with
golden spindle. l know you are not a rich
mans daughter, and must have stolen this
valuable article
Martha felt very sad at these words, and ex-
planned everything connected with the history
of the spindle. The goldsmith was then con
WINGED OF her honesty, and paid her down the
full rdlue Of her treasure an gold and Sitoer.
While in the city that day, she bought cow
and all necessary articles toward keeping a
dairy. And having made several other pur-
chases besides, she had a large amount of
money lett. The thought of being rich Was
always fascinating TO Martha. Now she was
in raptures but still she was not exactly sat
isfied.
When she returned from the city with her
cow and many things she had never seen be-
fore, and knew not the use OF, she acted proud
ly toward her sister. You would have taken
her for queen judging by her conduct.
Now she was milking the COW, now down the
cellar, now out in the mill. She was not five
minutes in a place she was SO busy with
everything and everybody. Her old father
disliked the new busting around him. and
could not sleep over a quarter Of an hour at a
time. After a few months he died, and Mar
tina, being much older than Cristel, took com
plete charge OF the household. This was all
but then she was very much to blame in treat
ing her sister as badly as she now did She
made her do more than her strength would
allow. can tell you would not like Mar;ha
to be the housekeeper in my house. She gave
too many orders, and expected too much from
others. She frequently went to the city with
butter, cheese, and poultry; but she seldom
brought any money back. She was fond Of
fine clothes and costly furniture, and on these
things she spent the earnings OF herself and sis
ter.
Cristel did not care the least for gaudy
clothes, or luxury, or splendor in any respect.
She was fond OF going TO school, running up
the mountain paths, and gathering flowers and
bright pebbles. Never did a day pass that she
did not think of poor, lost Freddy and she
hunted for him, too, i'll many spot in the
forest.
Martha's heart was fixed on money. That
was the reason she SO often examined Cristel's
spindle. But it was wood and would stay wood;
she could not make it shine. Yet she tried 10
compensate for its inferior quality by making
her sister spin the more on 1t. Instead, there
fore, of releasing her after spinning six skeins
a day, she made her finish twelve. Now a re-
markabe event t.ok place, which l feel bound
to speak of, as it is intimately connected with
our histor.-. Martha noticed that when Cristel
had completed the ninth sken, it shoEe very
much. She took 1t from the wheel, and by
bringing it near the light perceived that it was
god Crisiel saw how bright it was, but she
never dreamed that it was golden thread, and
her sister took good care not 10 inform her.
Every day it was the ninth skein that was
gold No matter how few or how many were
spun, it was the ninth alone that was of im.
mense value.
After large number were collected, Mar
tina took them to the city TO sell to the gold
smith. He had never seen gold thread before
but he gave its full price in gold and silver
coin. The next day he went to the king and
told him lie could have a queen who knew
how TO spin gold thread. meaning Martha who