The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-12-19


mill over your head. Twill be merry blaze,
trow.'
Il put my trust in God,' replied the dnunt-
less girl; never shall ye set your foot with
in these walls whilst l have life to prevent
ye.'
The ruffian laid the infant for moment
on the sward as he sought for combustibles
wherewith to execute bis latter threat. In
his search he cspied, perhaps, the only posi-
bic clandestine entrance to the building. It
was large aperture in the wall, communi-
eating with the great wheel and the other
machinery of the mill, and was point en-
tircly unprotected, for the reason that the
simple occupants had never supposed 1t feas-
able for any one to seek admission through
such a dangerous inlet. Elated with his
discovery, the rufian returned to the infant,
and. tying the hands and feet Of the child,
threw it on the ground even us a butcher
will fling lamb destined for the slaughter,
to await his time for Staying. He then stole
back to the aperture, by which he hoped to
effect an entrance. All this was unseen by
the dauntless girl within.
In the meanwhile her mind was busted
with thousand cogitations. She clearly
perceived that no means would be left un.
tried to effect an entrance, and she knew
that on the exclusion Of her foo depended
her own existence. A thought struck her.
1T is Sunday" said she to herself; the
mill never works on the Sabbath; suppose l
set the mill a.going now?. 1t can be seen
afar OFF; and haply my master, or some OF
his neighbors, wondering at the sight. may
haste hither to know the cause. A lucky
thought she exclaimed; tits God sent 1t
to me-
No sooner said than done. Being all her
life accustomed to mill.gear, II was but the
work Of moment for her set the machinery
in motion. A brisk breeze which sprang up,
as 1t were by the special interposition OF
Providence. at once set the sails hying.-
The arms OF the huge engine whirled round
with fearful rapidity; the great wheel slow
ly revolyed on its axle; the smaller gear
turned, and creaked, and groaned, according
as they came into action--the mill vas in
full operation.
1t was in that very instant that the ruihan
Diether had succeeded in squeezing himself
through the aperture in the wall, and get.
ting safely lodged in the interior Of the great
drum.wheel. His dismay. however, was in
describable when he began to be whirled
about with its rotation. and found that all
his efforts to put a stop to the powerful ma
chinery which set it in motion, or to extri'
cate himself from his perilous situation,
were fruitless. His cries were most appall-
ing; his shrieks were truly fearful his curs-
es and imprecations were horrible to hear.
Haunchen hastened to the spot, and saw him
caught. like reptile as he was, in his own
trap. II need not be added, that she did not
liberate him. She knew that he would be
more frightened than hurt, II he kept with.
in his rotary prison; and she knew also, that
unless he attempted to escape, there was no
danger Of his falling out Of Ii, even though
he was insensible and inanimate all the while.
In the meantime, the wheel went round and
round with its steady unceasing motion; and
round and round went the ruflian along with
it, steadily and INCREASINGLY, too. In vain
did he promise the stout hearted girl to work
her no harm: in vain did he implore her to
take pity on his helpless condition; in vain
did he pray to all the powers Of heaven, and
adjure all the powers Of hell to his aid
She would not hear nor heed him and, un.
heard and unheeded OF them likewise, NUT.
toring curses, he was whirled round and
round in the untiring wheel, until, at last,
feeling and perception failed him, and he
saw and heard no more. He fell, senseless,
on the bottom Of che engine, but even then
his inanimate body continued to be whirled
round, and round, and round, as before; the
brave girl not daring to trust in appearances
in connection with such villain, and being,
therefore, afraid to suspend the working of
the machinery, or stop tho mill.gear and
tackle from running at their fullest speed.
A loud knocking at the door was shortly
after heard. and she hastened thither. 1t
was her master and his family, accompanied
by several Of their neighbor. The unac-
customcd appearance Of tue mill.sails in full
swing on sunday, had, asshe anticipated, at
tracted their attention, aud they had hast.
ened home from church for tho purpose Of
ascertaining the cause Of the phenomenon.
The father bore bis little boy IN his arms ; he
cut the cords wherewith the child was tied.
but he was unable to obtain an account of
the extraordinary circumstances that had oc-
CURED from the atfrighted innocent.
Haunchen, in few words, told all and
then the spirit had sustained her so long and
50 well while the emergency lasted. forsook
her atonce Us IL passed away. She fell sense
less into the arms Of the millers eldest son,