Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-23
@ottester Daily SPY
Tho wonderful fiIIstones.
From the Boston Commonwealth.

1t would be supposed that this story was
written IN very late times, and intended to il
lustrate the course of some other country
than that of ancient Gotland. But it is
narrative that comes to us from the remote
antiquity of the Icelandic Edda.
The jewellers of country called Gotland
were the most prosperous of all people that
the sun shone upon. They were ruled over
by the very descendants of the great god
Odin-Skiolder, Frithleif, and Frothi in di-
rect line, for their kings-and their subjects
grew ever more and more prosperous under
ench successive reign. They lived in great
peace among themselves and the surrounding
nations. Each respected the rights of his fell
low man, and theft and robbery, were I'M
known.
But all this time there were pair of great
millstones in Gotland, called the Quernstones,
which were endowed with most wonderful
qualities, it was believed. In fact, it was said
they would grind out any amount of wealth
wished for; and the report ran high, even,
that they would yield any other desirable
thing wanted, such as peace and prosperity.
All this could be done, if only there were
any one in Gotland to turn them The stones
were of such great size that no one was found
who could move them-no one at least with
out too much exertion to himself. Those in
habitants of Gotland who lived in the vicinity
of the Quernstones considered themselves
peculiarly fitted to make use of whatever
wealth should be provided for them without
their own labor; but as for wearing their del
icate muscles in such drudgery as turning the
heavy stones-that was out of the question.
All the dwellers of the Quernstone Province
Gas it was called) of Gotand were in sore
perplexity how to avail themselves of the inn
Of in 4bo;
finally concluded to get some persons of
coarser mould than themselves who were
thought fit for nothing else but such work,
and managed to procure two stout brawny
women who had been captured in distant
and savage country. These were compelled
to turn the stones; and so greedy were their
task-masters, that they allowed them no long
er rest than whilst the cuckoo was silent or a
verse could be sung.
Wealth, in some form, was to be the prin-
cipal substance ground out by the Quern-
stones, now they were at last set going. 1t
would be well enough, it was thought, to have
SUCH articles as peace and prosperity dis
pensed in small quantities from the same
source. These were deemed by no means
undesirable. But there was no need of anx-
iety upon that point, almost every one in
Gotland thought; for such trifes would fol-
low as a matter of course in the train Of
wealth.
AT first the wonderful mills worked to
charm-for there were strong arms at the
cranks-and poured forth great amount of
gold and other precious commodities. There
was great rejoicing over the country. There
were, indeed, few croakers, who, looking
ianUre closely at the working of the machine,
observed that peace, prosperity, ETC., were not
forthcoming as anticipated. Nothing of the
kind came out with the great stream. Where
upon the afore. aid croakers climbed up and
peeped into the hopper, which few if any had
the courage to do before. They stood aghast
at what they beheld there. If anything SEEM
ing to be wealth be ground out of such mater
ial, said they, it must prove in the end a de-
fusion. The popular feeling was that the
wonderful millstones ground all their grists
out of nothing; and that in fact one of the
laws Of the universe was annulled-the riches
thus obtained being all clear gain.
Alas, the sequel to this old Morse legend is
quickly told!
The Quernstones contriyed to turn con-
stantly, with those brawny arms driving them.
But the intoxicated Gotlanders, who were
giddy with their new gain, did not notice that
there came torth-in place of peace and pros
perity-anarchy, turmoil, and tribulation. At
tdSt' pelOle tHcy were aware VI IL, lle WOH-
derful millstones had ground out an immense
hostile army in their midst. who arose in a
night, as it were, and despoiled the whole
country, and in place of rich harvests the
blood of the people covered the fields. Got
land, which was before the envy ofall, became
by-word to the surrounding nations.
THE TwENTY-THIRD MASSACHUSETTS AND
THE TWENTY THIRD SOUTH CAROLINA REG
IMENTs.-At last military representatives of these
two states have come together, and Massachusetts,
has Whipped! The South Carolinians have pre-
tended TO ache for an opportunity TO get at the
mudsills from the Old Bay State, threatening
most dire results to the latter, who have quietly
awaited the opportunity 10 carry their old white
state flag over the remains of anything that
South Carolina should place in their pathway.
No truer representative regiment of Massachu-
sets could be found than the twenty-third-ts
ranks were recruited from the workshops, from
the plough, from the rocky shores of Gloucester
and Marblehead, and there is scarcely mechanic
art or any occupaliOnbutis represented Its com
handing officer, Major John G. Chambers, is
printer by trade, having served his apprentice
ship in the office of the Boston Journal, and sub
sequently has been both soldier and reporter. He
is accounted one of the bravest officers in the
service, and is the ido~of his regiment 1t was
fit and timely mecting-the sturdy blade of
Massachusetts has made itself felt on its braggart