Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-07-22
THE MILL IN THE SEA.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

a bit of meat or crust Of bread in the
house, so he went to his brother and beg
ged him in Gods name, to givohim some
thing. Now, it happened that this was
not the first time thai the rich brother had
given the poor one something, and he was
not particularly delighted when be saw
him coming.
eff you will do as 1 tell you," said be
to the unwclcomc visitor, you shall have
a whole ham that is hanging up to be
smoked"
The poor brother said he would do
what he told him, aud thank him too.
"There it is," said the rich brother,
aingng him the ham, "and now 60 to the
internal regions"
"Since l have promised it, I must
observed the other, taking up his ham
and going his way.
After wandering about the whole day,
just as it grew dark he perceived bright
light at no great distance from him.
1T must be here,' thought he. On
going somewhat further into the forest
however he found an old man with long
white beard, who was cutting wood
Good evening"" said he with the ham.
"Good evening"" replied the man
"whither may you be going 7"
ooh, 1 m only going to the lower re-
gions only I don't know whether I've
come the right way replied the poor
simple e-hearted man.
"Yes, you are quite right, said the old
man, the entrance is just here - and then
he added, "when you have got down be-
low, they will all want to buy your ham,
for swne's flesh is a great rarity there !;
but you must not sell il for money /; SO
rather exchange it for the old hand-mlli
that stands behind the door. When you
como up again, l will teach you what to
do with the mill for it has its use, can
tell you"
On entering the underground dwelling,
overy thing happened just as the old man
had told him. All the imps, great and
small, gathered around, and began out
bidding each other for the ham.
II had intended leasting upon it, on
holy Christmas eve, with my wife, said
the man "but as you seem so bent on
having it, I'm willing to part with it; but
but will not take anything in exchange
except the old hand mill that stands be-
hind the door,"
The chief imp did not at all relish part
fng with his mill, and he began to haggl
and bargain with the man, bat the latte
remained firm SO at last the imp VA
, fain 10 let him take the mill away Whe'
the man had emerged from the under
ground dwelling, he asked the old wood
cutter how to use the mill, and when h
Q told him, he thanked him, and returne
homo but, let him make what speed h
5 would, he did not reach it till '"c!V
t o'clock at night,
G "Where in the world have you been a
u. this time I" said his wife, as he came in
d "I'vc been sitting here aud waiting hou
a after hour, and had not as much as
y couple OF spIinters to lay across each o'i
}. or under the cruel pot, to cook Christina
dinner"
y "Oh," replied the man, 81 could NJ
b come sooner, for had some business
,t mind, and was obliged to 60 long wa
:. about it. But you shall see what hay
d brought with me-"
a He then placed the mill on the tabl
and made it grind, first of all candles
then table cloth then food and beer
s in short, all wanting for Chrstmas iea'
er and whatever he called for, the m
is ground it Immediately. His wife sto
r by, and crossed herself many times ovt
= and was very anxious to know how h
8. husband had come by the mill. But tt
or he took care not TO tell.
"a "It matters not how get it wife, So
os he, "you zee it is a good mill, whc
er water does not cease to flow, and tha
n enough"
n- And then he ground eatables a
o. dripkables, and every possible dainty
ad Christmas week and on the third day
as invited bis friends to banquet. WI
p the rich brother saw what feast was
int preparation he turned hot and cold "
vexation for he grudged his brother
20 least windlall.
wn "Op Christmas eve," said he to
Of other guests, he was so miserabiy pc
Vo- he came 10 ask me for trife in Go
out name, and now all oi sudden, lo is
lgrsnd as if he had become an carl 0
go r'