The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-04-13
THE MlLLER's TREASURE.
BY GEORGE COOPER.

he was very worthy Miller, indeed;
and he had very large family Of small
and rosy boys and girls. AS you may
suppose, he had to struggle with all bis
might and main to keep his own head
and his wife's head and his children s
respective noodles above water Clat
ter, CHATTER, hum, hum, went the mill all
day long; yet, when Saturday night
came round, and the Miller took from
his earnings this little amount for the
butcher, and that little sum for the shoe.
maker, there were but few, if any, pence
to lay by for a rainy day. In truth, the
Ailler's purse was considerably lower
than tho water in his dam And that is
saying a good deal. Week after week
he grew more discouraged. Instead Of
the cheerful face which he was wont to
show to his neighbours, he turned to
them sour and-not to speak harshly,
but to give the Miller his due--a repuls-
i've and i'll natured visage. Time went
on, and matters grew from bad to worse.
One winters evening, the Miller sat
by bis scanty fire, which he Rugged as
if he were trying to keep the shoulder
ing embers from growing cold. The
rest Of the family had gone to bed. He
was frowning and moping as usual. On
his breast hung his shaggy head, and it
was in that state of depression that it
looked as if il were about to tumble
from his shoulders into the ashes. Sud-
denly he heard the patter of light foot
step outside the cottage A low knock
fell upon the door.
Come in said the Miller, in no well
come tones.
The door sprarg open, and in popped
fas
course the poor Miller was astonished
ard bewildered. SO wonId you or
have been.
Am welcome, Master Miller p rang
out the sweetest little voice in the world
Now the Miller couldn't find it in his
heart to say No. ard so he frightened
up, and in his most olite manner said:
Yes, quite welcome, thank you
Are you sure / am ? questioned the
fairy. ta
Why, yes quoth the Miller, come
closer to the fire, won't you, and take
chair. for you must be cold rowing about
in such pinehiDg weather as this is
.Oh !! no. replied the iairy. I'm not
.ccld, thank you, for you see, we wee
folks have good warm hearts, and
warm heart goes great way toward
keeping the rest of the body warm, Mas
ter Miller. Besides, we are always con-
tented, no matter what weather the sea-
sons bring, and you know there's moth
ing like contentment to keep one cheer
full and happy
But you are sad ana you are morose,
Master Miller. ] know the reason, and
] have come to help you The Millers
darkling frown changed into glowing
smile.
You don't get on in the world. Mas
ter Miller. You are often discouraged
and depressed by trifing difficulties.
You often neglect your work, and then
sigh and bemoan your fate, because
your work neglects you. You have
tried TO make money too fast for your
own good. Now, turn over new leaf,
Master Miller. I leave you this chest,
wherein you will find great treasure
The Miller took the chest It was
not very large one, but it looked to
him assif it were bursting with golden
guineas.
Now harken to me-, said the fairy
You are not TO open this until your fam.
lily are actually in need of bread to eat.
Toll on in your mill. Be trustful and
earnest Drive away our ugly frowns,
for they are exceedingly unbecoming to
that manly face of yours. Do as / bid
you, on pain Of my displeasure'
/ tell you, fairy's displeasu-e is
something awful
The Miller promised that be would
obey the fairy in everything.
Good night, Master Miller chirped
the fairy.
sGood- night, and bless you thousand
times cried the Miller.
But stay said the fairy, as she was
about to go, Il have forgotten something.
/ have one more injunction to leave YOU
After ten ears have passed away--rec
olIect, ten years from this very night
you have my full permission to open the
chest that is, provided your poverty
does not force you to have recourse to
my treasure before. Remember! The
fairy smiled archly, and raised her I'm,
ger warningly. The door flew open and
away flew the fairy. The Miller
was the happiest man in the whole
kingdom. He danced with JOY. He
reused his good wife and his troop of
children and told them Of his good for
tune. He never made any more com
plants if things at the mill went awry
He carried another face on his should
ers. He worked cheerfully. He sang
the merriest songs and he was alto
gether the busiest and happiest man for
miles around. He threw off his old hab
it's, and lecame a new Miller. Of
course he thrived Many time he
thought that he would like to take
peep in the chest, but he was an honest
Mill. r, and he would have lost his right
ii nd sooner than disobey the good fairy
Ten years came and went, and found
the mill still driving, and the Miller a
portly mansof wealth and importance.
On the evening of the tenth annivers
airy of the fairy's visit, he called his fam
lily around him and opened the chest.
What do you suppose he found in it -?
Diamonds ? No.
Pearls ? No.
Rubies ? No.