The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-07-28

ny ALrnoSsr pAunEr.

The past sirty years amongst b. vhoi
sDd flower. ssking Of fate no higher 10
The introduction oi steam mills had drive
him nearly mad. aud for one entire wee
after their unweleome. appearance the ol
man bad run abou, the village streets lik
one suddenly bcreft Of reason, loudly Al
serting ths, all Providence would be poi'
oned by the -four ground in these bew de'
il-bevitching machines.
DO not go near them, my friends, b
cried; those designing rsscals use steam |
grind their wheat; aud steam, as every on
knows, is an invention OF the evil one
while /, now, am aided only by the fre
winds Of heaven. which are pure as th
breath Of the good God.
And thus he went on necessarily, q foo,
OF rough eloquenoe falling from his lips
all IN praise Of his beloved mill: but, alas
quite unheeded by the careless crowd.
AT last rendered desperate through mis-
cry, the old man shut himself up in his de
serted MILL living there quite alone, like
live beast in his den. He even refused b
have with him his granddaughter. Vivette
4 sweet girl Of fifteen years, who since th'
death OF her parents, had no other protec
| tion in the wide world The poor chile
was thus obliged TO earn her own living
and to hire herself out amongst the neigh
boring farms for seed sowing, harvesting
or the gathering in OF olive crops. But, IL
spite of his strange conduct, the old grand
father seemed tenderly attached to thu
girl, aud 1t WAS by no means rare occur
renee for him to travel eight weary mile,
on foot, scorched by the burning sun o
midsummer only to see his child at the
farm where she was laboring, and to listen
to the tones OF her fresh young voice
while tears gathered slowly in his dim
eyes, and his wrinkled hand shook sadly
As it rested in blessing upon her head.
Amongst the country people it was gen
orally believed that in sending away vi
yette the old miller had been actuated by
avsrice, and many we're the hard things
said Of man who could thus allow one oi
his own kindred to wander from farm to
farm constantly exposed to the rough bru-
tality OF the laborers and the numerous
other mseries OF such condition.
II was likewise considered inexcusable
in person Of Father Cornilles position,
and in one who heretofore had enjoyed the
respect and good opiniug of all his friends
to walk through the village streets like a
veritable Bohemian, his bare feet, torn
cap upon his rough gray head, and coat
and vest in positive tatters. In fact, the
old mans personal appearance was so far
from being satisfactory that upon Sunday
mornings, when he was seen entering the
church for high mass, even his oldest
friends blushed for him, and Cornille him
self was so entirely conscious sof the fact
that ho no longer attempted to join them
in the paid sittings, but, with hanging
head and timid air, stationed himself meek
ly amongst the poorer people at their end
OF the dchurch.
In Father Cornille's life there now APP
peared to be some mystery some secret
carefully hidden from neighbor and friend
For q long time past no one in the village
had carried him wheat to grind, but never
theless the huge wings OF his mill turned
briskly and merrily all day long, precisely
as in the old happy time. Often in the
dusk OF early evening the old miller was to
be seen upon the broad country roads,
driving his mule before him, heavily laden
with well-flled sacks OF flour.
Good evening TO you, Father Cornille.
the peasants would cry docs all 60 well at
the mill2
Never better my good friends, never
better the old fellow would answer, cheer
fully. Work with us is never lacking. the
Lord be praised for his goodness.
Upon this, should any too curious soul
demand from what mysterious quarter
came such rush Of work the miller raised
q withered finger to his lips; and respond
ed gravely. Mol usl labor for exporta-
tion, and beyond this not word would he
utter.
As for penetrating inside the mill, to
pursue further researches, such proceed
ing was not to be thought Of; little Vivette
herself dared not try to enter those sacred
precincts
To the gaze Of passors by. the great
wheel appeared to be always in motion
the door tightly closed. while the old mule
grazed peacefully upon the short grass OF
the entrance yard, aud thin, half-starved
cat basked in the sunshine upon the mar
row window-ledge.
All this seemed TO indicate mystery and
furnished abundant food for malicious
tongues. Everybody explained according
10 his own separate fashion the secret OF
Father Cornille's simple life; but upon one
point all was unanimously agreed. that
within the closed door OF that mysterious
mill were many more sacks filled with
gold pieces than with -four.
Finally, however all was discovered, and
the wonderful mystery thus brought to
light;
In playing one day upon the village
green for the young people to dance, Fran
ret Msmai the old piper. suddenly opened
his eyes to the astonishing fact that his
nldest son and Cornillcs pretty grand
daughter, little yivette. had taken the
liberty Of falling in love with each other,
Ia his secret soul old frsncet was not 10
the least annoyed. for after all, Ccrnilies
name was one Of the best in the whole VII |
lage. and. added 10 this consideration, the 4