Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-05-19
Waiting for the Grist.
Prom the Sunday scoool Tfmes.

Z SS@Ao&A46 la oA4O vi AOOs
From the Sunday Scoool Times.
at is strange" said a gentleman VIII,
sat next to me in the car, and with whom
had,strdck up quite an acquaintance
"what an influence look, word, or tn,
little act of perfect stranger will some
times have upon person."
"Yes,Y said /, "more tlian any of u.
realize.s - - - -. . sszl-
at was the simple act of a stranger
that changed the whole course of my
life"
"Indeedl How SOP"
.sWhen / was boy my father moved
to The then Far West-Ohio. 1t was be
fore the days of steam, and no greai
mills thundered en- her river banks, but
occasionally there was little grist mil
by the side of some small stream, and
hither, whenever the water was up, the
whole neighborhood flocked with theiI
sacks of corn. First come, first served.
Sometimes we had to wait two or three
days for our turn. / generally was the
one sent from our house, for, while ]
was toe small to be of much account on
the farm L was as good as man to car
nv grist to mill. So | was not at all
surprised one morning when my father
said, you can get up old roam and go to
mill to-day
Saunders mill was ten miles away
but l had made the trip SO often that it
did not seem far. believe one becomes
more attached to an old mill than to any
other building. can see just how it
looked as it stood there under the syca-
mores, with its huge wheel and clap
board sides.
"When arrived / found the North
Branch and Rocky Fork folks there
ahead of me- and i knew there was no
hope of getting home that day; but !
was not at all sorry, for my basket was
filled with provisions, and Mr.. Saunders
always opened his big barn for us to
sleep in: so it was no unpleasant time
we had while waiting for our grist. This
time there was an addition to the num-
Der that had been in the habit of gath
ering, from time to time, in the old
Saunders barn-a young fellow about
my own age, probably little older. His
name WAS Charley Allen, and his father
had bought farm over on the Brush
Greek road. He was sociable and friend
ly, but instinctiyely felt that he had
more manners than the rest of US. The
evening was spent, as usual, in relating
coarse jokes and playing car,ls. Although
/ was not accustomed to such things at
home. had become so used 10 it at the
mill that it had long since ceased to
shock me- and, indeed, was fast be-
coming a very interested spectator.
"'Well. boys, it's time for us fellers to
go to roost,' said jim Finley, oneaof the
greatest rOughs on the Rocky Fork, as
he threw, down his pack of cards and
began to undress. We all followed his
example. although it was not much un-
dressing we did to sleep in the haymow !;
bus we were all so busy with our affairs
that we did not notice Charley Alien
until Jim exclaimed, 'Heydeyl we've got
a parson heres we heyf Charley was
kneeIing by the Oats-bin, praying. Jim
Finley's jest met with no response.
The silence was only broken by the
drowsy cattle below, and the twittering
overhead. More than one rongh man
wiped tear from. his eyes as he went to
bed on the hay. l had always been in
the habit of praying at home, but l never
thought of such thing at Saunders
mill. AS laid awake that night in the
old barn, thinking of Charley Aliens
courage, and what an effect it had Upon.
the men, firmly resolved that. in the
future would do right. l little thought
how soon my courage woald be tested.
Just after dinner got my grist' and
started home. When 1 arrived at AL
bright's gate, where j turned off to go
home,I found the old Squire waiting for
me. / saw in moment that something
had gone wrong. / had always stood in
the greatest awe of the old gentleman,
because he was the. rich man of the
and now felt my heart
beginning 20 beat very fast. As soon as
| came near he said, Did you go through
this gate yesterday 1 could easily
have denied it, as it was before daylight
when went through, and quite as of
ten went The other way. Charley Allen
kneeling in the barn came to. my mind
like fash and before, I had time tblistens
TO the tempter, 1 said, 'Y es, sir; / did,
"'Are you sure, you shut the-gate p
This question staggered- me. IRE
membered distinctly that l did not. II
could pull the pin out without getting
off my horse, but could not put it in
again; SO carelessly rode away and left
it open.
"ILI4I2'r = -
"'Odt with it; tell just what you didr
81 left it open,' said, abruptly.
"'Well, you let the cattle in, and they
have destroyed all my early potatoes
/ terrible piece of busiressp
"'fm very sorry, I'd
Talking won't help matters now;
BOY, remember that sorrow don't make
sorrow don't make potatoes
Il felt very badly about the rmatter,
for was really sorry that the old gen.
,leman had lost his potatoes, and then /
expected to be severely reprimanded at
iome but soon found that they knew
nothing about the matter, and after sew
sral days had passed 1 began to rest
luite easy. Alas for human hopes
1ne rainy afternoon 1 saw the Squire
-iding down the lane. ran of to the
,arn, ashamed to face him, and afraid
% meet my father They sat on the |
,orch aud talked for long time. At
asst mycuriosity oyercame my fear, and !
stole back to the house, and went into |
ny mothers room tOsee if could hear |
What they were talking about. why,
he boy coul0 be spared well enough, but
le don't ahy thing about the business
aid my father. There's one thing he
oes know said the Squire; 'he knows
ow to cell the truth He then related
be circumstance which / so muclil
readed to have my father hear. After
. had gone, my father called me 70 him, !