The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-12-27
A FAIRY STORY.
why the Sea is Salt.


Once on a time, but it was long, long
Lime ago, there were two brothers, one rich
hnd one poor Now, one Christmas eve the
poor one hadn't so much as crumb in the
house either Of meat or bread, so he went
to his brother to ask him for something to
keep Christmas with, in Gods name. Il
Nas not the first time his brother had been
forced to help him, and you may fancy he
wasn't very glad to see his face, but he said !;
IF you viii do what ask you to do, I'll
give You a.wholc fitch of bacon"
So the poor brother said he would do any
thfngyao1 was full of thanks.
"Well, here is the fitch" said the rich
brother, sand now 60 straight to hell"
"What I have given my word to do
must stick 10, said the other so he took the
fitch and set off, He walked the whole day
and at dusk he came to place where be
saw very bright light.
maybe this is the place." said the man
a himself So he turned aside, and the
irst thing he saw was an old, old man, with
/ long white beard. who stood in an out
iouse hewing wood for the Christmas fire.
Good eyen," said the man with the
Ditch.
''Tbe same to you; whittier are you going
50 late p said the man.
Goa Pm going to hell, if I only knew the
right way" answered the poor man.
well, you're not for wrong, for this is
hell, /" said the old man; "when you get in
side they will be all for buying your fitch,
for meat is scarce in Hell; but mind you
don't sell it unless you get the hand-quern
which stands behind the door for it. When
you come out I'll teach you how to handle
the quern, for it's good TO grind almost any-.
thing
So the man with the fitch thankea fhe
other for his good advice and gave great
knock 1T the devils door.
When he got in everything went just as
the old man had said. All the devils, great
and small, came swarming up to him like
ants round an ant hill and each tried to
Eoutbid the other for the fitch.
"Wellr' said the old man, "by rights nv
old old dame and / ought TO have this fitch
for our Christmas dinner, but since you
have all set your hearts on it suppose ]
must give it up to you; butifI sell 1t at all
I'll have for it that quern behind the door
Eyonder."
At first the devil wouldn't hear Of such
a bargain, and Chartered aud haggled with
the man but he stuck to what he said, and
at last the devil hadto part with his quein.
When the man got out into the yard lie
asked the old woodcuttur how be was to
hand he auern, and after he had heard
how to use it, he thanked the old man and
went of home as fast as be could, but still
ltile clock had struck twelve on Christmas
Eve before he bad reached his own door.
"Wheieyer in the world have you been 2"
said his old dame here have sat hour
after hour waiting and watching, without
70 much as two sticks to lay together under
the Christmas brese."
S0hT' said the man, II could not get
back before, for had TO go a long way first
IoroBe thing and then for another, but now
you shall see what you shall see
So he putthe quern on the table and bade
81 first of all grind lights then a tabeclOtb,
tben meat, then ale, and 50 on till they had
got everything that was nice for Christmss
fare. He had only 70 speak tile word and
the queFn ground out what be wanted. The /
Did dame stood by blessing her stars aud
kept on asking where he had GOT this won-
deaful qrern, but lie wouldn't tell her.
ITS an one where / got il from you see
the Quern is good one and the mill-stream 4
never freezes. that's enough"
So he ground meat sud drink and dain-
les enough to last till Twelfth Day, and on
I lie third day he asked all his friends and 4
.in 10 bis house and gave great feast
ssow, when his rich brother saw all that
Las 90 The table and all that was behind in
y1e Iarder lie grew quite spiteful and wild,
he couldn't bear that bis brother should
81 q. Z anything.
Twas only on Christmas Eve,1 he said
10 lie rest, tie was in such straits that lie
came and asked for q morsel Of food ID Gods
name, and now be gives feast as ifile we're
Count ur King, and be turned 70 bis broth
er and said
s.But whence, in helTs name, have yon
got all this wealth ~
From behind the door, answered the
owner of tile quern, for be didn't care To let
tie cat ont of The bag. But later ID the
evening when be had got drop toO much,
he could keep his secret no longer, and
brought out the qnern and eaid
There, you SEQ what has gotten me al
this wealth and 50 be made the quern
grind all kinds 81 things When his bFe
Iher saw il he set his heart on having the
querD, and after 4 deal of co8xiog be got
& but be bad e pay $500 tsr i, and bis
brother bargained 10 keep i till hay nal-
gesl, for be Thought. II j keep Z till tnep |l
can make il grind meat and drink thas M.A
Last fpf vtafs ~ you may fNnsy iee
qnefn didnsf arow rnsip iOf want oi Wpfk
& ia lien 4s f51rrerf came tire rttN Dio- :