Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-04

At ApoIda stands the Oldwives' Mil.
In appearance il is much the same as .
huge coffee mill, only that Il 10 worked
from beneath instead Of from above.
Two large beams form the handles, by
which the mill is turned BY two stout
serving men. The old women are thrown
in at the top, vrinkled and bent, without
hair and without teeth, and they reap
pear below quite young and trim, With
cheeks as rosy as an apple. One turn
does it-crick-crack it gees, exciting the
very brain OILY TO listen. Yet when
those vho have become young are asked
If it is not q painful process, they an
sver:
Painful. on the contrary, il is quite
delightful, For all the world a. when
one wakes in the morning after good
nights rest. and the sun shines into the
room, and the birds tvitter, and the trees
ru3tle."
A long way from Apolda there lived,
once upon time. an old woman. She
/ had often heard of the mill. and as she
had been very happy in her youth, she
one fine day suddealy determined that
to the mill she would go. It was slow
work, for often she had to rest on her
uAy, and sometimes she was stopped
BY ct of coughing. BY degrees, how
ever, she gradually got over the dis
lance, and at last she stood before the
mill.
~ wish 10 be ground young a0sin."
she said TO one of the serving-men Who,
with hands in his pockets, was quietly
sitting on bench putting rings Of smoke
into the still blue air.
What journey it is to Apolda," she
added.
And pray what may your name beT'
said the man, with yavn.
"Old Mother Redcap."
Sit down, then, on bench, Mother
Redcap," and the man went into the mill
and, opening thick book, returned with
long strip Of paper.
That's the bill, my boy, is it?" asked
the nld woman.
mot bit of it," replied the other.
Grinding costs nothing at all, only yoo
must sign this paper"
"Sign" screamed the old woman.
What! sign ,ay poor soul away, ! sup
pose? No. no; never will do that. /
am q pious woman, and hope one day to
reach heaven"
"It's not quite 80 bad as that" said
the man. with a grin. This paper 10
only a list of all the follies yoa have
committed during your life. You will
find it quite oomplete-to the very day
and hour. Before you can be ground
yonng again You must pledge yourself
To commit them all over again. just in
the very same order az before, exactly
as they stand here. To be sure" he
Continued, giancing down the paper,
there's pretty good list, Mother Red
cap! From sixteen to six and twenty,
every day one, except Sunday, when
there's two. Then il seems 70 have
been little better till the forties. Then
IL comes thick enough, ! rnuge say. To-
wird the end, however, it looks pretty
muoh a. usual"
The old woman sighed End said;
- But. children, IL would never repey
one 70 be ground Young again at such
cost"
"No, admit it never would" replied
tho man. "Very few, indeed, could it
ever repay. and 30 We have an easy time
Of it. Seven red-iettey days in the
weski The mill 10 always ssill-at least
Of Iate years. It was tri1e more lively
long ago"
"Now, couldn't we just strike ont a
few thingsT pleaded the old woman.
With q tapOn the mans shoulder. Sup
pose We only say three things? Iwoaldn't
mind doing all tho rest over again, IL it
must really be 20, only let just three be
struck olt."
"No, no." replied the man, with firm
ness; that 10 q lite impossible. All. or
nome"
"Here, them. take back your list"
said the old woman. after some thought.
II don't care a pin about your stupid
old mill" and she went her way.
When she reached home the good
folk oame to look at her, and in surprise
exclaimed:
why, Mother Redoap, you come
back older than you vent! So there's
no truth In the mill, after all?''
She ooughed little dry cough and
answered:
"There Is . great deal of truth in the
mill, bat I was frightened; and, after
all, little more or little less Of this
life, what does it matter?'