Little Falls transcript., 1885-08-28
A REMARKABLE lIIII.

A REMARKABLE lILI.
In Which Most Everything Is Made'and the /
Gospel Is Preached.
f On the old country road leading
from Taunton to New Bedford, about
three miles from Taunton green, at the
head of a large pond stands a building
whose history is so peculiar and whose
uses are so many that it can properly
be classed among the wonders OF the
old colony. 1t was erected about fifty
years ago by Josiah King for a fork
works. A few years afterward it was
sold to William Pierce, who now owns
it. In appearance it is no more Pc
culiar than the ordinary run of coun-
try saw-mills. Its age rests lightly
upon it, and, barring accidents, it is
likely to remain a landmark for at
least fifty years to come. Its history,
told by one who lives near it,, is as
follows.
, ..On the lower floor of the building
are. three rooms. In one is grist-
mill, in another machinery for saving
and splitting wood and cider making,
and the third is used for church and
for holding various kinds OF entertain
ments. Grain'is brought there from
miles around and ground into meal
for fodder and cake-making. On any
day during the late fall you will see
half q dozen old farmers gathered
about discussing things in general,
and waiting for their little grist to be
ground. Meal made from corn Of their
own raising is thought far superior to
any that can be bought at the store.
Il asked an old man one day why he.
did not use bolted meal. I've used
meal of my own and fathers raisn'
for over sixty year. an its good
enough f. me. don't b'live in s. many
new-fangled notions just gut ip t. git
money out NV US por formers OF
course he must have his clumsy joke
on the end: II en- bolt my own
meal fast enuf when 'ts made into
cakes
'In the early fall the old mill is kept
running night and day making cider.
Hundreds of cart-loads of apples are
ground up and the juice squeezed out.
An upright barrel with one head out
stands always full of the fermented
Juice. and cup near by invites every
one to hel himself One day a small
boy wandered in. He could not reach
over the top of the barrel to the cider,
SO he made an inclined plane of a
board and crawled up on it. He reached
down to Dip cupful of the coveted IL
Guid. The board tipped up and the
young man went in head first. Lucki-
ly someone heard the splash and rush
ed into the room just in time to- save
the youth from a cidery grave, This
boy has now grown up to be an active
temperance worker. Cider drinking
parties are often held here, and the
person who drinks the most is voted
the champion. I once saw young
man drink ten glasses in rapid success
sion. When this part of the mill is not
in use for ci,ler-making wood is sawed
and split here, and the same old farm
ers who bring their own corn to have
it ground to save money will bring
load of wood and have it reduced to
the proper size for stove-burning.
Years ago this part of the mill was
used for saving box-boards and shin
giles, and more recently as q furniture
factory.
"In all the years the old mill
has been there has been but
one accident. One day the mill
was saving shingles, when
young man with a scarf about his
neck came in. He got too near the
shafting, and it caught him by the
scarf and began to throw him around
and around. Before the mill could
be stopped his boots and stockings
were torn from his feet in shreds, and
four of his ribs and an arm were
broken.
''The room used as church is such
as the old purit;tns worshiped in. Ex-
cept in midsummer and midwjnter
meetings are held here regularly Sum
days, and on weekday evenings fairs,
festivals, and sewing circles often
mako merry in this room. Not infre-
quently in winter dance draws the
young people to the old mill.
II distinctly remember one evening
prayer and praise meeting that. at
tended here. The minister was an
old man and very near-sighted. In
tho course Of the evening he began to
cough, and not being able to control
it he asked for someone to fetch him
glass of water. 1t was early in the
fall, in cider. making time, and IN the
second room beyond stood the full
barrel and glass near it. A young
scapegrace quickly responed to the re-
quest Of the minister, but instead of
bringing water he filled the glass with
cider, and with a sober face took it up
TO the preacher The audience dis
covered the trick and reached for
handkerchiefs, The unsuspecting old
gentleman raised the glass to his lips,
and: without stopping to taste or
smell, swallowed the whole of it.
Such Il look of horror as came over
his face when he realized the trick l
will not attempt to describe. The au-
dience smiled aud Uttered, but the
minister Immediately regained his
composure, and said not a word.
zone Of tho most pathetic scenes l
ever witnessed was the funeral of a
little child in the church. room of the
old mill. The parents were poor,
Woodworking people, and the dead
baby was the only one God had given
them. It was beautiful little girl, as
fair as. though it's parents had been of
| royal blood instead of being too poor
| to provide coffin for the little thing.
Kind neighbors had bought little
white casket and made little white
robe of some cheapcloth and trimmed
it with blue ribbons. They put flow
ers about the room in the old mill in
rude vases and cups, and gathered
reverently about the mourning par
ents. while the minister said few
kind words and prayed to God that
the father and mother be given
strength to bear their great grief"
Surely. like tha MILLS OF the gods.