The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1894-12-14
" nv II " ITHH
When jimmy
Ohm. l,aartS
The Boy Of the Mill.

nlliler went to town on court or market
day he took charge of the mill and car
! rled on the business of the day alone.
In this way he became acquainted with
all the men and boys for miles around.
Tor there was no other mill in that part
or the country and every farmer brought
ms corn There to he ground.
NOW. hutus was Il boy who talked
very little. partly because his work kept
nm too busy for much talking, but
| 'nlefly because he preferred listening to
! other people. Everybody that brought
corn to tn" mill stayed awhile and when
the miller was away they seemed to en-
| Joy just as much talking to Rufus. for he
| listened carefully and never interrupted
| with opinions of his own In this way
kutuS learned il great deal about people
and their thoughts ami ideas. and as he
ana not spend much time talking he had
! plenty III which to think. After he had
heard nll they had to say, and heard it
many times over, he was puzzled as to
why 1t all sounded so much alike Some
We're old and some were young, some were
good and some were bad: one man had Il
family OF ten and another lived all alone,
anu YET whenever one was talking there
was something that reminded Rufus of all
the others.
After thinking over it long time
Rufus found out what caused this re-
semblance, it was because everyone of
them had some complaint to make
| Inc customer OF the mill who COM
planned most loudly was an old woman
1t was not the weather that distressed
! ner TOR she was SO strong and hearty that
to her ono reason was as pleasant as
another. nor was it the crops. nor the
government. nor the state of the country,
winch some people thought was going to
destruction. Her trouble was il son who
was; so lazy that he had never done IL
days work in all his hearty, healthy life.
so that he was known always as Worth
the sun sleeping when the days were
bright, while his mother did all the work,
even carrying their corn to the mill, and
| III bad weather he sat and nodded by the
fire, for which she gathered the sticks
and brush
The old woman could talk of nothing
else but her misfortune in having such
a son.
Rufus felt so sorry for her that he
never quite filled the measure which he
dipped into her sack of corn to take
the share that came to the mill in pay
for grinding: 1T is very sad" thought
he. that all these people should have
such troubles: wish l We're one of the
fairies that live in our woods. l would
soon set everything right and make ev
rybody happy. What is the use of being
a. fairy it they don't do Il little thing
like that" Now. Rufus felt little
afralti after speaking out so boldly, for,
though the fairies were known to be kind
and good, it was not thought safe to Of
fend them: and so. when just then he
heard Il faint sigh behind him. he was Il
good deal started He thought himself
alone in the mill, but turning around he
saw sitting on pile of sacks a queer
| looking little old man. Rufus had never
seen fairy. but he knew that one of the
Ssfps
before him, because there was no way in
which mortal could have got on that
pile of sacks without being seen. So he
said "GoOd-(lay' very respectfully. and
waited for his visitor to speak. The old
man leaned heavily OH his cane and wiped
his brow with a large red handkerchief.
He looked very tired and kept signing
seem tired. sir said Rufus. Eyes, yes,"
replied he: ''the fact is, am tired of be-
ing il wizard: it is Il hard life, and
should like to try something else for Il
while.' Rufus knew that Il wizard was
sort OF fairy man, and !, his heart beat
little man. 81 can do things so wonderful
that YOU would scarcely believe your eyes
| Whoever holds this stick can become i'll
| visible when he wishes. so that he can do
whatever he pleases without anyone see
ing him" oh" thought Rufus. what Il
fine thing it must he to have stick like
that and go about making all these u-
pleased him 50 that he said boldly: 81
to be a mill boy?" Nothing would
please me better replied the wizard
hopefully; ''it would he a glorious change"
'Why. then.' cried Rufus. 1--WE will
DO you mind the mill and will take your
| wand and become Il wizarl.'
! Agreed" replied he, ''only the power
of becoming invisible cannot he given to
a mortal-the rest of my power shall be
yours
VERY wel1,' answered Rufus: latter
all. do not care to become invisible, for
l shall do only good.' So he took the
stick in his hand, and instantly saw he
side him q retl-hared boy in il dusty
apron exactly like himself. until upon
looking down. he saw himself in the form
of the queer old man.
Il will start at once,' thought he when
he perceived that he had really become Il
wizard. $50 that all my neighborS may
be relieved of their Affections before night
| fall" 1t was noon Of Il very hot day, and
for a long time he trudged without meet
ing anyone. After awhile cloud of
dust appeared, and as it passed he saw
that it was caused by a company Of foot
travellers: "Goo1 day;' Said Rufus: you
|
yet" replied they, painting for breath, IF
it does not soon rain. In this heat and
dust fear some of us will not reach the
journeys end IF that is ALL cried
Rufus. lit is easily mendedv' Then he
waved his stick three times and the dark
clouds, began to gather: :, In a few min
utes the cool showers fell and the aston
ished travellers went Oh their way with
happy hearts "rhis is excellent thought
Rufus; "how simple "a matter it is to
make everyone happy. | cannot think
why the wizard was willing to give mp
so much enjoyment and become Il mill
boy" When he reached the village he
saw II little girl sailing chips III the river
that the rain had made. Rufus thought
it was i. pity that she could not have a
real little boat, so he said 'Little girl,
how would YOU like to have Il real boat
instead of those chips to sail?' But |
can't get any," she replied, staring hard
| his wand and there appeared at once
| the most beautiful little ship in the world
dancing OH the water with her sails out
| spread The little girls delight was so
great that she forgot to hank Rufus, but
set at once to work sailing the little vessel
by the cord which held it.
How pleasant it isl thought Rufus.
as he wandered on. ITO be able to give
everyone what he most wishes, and how
easy TO know just what to do. Why, at
! this rate shall have the whole neighbor
hood perfectly happy before sunset AT
that moment he caught sight of Il man ~
ing by the roadside. Thinking it might he
someone in suffering, Rufus approached.
but sooh' saw that it was only Worthless
Week asleep. Though the sun had burst
forth again fercely, he lay with his face
upturned to it and snored heavily. Use
less fellow" thought Rufus. ito lie here
| when his poor old mother is laboring alone
in the fields! Why should such creatures
live? He is Of no use to anyone, and it
would be Il blessing if he could die here
without knowing it, When this thought
entered Rufus mind it made him think
how easy it would he for him to do what
he had just wished for. and then. almost
before he knew it. he had raised his wand
above the sleeper and Worthless Week
ceased breathing Rufus felt frightened
when he saw that he was really tlend, but
he consoled himself with the thought Of the
good turn he had done the idle fellows
mother. "I have many tilnes,' thought
he, heard her wonder what wrong she
hnil done that lenYell sh0nll nffiicf hat.