Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-09-08
WAITING FOR THE GRIST.

quaintance, "what an influence look,
word, or the little act Of perfect
stranger will sometimes have upon
person"
eyes, I said, "mcre than any of US
realize"
at was the simple act Of a stranger
that changed the whole course of my
life"
Indeed How was that ?"
"When l was a boy my father
moved to Ohio. 1t was before the
days of steam, and no great mills thun-
dered on her river banks; but occa-
sionally there was little grist mill by
the side of some small stream, and
thither, whenever the water was up,
the whole neighborhood hocked with
their sacks of corn. First come, first
served. Sometimes We had to wait
two or three days for our turn. l was
the one usually sent from our house,
for, while | was too small to be Of
much use on the farm, | was as good
as a man to carry grist to the mill,
So l was not at all surprised one morn
ing when my father said, Henry, you
get up old Roam and go to the 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. l can
see just how it looked as it stood
there under the sycamores, with its
huge wheel and clapboard sides
when l arrived l found the North
Branch and the Rocky Fork folks
there ahead of me, and l knew there
was no hope of getting home that day
but l was not at all sorry, for my
basket was well filled with provisions,
and Mr.. Saunders always opened his
big barn for us to sleep in so 1t was
no unpleasant time we had while wait
ing for the grist. This time there was
an addition to the number who had
been from time to time in the habit
of gathering in the old barn-a young
boy of about my own age, probably
little older. His name was Charley
Allen, and his father bought a farm
over on the Brush Creek road. He
was sociable and friendly, but | in
stinctively felt that he had more man
ners' than the rest of us. The evening
was spent as usual in relating coarse
jokes and playing cards. Although |
was not accustomed to such Things at
home, | had become SO used to it at
the mill that it had long since ceased
to shock me, and indeed | was fast
becoming very interested spectator.
"'Well, boys, it is time for us fellers
to 60 to our roost, said Jim Finley,
one of the greatest roughs of 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 undressing we did to
sleep on the haymow; but we were so
busy with our own affairs that we did
not notice Charley Allen until Jim
exclaimed, 'Heydey, we've got a par
son here, We haveH Charley was
kueeling by the oats bin, praying.
jim Finley's jest met with no response.
The silence was only broken by the
drowsv cattle below, and the twitter-
ing of the sparrows overhead. More
than one rough man wiped tear
from his eye as he went silently to his
bed on the hay. had always been in
the habit of praying at home, but !
never thought of such thing at
Saunders mill.
GAS I lay awake that night in the
old barn, thinking of Charley's cOur-
age, and what effect it had upon the
men, I firmly resolved that in the fu-
ture would do right. l little thought
how soon my courage would be tested.
Just after dinner got my grist and
started for home. When l arrived at
Albright's gate. where l turned off to
90 home, l found the old Squire wait
ing for me. l saw in a moment that
something had gone wrong. always
stood in the greatest awe Of the old
gentleman, because he was the richest
man in the neighbOrhoOd, and now l
felt my heart beginning to beat very
fast.
Gas soon as 1 came near he said !: