Catoctin clarion., 1900-11-08
HOW ANDY PAID
7 He N 0 R 7 G A 6 {.

lever and fastened it. The water rushed
through the open gateway, flung itseli
against the wheel. and in an instant the
rafters of the mill began to tremble with
action. The hopper slides were drawn
and the REVOLVING corrugated stones be-
gan to deyour the several streams oi
wheat, corn, rye, barley and oats. After
visiting the parts of the mill, noting the
perfect action Of the machinery, and
moving the grain in the bins upstairs
closer to the feed trough, Andy went out
to the narrow platform before the door.
1t was a beautiful morning and the
air was laden with the perfume of bios.
SONS, and gay with the songs of birds.
Not many wagons had yet passed the
mill; some lads driving milk wagons to
the facaory hurried by, giving the young
miller good morning. cheer. Then
the early stage bound for the city dash.
ed by, and was lost around the turn in
the road, leaving behind cloud of dust
and the sharp crack Of the drivers whip
I'D like to be in that stage; 1t must
be fun to stay all one whole day in the
big city. don't like the grist mill
The boy suddenly ceased his half audi
BILE remarks, for a certain sound from
the interior Of the mill drew him quick.
ly TO the stone wheels. They were
still revolving at a great rate-but there
was we'll known odor, not unlike that
which arises when one strikes a steel
against piece of flint. The boy knew
in an instant what was wrong. He
loosened the lever, raised and fastened
it with the staying pin. The wheels
stopped, the hopper slides were closed,
the rafters ceasedS dStrembling-the mill
was stilled of ITS action.
Sorry it happened. Pop said l should
be careful, but-yes, great big iron
nut some careless chap left in his grain
My the wheel ls all gouged and cut tc
ribbons. Cant run today. III have
to 20 and tell pop
Andy had peculiar habit of express
ing his thoughts aloud when alone, and
80 he talked to himself while he dragged
from the partly ground grain the guilty
nut which had caused all the trouble
Sure enough the wheel was spoiled fol
that days work. 1t must be dressed
before it would be fit for use again
The smaller wheels, used to grind the
corn, barley and oats, were still anc
silent the same as the big stones uset
for the wheat.
The boy closed and locked the mil
door and went to his home across the
fields.
"A nut got in the BIG grinder, and thu
stones got to be dressed, said Andy al
he laid the bit of iron upon the tabl'
where his father was breakfasting.
'Oh, I am sorry, very sorry, Andy boy
Did you screen the floor Of grain care
fullyT
Then the boy knew he had forgotten
something, and-truthful to a dot-h
answered as he hung his head:
u did not
IT'S bad work, Andy, boy. Though
you understood-bu never mind. II
have the stone raised and will dress it.
Can do anything to helpT
YOU might know you could not with
out asking
I'm so sorry
Never mind. Thatll not mend tn
stone. I'm sorry too, Every hou
counts with US. Andy, my boy. View
got to get off lot of work or'-aud
leaning his head upon his hand, th
sturdy miller said as he looked througl
the open window where the roses wer
budding and waying->the big chap il
the city will be down on us for tina
money
And you cannot raise it father, il
time to save the MILL?
Mot if the mill has to lie idle many
days to dress stones that are spoiled b.
carelessness, not regular ware. There
I've hurt you Andy. Don't mind il
Run along now and go fishing. IL
soon be pecking away at the poor stone
Andy's father went on his way to
ward the mill after visiting his eighbc
who with two Of his men accompanied
him. The stone was soon raised fror
it's pocket and in short time the mile
was engaged in dressing its gashes an
broken surface with his steel hammers
But the boy did not go fishing; he di
not have any heart for sport after wha
had passed. He knew enough abou
business affairs to know that every hou
of mill-work was needed. When tn
time for paying off the mortgage came
and it was not paid, the mill would pas
into the city chaps hands and-wha
would Andy do without the dear oil