Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-02-03
o-,,..DLRFUL QUERN
ROW THE NoRwgGiANS EXPLAIN
Why THE SEA IS SALT.
HnEie NH That Ground Out Richie.
FOR the Poor brother while ne
Frightened the Rich one-The Sail
or Who sfnde ne Grind salt.


folk talk that accounts I'm a very curious
way for the salt In the sea. According
10 the story. the waters OF the ocean
were not always salt. But long ago
there were two brothers living away
up I'm the northland. One was very
rich. and the other was very poor. One
brother had herds OF cattle and focks
OF fat mountain sheep, while the poor
one had just about nothing at all ex-
cept wife and ever SO many children.
One Christmas eve there was nothing
I'm the house for them to eat. and the
poor mans wife said to her husband:
III had rich brother. as you have,
4 would go and ask him for something
for these poor children TO eat Tomor-
row will be Christmas day. and there
is not a crust OF bread i'm the house"
So he went to his brother and told
him how much they needed his help.
The rich man gave him nice fitch OF
bacon and told him 10 go TO an old ma
gician who lived somewhere In the
mountains. I do not know why he sent
the poor man To the magician. for the
latter did not bear very good name
In the nelghbOrhood However. when
he came to the magician's stronghold
everybody about the place wanted to
buy his ditch of bacon. He could not
understand why IL was. but he thought
if there was so much demand for the
bacon he would at least make the best
bargain lac could for it,
Well" he said. Il ought by rights TO
take this bacon home to my good dame
for arrf 1frpnr. fnsnorr,.x- l,,,t -f,,.o 49,,
all seem TO have set your hearts on il
suppose you must have il. IL l sell It.
however ! want 4 good price for it,"
They offered him a good round sum.
but that would not do.
Il will let you have it," he said. If
you will give me that quern yonder be-
hind the door"
\ quern is one Of the things that II
would be very hard TO find nowadays.
because they have gone out OF fashion.
\ Quern is 4 mill for grinding corn by
hand. and IL consists OF two large
stones. an upper and Il lower one. the
upper one having q handle by which il
may Ice turned around on the lower
stone. grinding the corn or grain be
tween them.
right at the idea OF any one thinking
that he would part with his quern. but
the owner of the bacon insisted that he
would be satisfied with nothing less
than that. SO he finally got IT,
When he reached his own door the
clock was striking - and his wife was
waiting for him. ready to scold him for
staying so long.
What in the world kept you so
longV she asked. And what are we
going 10 do with that old Quern when
we have no corn TO grind?"
Then lac told her of his trading the
bacon FOR the Quern. She was dread
fully put out about it and especially ut
the loss OF the bacon.
Just wait n minute" said her hus-
band. before you begin to complain.
and see II did not do right this time"
And. putting the qucrn on the table.
he told IL 10 grind enough good things
10 make n first rate dinner FOR twelve
hungry mouths. His wife could hardly
believe her eyes rs she stood there and
watched the quern grinding out dain-
/ ties enough TO last a week.
The rich brother Glanced 10 hear how
well his poor brothers family was liv-
ing. and when he came and saw what
an elegant table they kept he was en-
vious and wanted TO know where they
got the money TO buy the things For
long time they kept the secret OF the
old Quern. but somehow il got out at
last. They were SO proud OF Il that
they could not help telling all about il.
and the rich brother insisted on buy
ing the quern. Finally they let him
have il for $500.
II kept on grinding for its new own
er. but he was afraid OF il. never feel
ing sure Of what il would 20 next. SO
he made his brother take back nj
the same price. The poor man was
glad 10 get il back again. and ground
out untold riches for himself and his
family. They had everything they de
/ sired. among other things Il golden
house TO live in. and the people came
from every land 10 see the magnifi-
ccnce of the family that owned the
wonderful quern.
one day stranger. an Old seaman
who had been all around the then
/ known world, came To see the Quern
and wanted il TO grind salt.
1t is supposed that the owner of the
| Quern was rich enough by this time, for
he let il 20 for Il moderate sum, and
fearing that he might repent of having
sold it, the old sailor put 20 sea ut once
with his prize. anxious TO know how ii
would work. When he had sailed so
/ far out that no one could reach him. he
said to the Quern:
Grind salt and grind both fast and
/ good"
! No sooner had he given the order
/ than the Quern began 10 grind heaps
and heaps Of salt all over the deck IN
] til the ship was ready TO sink 10 the
/ bottom OF the sea. Scared half Ia
death. the old sailor begged the Quern
10 stop grinding salt lie got down on
! his knees TO il.
But there was no use talking TO il.
1t went on grinding. grinding. and soon
the vessel went down with its weight
/ OF salt And the quern still keeps on
/ grinding in the depths of the ocean.
! and that is why the sea is Salt.-Nir-
/ ginia McSherry.
| II is n good plan occasionally to take
! xNtrr fronhIos IN Snr,,a ono who will