The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-05-20
Why the Sea Is Salt


II two brothers, one of, Of whom hon
~ was rich and the other poor
One Christmas eve the boo
man, who had not so much to eat a!
a crumb of bread, went to his ricf
brother and begged him to give hin
something. This was not the frs
time that he had come asking for aims
and his brother was anything but
pleased to see him. So, while the
poor fellow was still some distance
off, the rich man called out to him:
eff you will promise me to do as
bid you | will give you one of those
big hams which are hanging in the
chimney"
81 PROMISE" said the poor brother.
every good. Here is the ham. Now
go away, and never come begging here
again"
The poor brother vent away, carry
ing his ham. He walked all day long,
and in the evening, just as it was
growing dark, he met an old man who
had long white beard.
Good EVENING" said the poor wan
derer.
"Good evening"" said the man with
the beard. "And where may you be
going. ?"
81 am going home to my wife"
First go a little farther" said the
old man, "and you will come to an
castle. As soon as you en-
ter it, his imps will crowd around you,
to buy that ham which you
are carrying on your shoulder, because
among enchanters' imps nam is a rare
treat. But be sure you do not sell it
'or money. Ask, in exchange, for an
I'D coffee mill which you will see
against the door, When you have got
t, return to me, and | will show you
what to do with it."
The bearer of the ham thanked the
Id man for his advice, then went on
o the castle. He knocked at the
DOR and was invited to enter. With
n all was just as he had been told it
,ould be. The imps gathered around
i'm and wanted him to let them have
he ham.
Il had intended" the poor brother
aid, ''to eat it at home with my wife
MS Christmas eve, but since you have
lch fancy for it i will give it up to
on and ask nothing in exchange eX-
ept that old coffee mill against the
oor."
The imps at first objected to part
18th the mill. They began to argue
nd bargain. But the poor brother
ould take nothing else, and so at
st he went off with the old thing.
e found again the long-bearded man |
no showed him how to use the mill.
, set it going he had merely to tell u
what he wished for, but to make II
ase grinding he had to set it in
rtain position. =
The poor man, after heartily thank .
g his kind friend, turned towards II
5 home, and though he made as z
lch haste as he could, it was pitch /,
rk by the time he arrived there. q
where have you been all this L
ne?" his wife inquired. 81 have o
en- waiting for you hour after hour St
d | have not so much as grain of v
ur with which to make you Christ
Is cake" p
q could not come earlier" the poor n
other replied, "for | had to walk al
lg, long way. But see what | have Oh
ought you" te
He placed the mill on the table, de- u
ed supper, and turned the handle. 10
;tantly the table was covered with OF
cloth, lights, meat and drink. 1t 81
S a splendid Christmas feast! tr
latever the mill was told to do it ia
Immediately.
IN the third day after Christmas 10
" gave grand dinner party, to OF
ich they invited all their friends Sc
; rich brother, who was present, A
5 so excited that beads of perspira- pc
4 stood on his forehead. fe
Tell me how it is" he said, "that ba
ugh on Christmas eve you were SO oil
r and came begging for bread, you pr
now entertaining as if you were DO
ling or a duke. Where on earth rls
S this sudden wealth come from?" de
| found it behind the door," replied
other, who did not intend to part wa
h his secret. trl
IN another night, however, he could ou
longer hold his tongue, and told we
brother the story of the mill. bro
rom that time forward the rich ly
1 set his heart upon possessing this OF
vicious thing. His brother al gri
yth agreed to sell it to him for the