South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-12

his wife moved 70 the Northwest. In
a few years ne was the owner OF a
modern mill in one Of the important
milling cities IN that region. Mrs.
Strong never recovered from the
shock caused by the loss Of Aglaia,
and two years after they moved
away the miller was LETT 70 bear his
sorrow alone.
When Ahram Strong became pros
porous he paid a visit 70 Lakelands
and the old mill The scene was a
sad one for him, but he was a strong
man. and always appeared CHEEKY
and kindly. II was then that he was
inspired 10 convert the old mill into
church. Lakelands was too poor
to build one; and the still poorer
mountaineers could not assist. There
was no place OF worship nearer than
twenty miles
The miller altered the appearance
Of the mill as little as possible. The
big overshot-wheel was left in its
place. The young people who came
TO the church used TO cut their ini-
trails in its soft and slowly decaying
wood. The dam was partly destroyed
and the clear mountain stream rip
pied unchecked down its rocky bed.
Inside the mill the changes were
greater. The shafts and Hillstones
and belts and pulleys were. OF
course. all removed. There were two
rows OF Der ches with aisles between,
and a little raised platform and pull
pit at one end. on three sides over
head was a gallery containing seats
and reached by a stairway inside.
There was also an organ-a real
pipe organ-in the gallery, that was
the pride Of the congregation OF the
Old Mill Church. Miss Phoebe sum
mers was the organist. The Lake
lands boys proudly took turns at
pumping il for her at each Sunday s
service. The Rev. Mr.. cambridge
was the preacher, and rode down
from Squirrel Gap on his old white
horse without ever missing a service.
And Abram Strong paid for every
thing. He paid the preacher five
hundred dollars year, and Miss
Phoebe two hundred dollars.
Thus. i'm memory of Aglaia. the old
mill was converted into a blessing
for the community i'm which she had
once lived. 1t seemed that the brief
life Of the child had brought about
more good than the three score
years and ten Of many. But Ahrar
strong set mp yet another mouu-
mcnt to her memory.
ont from his mills i'm the North
west came the "Aglaia' flour, made
from the hardest and finest wheat
that could De raised. The county
soon found out that the "Aslala
-four had two prices. one was the
highest market price, and the other
Was-nCrhiDg.
Wherever there happened a cal
a
fire n flood. a tornado. q strike or
famine there would go hurrvinC
n generous consignment of the AZ
Iqia" at its nothing" price II was
given away cautiously and Judi
ciouslv. but &c was freely given. and
NOT a penny could the hungry ones
nav for IL. There got 10 be a say
ing that whenever there was dlSaS-
irons fire in the poor districts OF q
CITY the fire chiefs buggy reached
the scene FIRST, next the "Aglaia
-four wagon, and then the FIRE en-
Cines.
So this was Abram Strong's other
monument 20 Aglaia. Perhaps 10 n
poet the theme may seem too utill-
tartan for beauty; but 20 some the
I fancy will seem sweet and fine that
the pure. white. virgin -four. flying
I on its MISSION OF lNNW anu N--th ~ -
might be likened 70 the spirit OF the
/ lost child whose memory IL signal
I lied.
There came a year that brought
hard times 20 the Cumberlands.
Grain crops everywhere were light.
and there were no local crops at all.
Mountain foods had done much
damage 20 property. Even game in
the woods was so scarce that the
/ r1nters brought hardly enough home
? 70 keen their folk alive. Especially
about I.aKeIands was the riEor felt
AS soon as Ahram Strong heard %
I this his MESA Ces flew: and the little
rqrrow-gauCe cas- began 20 unload
/ "AgIaia" fou- there. The miller's
orders were 10 store the -four I'm the
gallery Of the old Mil Church: and
chat every one who attended the
church was 20 carry home a sack OF
I a.
Two weeks after that Abram
strong came for his yearly visit %
the EAGLE House and became
..F-ather Abraulr again.
That season the Eagle House had
fewer guests than usual. Among
Them was Rose Chester. Miss Ches-
te~ came 20 T.akolands from Atlanta
where she worked I'm q department
-.-ra This was tho first vacation
outing Of her life The wife or the
store MANAGER had once spent n
1rrr,- -r-a- ~ The Fau7e House She