Year: 1861




standing, and the clear stream was running
yet, but the machinery had long been worth
less. The last miller was very old man and
lived near BY in thatshed cottage. His wife
had been dead eleven years, and his two daugh-
tiers, by their labor, supported him in his de-
creptitude and almost continued sickness
They would spin fax, collect bundles Of kind
Ing-wOod, and gather berries; by which means
they succeeded in laying up enough money to
supply their household with every necessity.


One day while their father was doing in his
cid willow chair, Martha and Cristel went forth
to gather nuts and leaves for their goat. They
had gone about half a mile, when they saw a
young squirrel lying in the path before them.
1t had fallen from q tree and was seriously
hurt. Cristel picked it up and wrapped it up
in her apron, and the sisters returned home
with II, and strengthened it with q saucer of
milk that they placed before it. 1t was, at
first, very shy, though it was so lame that it
could not climb nor even run But after some
days 1t began to get better, and was evidently
growing less fearful Of its protectors. In time,
IT was very tame and followed Martha and
CrIStel wherever they went, and knew by heart
every branch Of tree within q stones throw
Of the old miller's cottage.


Winter was coming on, and Cristel made for
her playful Squirrel-which, in future, we will
oall Freddy, Tor that was his name-a soft bed
of wool, and placed it IN his little house. His
supply sf cabbsge-stalks, and corn and hazel





he was an object Of great love in the family,
no less to the old miller then to his daughters
Every want was met; never was there a squir-
rel better cared for


One cold morning in December, Freddy was
missing. His house was pulled down and his
bed Was taken out, he was not there. Martha
called him an unthankful squirrel and would
net look for him. But Cristel went all about
the house, examined the old mill, and went
down through the forest, but it was all to no
purpose. Finally, she took his bed and pull
ed it apart, and as she done this, there drop
ped on the floor two spindles, one Of wood and
dull color, the other very bright and of me-
tai. Cristel said the latter one was the lowell
est thing she had ever seen, but Martha, who
was older and pretended to great deal Of wis
dom, said it was nothing but brass. Still, it
was wonder to them both how the two spin
dies came in Freddy's bed.


Martha took the yellow spindle for hersalf,
and gave the wooden one TO Cristel. Whom
they began to spin 1T was wonderful to see how
much fax they could convert into the finest
thread. Martha could do more in an hour now
than formerly in q whole day. 1t was very
lucky thing for these two girls to be so we'll
provided for. They soon astonished the thread
merchant by the great quantity of thread they
brought to him for sale /; he said he never saw
such spinnerS as they were. In three months
time enough money was paid to repair the old
mill, and hire a miller, besides improving the
ce;tage.


'H We had money enough to bay a COW,
should be glad" said Martha.


buy q COW? What can you be thinking of
sister You know it is very hard to get cen,
and the price is enormous.


''Cristsl, believe could sell my spindle to
day for enough money to buy COW. See how
bright it is getting ~


Would you think of such thing? I am
astonished,''


"Oh you are a silly girl Say what you
please, you shall not prevent me from ting
for our interest" said Martha.


The next morning, Martha made every ar
rsngement, and started with her spindle for
the city, which was twenty miles OF. She
could not have walked that far. and must have
returned home, had not the driver of a wagon
taken pity on her, and permitted her to ride.
Having reached the city. and being on the
point Of passing goldsmith shop, she jump
ed down and looked at the glittering jewelry.
Then she thought the man might buy her spin
die, 50 she went into the shop and showed it
TO him.


'.Ha, ha, my girl, what are you doing with
golded spindle. 1 know you are not a rich
mans daughter, and must have stolen this
valuable article"


Martha felt very sad at these words, and ex
planned everything connected with the history
of the spindle. The goldsmith was then con-
yinced Of her honesty, and paid her down the
full value Of her treasure. in gold and silver.





and all necessary articles toward keeping a
dairy. And having made several other pur-
chases she had large amount OF money left.
The thought of being rich was always fasaina-
ting to Martha. Vow she was in raptues, but
still she was not fully satisfied.


When she returned from the city, with her
COW and many other things she had never seen
before, she acted proudly toward her sister.
Now she was milking the COW, now down the
cellar, now out in the mill She was not five
minutes in place, she was so busy with every
thing and every body. After q few weeks her
old father died, and Martha, being much older
than Cristel, took complete charge of the
household. She treated her sister very badly,
and made her do more than her strength
would allow. can tell you | would not like
Martha to be the household Of my house. Sse
gave too many orders and expected too much
from others. She frequently went to the city
with butter, cheese, and poultry; bat she sell
dom brought any money back. She was fond
Of fine clothes and costly furniture, and On
these things she spent the earning of herself
and sister.


Cristel did not care the least for gaudy dress,
or luxury or splendor in any respect. She was
fond Of going TO school, running up the noun
tain paths, and gathering flowers and bright
pebbles Never did day pass that she did
not think Of poor lost Freddy; and she hunted
for him in many aspot in the forest.


Marths's heart was fixed on money. That
was the reason eno 80 often examiner NrlsVel .
spindle But il was wood, and would stay so;
she could not make il shine. Yet she tried to
compensate for its inferior quality by making
her sister spin the more on IL. Instead, there
fore Of releasing her after spinning six skeins
q day, she made her finish twelve. Now re-
marksble event took place, which feel bound
TO speak Of, as il is intimately connected with
our history Martha noticed that when Cristel
had completed the ninth skein it shone very
much She took il from the wheel, and bring
ing il near the light perceived thatit was gold.
Crfs,el seen how bright it was; but dreamed
not that il was golden thread, and her sister
took good care not TO inform her. Every day it
was the ninth skein that was gold. No matter
how few or how many were spun, il was the
ninth alone that was of immense value.


After large number we're collected, Martha
took them to the city to sell TO the goldsmith.
He had never seen gold thread before, but he
rave her its full value in gold and silver coin.
The next day be went to the King and told
him he could have Queen who knew how to
spin gold thread, meaning Martha, who had
said she had spun the golden skeins The King
was 3 great spsndthrift, and was always in