Why the Sea is Salt (4)

Why the Sea is Salt (4)

When the poor man came out again into the yard, he asked the old woodcutter how he was to stop the hand-mill, and when he had learnt that he thanked him and set off home with all the speed he could.

But he did not get there until after the clock had struck the hour of twelve on Christmas Eve.

" But wherever in the world have you been ? " asked man's wife.
" Here I have sat waiting hour after hour, and have not even two sticks to lay across each other the Christmas porridge pot. "

" Oh ! I could not come before; I had something of importance to see about, and a long way to go too; but  now you shall just see ! " said the man.

And then he set the hand-mill on the table, and ordered it first to grind light, then  a table cloth, and then meat, and beer, and everything else that was good for Christmas Eve's supper.

The mill ground all that he ordered.



" Bless me ! " said his wife as one thing after another appeared.

She wanted to know where her husband had got the mill from, but he would not tell her that.

(4/12)