THE

VIII.

THE GRIST-MILL.

HE pioneer families of that day needed the means of converting their corn into meal. Meal was a staple article of food, without which they could scarcely survive. Yet there were few grist-mills in all the region for many miles around, and these were poor things compared with the mills of the present day. They were worked by horse-power, and could grind but little faster than corn could be pounded into meal now with a mortar and pestle.

The Lincoln family must have meal. Their cabin was completed, and they had settled down to spend the first winter of pioneer life in the Free State of Indiana.

"How far to a mill?" asked Abraham.

66

"None nearer than the Ferry," replied his father; and they say that's an old thing that ain't wuth much."

"I can go there to mill for you," continued the boy.

"I'm going to have a mill nearer home than - one of my own make."

that,

"How?"

"You'll see when it is done. This goin' eighteen miles to mill don't pay: we must have one right here."

"And it won't take you longer to make it than it would to go to the Ferry once and back," said Mrs. Lincoln.

"It's an all-day job to go there, and a pretty long day at that." She knew what kind of a mill he referred to; for she had seen them.

"We'll have one before to-morrow night," added Mr. Lincoln, with a shrug of the shoulder.

"How will you make it?" inquired Abraham, who was deeply interested.

"You'll see when it's done; I shall need some of your help, and if you do fust rate, you may try the rifle next day." The boy had been promised before that he should learn to shoot.

"I'll like that," said the lad.

"And so shall I, if you make a marksman. You can be a great help to us by killing game to cook. When you get so that you can pop over a turkey or a deer, I sha'n't need to hunt any."

"Will you let me do it?"

"Yes, and be glad to have you. The woods are full of game, and you shall have a chance to make a good shot."

Abraham was delighted with the prospect of making a gunner, and he went to his hard bed that

night with glowing thoughts of the future. The morrow's sun found him up, and ready to assist his father in making a grist-mill.

"The first thing is a log," said his father; and he proceeded to look for a tree of suitable dimensions; nor was he long in finding one.

"When I get it ready, I shall want you to make a fire on 't, Abe," he continued.

"What! burn it up?" screamed the boy, not understanding what his father meant.

"Ha! not quite so bad as that. It would n't be wuth much for a mill if 't was burnt up."

"Did n't you say make a fire on 't?"

Yes, on the top of it; we must burn a hole in it a foot deep, to put corn in; so get your fire ready."

It was not long before the tree was prostrate, and a portion of the trunk cut off about four feet long. Setting it upon one end, Mr. Lincoln continued: "Here, Abe, that 's what I mean by making a fire on't. You must make a fire right on the top of it, and burn a hole in it wellnigh a foot deep. I'll help you."

The fire was soon kindled, and Abraham's curiosity was at the highest pitch. What was coming next was more than he could tell, and no wonder!

"Now bring some water; we must keep it wet."

"And put out the fire?" said Abraham, inquiringly.

"No, no; we must keep the outside of it wet, so that the whole of it won't burn. We don't want to burn the outside, — only a hole in the centre."

Abraham saw through it now, and he hastened to get the water. The fire was kept burning while. Mr. Lincoln looked up a spring-pole, to one end of which he attached a pestle.

"What is that for?" asked Abraham.

"You'll see when I get it into working order," replied his father. "Keep the fire a-goin' till it's burnt deep enough."

"It never 'll burn deep as you say.”

"Yes it will, only keep doin'. That's the way pioneers have to make grist-mills."

"It'll take more than one day to burn it anyhow, at this rate."

"No it won't. It will burn faster when it gets a little deeper. We'll have it done before night. You must have patience, and keep at it."

And they continued at the work. Mr. Lincoln prepared the spring-pole somewhat like an old-fashioned well-sweep; and it was ready for use before the hole was burned deep enough in the log. Then, with his additional help, the log was ready before night, and the coal was thoroughly cleaned out of the hole, and the pestle on the pole adapted thereto.

This was all the mill that he proposed to have.

It was the kind used by many settlers at that day. It was a mortar and pestle on a large scale, and, on the whole, was much better than to go twenty miles to a horse-mill that could grind but little faster. About two quarts of corn could be put into the hole in the log at once, and a few strokes from the pestle on the spring-pole would reduce it to meal. In this way the family could be provided with meal at short notice. The apparatus, too, corresponded very well with all the surroundings. For a Dutch oven and spider constituted the culinary furniture of the cabin. All their other articles of ironware were at the bottom of the Ohio River. The spider was used for griddle, stew-pan, gridiron, kettle, and sundry other things, in addition to its legitimate purpose; proving that man's real wants are few in number. It is very convenient to be provided with all the modern improvements in this line; but the experience of the Lincoln family shows that happiness and life can be promoted without them.

This mill served the family an excellent purpose for many years. It was so simple that it needed no repairs, and it was not dependent either on rain or sunshine for the power to go. Any of the family could go to mill here. Abraham could carry a grist on his arm or back, and play the part of miller at the same time.

“A real saving," said Mrs. Lincoln; "if we can't