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abroad。
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And to this day； when the wind sets the reeds nodding together； they
whisper； laughing； 〃Midas has the ears of an ass！ Oh； hush； hush！〃
WHY THE SEA IS SALT＇1＇
＇1＇ There are many versions of this tale； in different collections。 This
one is the story which grew up in my mind； about the bare outline related
to me by one of Mrs Rutan's hearers。 What the original teller said； I never
knew； but what the listener felt was clear。 And in this form I have told it a
great many times。
Once there were two brothers。 One was rich； and one was poor； the
rich one was rather mean。 When the Poor Brother used to come to ask for
things it annoyed him； and finally one day he said； 〃There； I'll give it to
you this time； but the next time you want anything； you can go Below for
it！〃
Presently the Poor Brother did want something； and he knew it wasn't
any use to go to his brother； he must go Below for it。 So he went； and he
went； and he went； till he came Below。
It was the queerest place！ There were red and yellow fires burning all
around； and kettles of boiling oil hanging over them； and a queer sort of
men standing round； poking the fires。 There was a Chief Man； he had a
long curly tail that curled up behind； and two ugly little horns just over his
ears； and one foot was very queer indeed。 And as soon as anyone came in
the door； these men would catch him up and put him over one of the fires；
and turn him on a spit。 And then the Chief Man； who was the worst of all；
would come and say； 〃Eh； how do you feel now？ How do you feel now？〃
And of course the poor people screamed and screeched and said； 〃Let us
out！ Let us out！〃 That was just what the Chief Man wanted。
When the Poor Brother came in； they picked him up at once； and put
him over one of the hottest fires； and began to turn him round and round
like the rest； and of course the Chief Man came up to him and said； 〃Eh；
how do you feel now？ How do you feel now？〃 But the Poor Brother did
not say； 〃Let me out！ Let me out！〃 He said； 〃Pretty well； thank you。〃
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The Chief Man grunted and said to the other men； 〃Make the fire
hotter。〃 But the next time he asked the Poor Brother how he felt； the Poor
Brother smiled and said。 〃Much better now； thank you。〃 The Chief Man
did not like this at all； because； of course； the whole object in life of the
people Below was to make their victims uncomfortable。 So he piled on
more fuel and made the fire hotter still。 But every time he asked the Poor
Brother how he felt； the Poor Brother would say； 〃Very much better〃； and
at last he said； 〃Perfectly comfortable； thank you； couldn't be better。〃
You see when the Poor Brother was on earth he had never once had
money enough to buy coal enough to keep him warm； so he liked the heat。
At last the Chief Man could stand it no longer。
〃Oh； look here；〃 he said； 〃you can go home。〃
〃Oh no； thank you；〃 said the Poor Brother； 〃I like it here。〃
〃You MUST go home；〃 said the Chief Man
〃But I won't go home；〃 said the Poor Brother。
The Chief Man went away and talked with the other men； but no
matter what they did they could not make the Poor Brother uncomfortable；
so at last the Chief Man came back and said；
〃What'll you take to go home？〃
〃What have you got？〃 said the Poor Brother。
〃Well；〃 said the Chief Man； 〃if you'll go home quietly I'll give you the
Little Mill that stands behind my door。〃
〃What's the good of it？〃 said the Poor Brother。
〃It is the most wonderful mill in the world；〃 said the Chief Man。
〃Anything at all that you want； you have only to name it； and say； ‘Grind
this； Little Mill； and grind quickly；' and the Mill will grind that thing until
you say the magic word； to stop it。〃
〃That sounds nice；〃 said the Poor Brother。 〃I'll take it。〃 And he took
the Little Mill under his arm； and went up； and up； and up； till he came to
his own house。
When he was in front of his little old hut； he put the Little Mill down
on the ground and said to it； 〃Grind a fine house； Little Mill； and grind
quickly。〃 And the Little Mill ground； and ground； and ground the finest
house that ever was seen。 It had fine big chimneys； and gable windows；
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and broad piazzas； and just as the Little Mill ground the last step of the
last flight of steps； the Poor Brother said the magic word； and it stopped。
Then he took it round to where the barn was； and said； 〃Grind cattle；
Little Mill； and grind quickly。〃 And the Little Mill ground； and ground；
and ground； and out came great fat cows； and little woolly lambs； and fine
little pigs； and just as the Little Mill ground the last curl on the tail of the
last little pig； the Poor Brother said the magic word； and it stopped。
He did the same thing with crops for his cattle； pretty clothes for his
daughters； and everything else they wanted。 At last he had everything he
wanted； and so he stood the Little Mill behind his door。
All this time the Rich Brother had been getting more and more jealous；
and at last he came to ask the Poor Brother how he had grown so rich。 The
Poor Brother told him all about it。 He said； 〃It all comes from that Little
Mill behind my door。 All I have to do when I want anything is to name it
to the Little Mill； and say； ‘Grind that； Little Mill； and grind quickly；' and
the Little Mill will grind that thing until〃
But the Rich Brother didn't wait to hear any more。 〃Will you lend me
the Little Mill？〃 he said。
〃Why； yes；〃 said the Poor Brother； 〃I will。〃
So the Rich Brother took the Little Mill under his arm and started
across the fields to his house。 When he got near home he saw the farm…
hands coming in from the fields for their luncheon。 Now； you remember；
he was rather mean。 He thought to himself； 〃It is a waste of good time for
them to come into the house； they shall have their porridge where they
are。〃 He called all the men to him； and made them bring their porridge…
bowls。 Then he set the Little Mill down on the ground； and said to it；
〃Grind oatmeal porridge； Little Mill； and grind quickly！〃 The Little Mill
ground； and ground； and ground； and out came delicious oatmeal porridge。
Each man held his bowl under the spout。 When the last bowl was filled；
the porridge ran over on the ground。
〃That's enough； Little Mill；〃 said the Rich Brother。 〃You may stop； and
stop quickly。〃
But this was not the magic word； and the Little Mill did not stop。 It
ground； and ground； and ground； and the porridge ran all round and made
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a little pool。 The Rich Brother said； 〃No； no； Little Mill； I said； ‘Stop
grinding； and stop quickly。'〃 But the Little Mill ground； and ground； faster
than ever； and presently there was a regular pond of porridge； almost up to
their knees。 The Rich Brother said； 〃Stop grinding；〃 in every kind of way；
he called the Little Mill names； but nothing did any good。 The Little Mill
ground porridge just the same。 At last the men said； 〃Go and get your
brother t