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ground porridge just the same。 At last the men said； 〃Go and get your
brother to stop the Little Mill； or we shall be drowned in porridge。〃
So the Rich Brother started for his brother's house。 He had to swim
before he got there； and the porridge went up his sleeves； and down his
neck； and it was horrid and sticky。 His brother laughed when he heard the
story； but he came with him； and they took a boat and rowed across the
lake of porridge to where the Little Mill was grinding。 And then the Poor
Brother whispered the magic word； and the Little Mill stopped。
But the porridge was a long time soaking into the ground； and nothing
would ever grow there afterwards except oatmeal。
The Rich Brother didn't seem to care much about the Little Mill after
this； so the Poor Brother took it home again and put it behind the door； and
there it stayed a long； long while。
Years afterwards a Sea Captain came there on a visit。 He told such big
stories that the Poor Brother said； 〃Oh； I daresay you have seen wonderful
things； but I don't believe you ever saw anything more wonderful than the
Little Mill that stands behind my door。〃
〃What is wonderful about that？〃 said the Sea Captain。
〃Why；〃 said the Poor Brother； 〃anything in the world you want；you
have only to name it to the Little Mill and say； ‘Grind that； Little Mill； and
grind quickly；' and it will grind that thing until〃
The Sea Captain didn't wait to hear another word。 〃Will you lend me
that Little Mill？〃 he said eagerly。
The Poor Brother smiled a little； but he said； 〃Yes；〃 and the Sea
Captain took the Little Mill under his arm； and went on board his ship and
sailed away。
They had head…winds and storms； and they were so long at sea that
some of the food gave out。 Worst of all； the salt gave out。 It was dreadful；
being without salt。 But the Captain happened to remember the Little Mill。
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〃Bring up the salt box！〃 he said to the cook。 〃We will have salt
enough。〃
He set the Little Mill on deck； put the salt box under the spout； and
said；
〃Grind salt； Little Mill； and grind quickly！〃
And the Little Mill ground beautiful； white； powdery salt。 When they
had enough； the Captain said； 〃Now you may stop； Little Mill； and stop
quickly。〃 The Little Mill kept on grinding； and the salt began to pile up in
little heaps on the deck。 〃I said； ‘Stop；'〃 said the Captain。 But the Little
Mill ground； and ground； faster than ever； and the salt was soon thick on
the deck like snow。 The Captain called the Little Mill names and told it to
stop； in every language he knew； but the Little Mill went on grinding。 The
salt covered all the decks and poured down into the hold； and at last the
ship began to settle in the water； salt is very heavy。 But just before the ship
sank to the water…line； the Captain had a bright thought： he threw the Little
Mill overboard！
It fell right down to the bottom of the sea。 AND IT HAS BEAN
GRINDING SALT EVER SINCE。
BILLY BEG AND HIS BULL＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from In Chimney Corners； by Seumas McManus。 I have
ventured to give this in the somewhat Hibernian phraseology suggested by
the original； because I have found that the humour of the manner of it
appeals quite as readily to the boys and girls of my acquaintance as to
maturer friends； and they distinguish as quickly between the savour of it
and any unintentional crudeness of diction。
Once upon a time； there was a king and a queen； and they had one
son； whose name was Billy。 And Billy had a bull he was very fond of； and
the bull was just as fond of him。 And when the queen came to die； she put
it as her last request to the king； that come what might； come what may；
he'd not part Billy and the bull。 And the king promised that； come what
might； come what may； he would not。 Then the good queen died； and was
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buried。
After a time； the king married again； and the new queen could not
abide Billy； no more could she stand the bull； seeing him and Billy so
thick。 So she asked the king to have the bull killed。 But the king said he
had promised； come what might； come what may； he'd not part Billy Beg
and his bull； so he could not。
Then the queen sent for the Hen…Wife； and asked what she should do。
〃What will you give me；〃 said the Hen…Wife； 〃and I'll very soon part
them？〃
〃Anything at all；〃 said the queen。
〃Then do you take to your bed； very sick with a complaint；〃 said the
Hen…Wife； 〃and I'll do the rest。〃
So the queen took to her bed； very sick with a complaint； and the king
came to see what could be done for her。 〃I shall never be better of this；〃
she said； 〃till I have the medicine the Hen…Wife ordered。〃
〃What is that？〃 said the king。
〃A mouthful of the blood of Billy Beg's bull。〃
〃I can't give you that；〃 said the king； and went away； sorrowful。
Then the queen got sicker and sicker； and each time the king asked
what would cure her she said； 〃A mouthful of the blood of Billy Beg's
bull。〃 And at last it looked as if she were going to die。 So the king finally
set a day for the bull to be killed。 At that the queen was so happy that she
laid plans to get up and see the grand sight。 All the people were to be at the
killing； and it was to be a great affair。
When Billy Beg heard all this； he was very sorrowful； and the bull
noticed his looks。 〃What are you doitherin' about？〃 said the bull to him。 So
Billy told him。 〃Don't fret yourself about me；〃 said the bull； 〃it's not I
that'll be killed！〃
The day came； when Billy Beg's bull was to be killed； all the people
were there； and the queen； and Billy。 And the bull was led out； to be seen。
When he was led past Billy he bent his head。 〃Jump on my back； Billy； my
boy；〃 says he； 〃till I see what kind of a horseman you are！〃 Billy jumped
on his back； and with that the bull leaped nine miles high and nine miles
broad and came down with Billy sticking between his horns。 Then away
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he rushed； over the head of the queen； killing her dead； where you
wouldn't know day by night or night by day； over high hills； low hills；
sheep walks and bullock traces； the Cove o' Cork； and old Tom Fox with
his bugle horn。
When at last he stopped he said； 〃Now； Billy； my boy； you and I must
undergo great scenery； there's a mighty great bull of the forest I must fight；
here； and he'll be hard to fight； but I'll be able for him。 But first we must
have dinner。 Put your hand in my left ear and pull out the napkin you'll
find there； and when you've spread it； it will be covered with eating and
drinking fit for a king。〃
So Billy put his hand in the bull's left ear； and drew out the napkin； and
spread it； and； sure enough； it was spread with all kinds of eating and
drinking； fit for a king。 And Billy Beg ate well。
But just as he finished he heard a great roar； and out of the forest came
a mighty bull； snorting and running。
And the two bulls at it and fought。 Th