There were several grist mills still in use when I was young, and Mr. Peebles' mill still ground by stone. It ran by water power from a large brook nearby. Father had our corn, but not the rye, ground there. One day he told me to take some corn to be ground but first to use the corn sheller and shell about a bushel of the best hard corn that I could find. This would be ground into cornmeal. Another bushel of the shelled hard corn was to be ground for grits, but not too fine so that it also could be used for hominy. He also told me to take about three bags of soft corn left on the cob and have it ground for pig food.
It was in March and there was still snow on the ground, so I used a one-horse sleigh. But it was one of those warm Spring days that can come in March. The sun was shining and there was no sign of any snow. So I wore a light coat and only took about two blankets. I put the corn into bran sacks, then got the horse harnessed and hitched to the sleigh, and finally loaded the sacks of corn into the sleigh and set off for Mr. Peebles' grist mill in the Hollow.
I found Mr. Peebles working at his saw mill and asked him if he could grind my corn. The grinder was on the floor below, so he put the bags of corn into a chute and down they went. I waited while the corn was ground, put into bags again and loaded into the sleigh. Before I could leave, of course, I had to pay Mr. Peebles.
From the grist mill to the Common, it is all up hill. The horse had to walk and while going up the hill, it began to snow. It was a wet snow, and I couldn't let the grain get wet, so I used the blankets to cover up the bags of grain. The big wet flakes melted right away, and soon I was soaking wet. I felt as cold as wet clay. I walked behind the sleigh, shaking with the cold and my teeth started to chatter. Soon the storm passed but then the wind began to blow, making me feel even more chilled. I think that it was the coldest that I have ever been in my life. Finally we reached the top of the last hill and the horse could trot the rest of the way downhill. Soon I was home, and unloading the grain made me begin to feel warmer. After unloading all the grain, I put the horse in the barn and the sleigh in the shed. Then I went into the house and undressed by the fire. Mother brought me dry clothes, and soon I was as dry and warm as before the storm.
How good heat feels when you've been cold and get warm! Although I had had many chills while wet that day, I didn't even get a cold.
But it taught me a lesson. The month of March is the turning point of the year, and the way the weather changes can be very queer. After that experience, when I went anywhere in March or even in April I always took an extra heavy coat along with me.
(Rewritten in narrative form)
It was in March and there was still snow on the ground, so I used a one-horse sleigh. But it was one of those warm Spring days that can come in March. The sun was shining and there was no sign of any snow. So I wore a light coat and only took about two blankets. I put the corn into bran sacks, then got the horse harnessed and hitched to the sleigh, and finally loaded the sacks of corn into the sleigh and set off for Mr. Peebles' grist mill in the Hollow.
I found Mr. Peebles working at his saw mill and asked him if he could grind my corn. The grinder was on the floor below, so he put the bags of corn into a chute and down they went. I waited while the corn was ground, put into bags again and loaded into the sleigh. Before I could leave, of course, I had to pay Mr. Peebles.
From the grist mill to the Common, it is all up hill. The horse had to walk and while going up the hill, it began to snow. It was a wet snow, and I couldn't let the grain get wet, so I used the blankets to cover up the bags of grain. The big wet flakes melted right away, and soon I was soaking wet. I felt as cold as wet clay. I walked behind the sleigh, shaking with the cold and my teeth started to chatter. Soon the storm passed but then the wind began to blow, making me feel even more chilled. I think that it was the coldest that I have ever been in my life. Finally we reached the top of the last hill and the horse could trot the rest of the way downhill. Soon I was home, and unloading the grain made me begin to feel warmer. After unloading all the grain, I put the horse in the barn and the sleigh in the shed. Then I went into the house and undressed by the fire. Mother brought me dry clothes, and soon I was as dry and warm as before the storm.
How good heat feels when you've been cold and get warm! Although I had had many chills while wet that day, I didn't even get a cold.
But it taught me a lesson. The month of March is the turning point of the year, and the way the weather changes can be very queer. After that experience, when I went anywhere in March or even in April I always took an extra heavy coat along with me.
(Rewritten in narrative form)
