Agnes Taylor Ketchum

The Grist Mill

G UY and Freddy like to go down to the mill which stands by the side of the brook.

There they watch the great wheel as the water dashes upon it and turns it round and round to make the mill go.

Once the miller let them go into the mill. He went with them and took good care that they should not get into any danger. What a great noise the mill made, and how hot and dusty it was in there! At the sides of the room were bags filled with wheat and corn. The miller told them that the wheat and corn which is brought to the mill is called grist. Then he showed them the hoppers into which the grist is poured. There was one hopper for the wheat, and one for the corn. The miller poured corn into one hopper and showed the boys how it ran down between two heavy stones and was ground into corn meal. Into the other hopper he poured some wheat, which ran down between two other heavy stones and was ground into flour. The miller showed them how this flour is sifted until the bran is all taken out of it and only the fine white flour is left.