|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 2
The windmill stood on a high hill where all the people could see it, and
when its long arms went whirling around every one knew that there was
no danger of being hungry, for then the Miller was busy from morn to
night grinding the grain that the farmers brought him.
When Jan looked out, however, the Miller had nothing to do, and was
standing in his doorway, watching the clouds, and saying to himself
(though Jan could not hear him):--
"_Oh! how I wish the wind would blow
So that my windmill's sails might go,
To turn my heavy millstones round!
For corn and wheat must both be ground,
And how to grind I do not know
Unless the merry wind will blow_."
He sighed as he spoke, for he looked down in the village, and saw the
Baker in neat cap and apron, standing idle too.
The Baker's ovens were cold, and his trays were clean, and he, too, was
watching the sky, and saying:--
"_Oh! how I wish the wind would blow,
So that the Miller's mill might go,
And grind me flour so fine, to make
My good light bread and good sweet cake!
But how to bake I do not know
Without the flour as white as snow_."
Jan heard every word that the Baker said, for he lived next door to him;
and he felt so sorry for his good neighbor that he wanted to tell him
so. But before he had time to speak, somebody else called out from
across the street:--
"_Well! I'm sure I wish the wind would blow,
For this is washing day, you know.
I've scrubbed and rubbed with all my might,
In tubs of foam from morning light,
And now I want the wind to blow
To dry my clothes as white as snow_."
This was the Washerwoman who was hanging out her clothes. Jan could see
his own Sunday shirt, with ruffles, hanging limp on her line, and it was
as white as a snowflake, sure enough!
"Come over, little neighbor," cried the Washerwoman, when she saw Jan.
"Come over, little neighbor, and help me work to-day!" So, as soon as
Jan had eaten his breakfast, he ran over to carry her basket for her.
The basket was heavy, but he did not care; and as he worked he heard
some one singing a song, with a voice almost as loud and as strong as
the wind.
[1]"_Oh! if the merry wind would blow,
Yeo ho! lads, ho! yeo ho! yeo ho!
My gallant ship would gaily go,
Yeo ho! lads, ho! yeo ho!
In fresh'ning gales we'd loose our sails,
And o'er the sea,
Where blue waves dance, and sunbeams glance,
We'd sail in glee,
But winds must blow, before we go,
Across the sea,
Yeo ho! my lads, yeo ho!"_
[Footnote 1: Air _Nancy Lee_.]
Jan and the Washerwoman and all the neighbors looked out to see who was
singing so cheerily, and it was the Sea-captain whose white ship Jan had
watched in the harbor. The ship was laden with linen and laces for fine
ladies, but it could not go till the wind blew. The Captain was
impatient to be off, and so he walked about town, singing his jolly song
to keep himself happy.
Jan thought it was a beautiful song, and when he went home he tried to
sing it himself. He did not know all the words, but he put his hands in
his pockets and swelled out his little chest and sang in as big a voice
as he could: "Yeo ho! my lads, yeo ho!"
While he sang, something kissed him on the cheek; and when he turned to
see what it was his hat spun off into the yard as if it were enchanted;
and when he ran to pick his hat up he heard a whispering all through the
town. He looked up, and he looked down, and on every side, but saw
nobody! At last the golden weather-vane on the church tower called
down:--
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|