378 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



wild animals died in great numbers, and the ingenuity and 

 endurance of men were taxed to the utmost to save their 

 families and teams from perishing from cold and famine. 



Among these hardy frontiersmen, none were more con 

 spicuous for spirit and enterprise than good old Joe Davis, 

 of Macon. When a neighbor was to be assisted, or help 

 was wanted in any direction, he was always &quot; to the fore,&quot; with 

 his heavy ox team. 



GRINDING AT THE HORSE MILL. 



At last the pioneer father became possessed of a mill, 

 where was ground the grain brought from a radius of over 

 thirty miles, this method giving entire satisfaction in that 

 primitive age. Pay was taken in kind, one-sixth of the 

 corn and one-seventh of the wheat being the rule, But, 

 then, there were few monopolies. 



In due time, young John was promoted from driving the 

 plow to driving the mill, and as principal miller became a 

 somewhat important personage in the rising community. 

 Always earnest and studious, when the day s work was done 

 he would seize the &quot; Life of Marion,&quot; or some other work of 

 similar kind, and read aloud to those whose business kept 

 them at the mill, and who, seated around the blazing log-heap 

 in the ample fire-place, were wont to regard the fluent and 

 earnest youth with admiration, his elocutionary powers often 

 eliciting such remarks as this: &quot;I d give my best hoss if 

 my Jim could read like the miller.&quot; 



The mother of Mr. Davis was a woman of strong will and 

 moral character, who accomplished much good in moulding 

 the characters of the rough young men always found grow 

 ing up in frontier settlements. Many a man, now past his 

 prime ; thanks &quot;Aunt Sally &quot; for the advice and moral influ- 



