From the Miller's point of view, you can see why a miller might appear grumpy and mean to the local children. A mill was probably the biggest piece of machinery in most towns, and the most dangerous! Huge cogs, churning water, great stone wheels. What child could resist such a place? A miller must have had to be constantly on his toes to keep curious youngsters from wandering in and causing a potential tragedy.
And there is the thought that the "occupational hazards" of milling might have had something to do with a miller's dispostion. The phrase "Mad as a hatter" came from the fact that hatmakers used to use mercury in the processing of hats, leading to gradual insanity. It can only be speculated what the breathing of mill dust did to the health of mill workers. Let alone the ungodly noise! And if they were getting the occasional dose of deadly ergot in the mix...yeah, I'd probably wind up being mean and strange as well.
Eeeeeek! It's the Miller! [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]
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