Who’ll Turn the Grindstone?
Whenever Charles Miner suspected an ulterior motive, he would say quietly ‘That man has an axe to grind!’
September 7 1810
King George III 1760-1820 James Madison, US President 1809-1817
Whenever Charles Miner suspected an ulterior motive, he would say quietly ‘That man has an axe to grind!’
September 7 1810
King George III 1760-1820 James Madison, US President 1809-1817
When someone has a hidden, ulterior motive for what he does, we say ‘he has an axe to grind’. The origin of this saying appears to be an essay in the Luzerne Federalist, a Pennsylvania newspaper, for September 7th, 1810. The author, Charles Miner, edited the paper with his brother Asher; later, Charles became an anti-slavery campaigner and a Congressman.
When I was a little boy, Messrs Printers,* I remember one cold winter’s morning, I was accosted by a smiling man, with an ax on his shoulder, — “My pretty boy,” said he, “has your father a grindstone?” “Yes, sir,” said I.
“You are a fine little fellow,” said he, “will you let me grind my ax on it?” Pleased with his compliment of “fine little fellow” — “O, yes, sir,” — I answered, “it is down in the shop.”
“And will you my man,” said he, patting me on the head, “get a little hot water?”
How could I refuse? I ran and soon brought a kettle full.
“How old are you, and what’s your name,” continued he without waiting for a reply. “I am sure you are one of the finest lads that I have ever seen, will you just turn a few minutes for me?”
* The version of Miner’s tale reproduced here is the text as it stood in the Luzerne Federalist for September 7th, 1810. He republished it (with the final three paragraphs condensed) in Essays from the Desk of Poor Robert the Scribe (1815), alongside other essays from his paper. If the title was intended to garner attention by recalling Benjamin Franklin’s classic Poor Richard’s Almanack (1732), Miner succeeded only too well: for nearly two hundred years, almost every authority has credited the story to Franklin.
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Why did young Charles agree to help put an edge on the visitor’s axe?
Because the man spoke kindly to him.
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
He flatters you. You will do anything he wants.
See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.
IButter. IIIf. IIINo.