The mountain Democrat., 1865-05-27
story Of Rle eAerd hitler.

| MS Whe an0 chlId and 0y economy and
the closest attention to business be man.
aged to lay up SIX hundred aollarS This
sum he would have undoubtedly so in
creased, as to place himself and family
beyond the reach Of want in few years,
had it not been for that insiduoHs mon.
ster consumption. The fell destroyer
came to him, as usual in such cases in a
bad cold, and for long time he flattered
himself into the idea that it was only a
bad cold; but like skillful sapper and
miner, it soon undermined his constitu.
ton, and he began to have some faint
glimmering of his real condition.
~ There was no use staying. ~. lApgeI
I IL the West, be sold out his stock and
fixtures and returned to Philadelphia,
where he took up his permanent abode.
Having become entirely too weak to work,
he spent his days in that inactive, but
petulant state, 50 common to consump-
tives.
One day he took it into his head to con-
suit an eminent physician-one Of the
professors Of a medical cOlege-in order
to ascertain his true condition. He cali
ed upon him, stated his case, and under
went the customary examination.
Young man. said the professor, your
lungs are badly affected, and am only
dealing frankly with you when say that,
in my opinion, you are not long for this
world
Miller's heart sank within him when
he heard his doom. lie had the most
implicit confidence in the professor and,
as he thought Of his wife and child, he
felt very much as if for. the future the
world would be blank to him.
Did you ever drink whiskey - inquir.
ed the professor, as he paced the room.
Never, except on one or perhaps two
occasions said Miller.
You can keep yourself alive two years
probably three-by the moderate use
of whiskey. 1t is dangerous perscrip-
tion, bat in giving it to you have reason
to believe that you will not let it obtain
the mastery over you. Get the best
whiskey you can buy, and drink pint
Of il a day"
Poor Miller, ready to grasp at the nearest
shadow Of relief, went to liquor store,
and purchased a demJohn of Bourbon
whisky. and commenced taking doses of
it throughout the day.
A year rolled away, and Miller was
much improved. His cough was easier,
and the stimulous appeared to impart
kind Of artificial strength to his body
but, regret to say, his appetite, which
never before cravcd alcoholic drinks, had
assumed an abnormal condition. to appease
which it now required not less than quart
per dim. lie felt that he Van not doing
much towards retarding his march down
to the grave; but the heavy doses OF al.
coholic stiinulants invested the past, pres.
ent and the future with feeling Of ob.
liviouSnc>s that was quite q relief to his
melancholy broodings over his misery
when he was properly himself When in
this state Miller loved solitude, and he
frequently walked as far from home as
his strength would permit him--gcneral
ly in the neighborhood of the brickyards,
in the southwestern part Of the city.
One day, having extended his walk be-
yond his usual limits, and being overtak-
en- by a thunder storm when be reached
the brickyardS, he took shelter under the
shed OF one Of them. Having drank an un-
usual quantity OF liquor during the day,
he fell asleep upon the wheel. barrow up
on which he was resting, while the storm
was still raging; nor did he awake till the
dawn Of the next day, mild, beautiful
June morning. At first he was mySti6ed,
but soon recalling to his recollection the
storm and the brickyards, and. feeling
somewhat drowsy, be composed himself
for another nap. 1t is uncertain how long
he slept probably not over half an hour
but during that time he had q remark
able vision. He dreamed out the princi-
pies of machine for the manufacture of
brick-a machine that would, in a great
measure, supersede hand labor. Every
wheel, cog and casting passed through
his brain, and in his dream he even saw
the machine in practical operation. When
he awoke it was quite light, and he hast
ened towards his home. His mind was
entirely taken up with the machine, his
dream having evidently made an impress
sion upon him as indelible as any idea
ever conceived in his wakeful hours Long
before he reached his home he had re-
solved to carry out the spirit of his dream.
After breakfast he made the necessary
preparations to work out model. The
obstacles that interposed were legion, but
he overcame them all. Tools that he
could not borrow he bought, and it was
now he went to work most patiently and
perseveringly, paying very little atten-
tion TO the whiskey, as his whole soul
seemed wrapped up in one grand object
His wife, from the beginning of the
work, thought his mind was giving way;
and the poor, patient, enduring woman,
finding their stock of money rapidly de-
creasing, took in sewing, while he sawed,
paned and chiseled at his model lie
grew morose and seldom spoke. Some
times he would gaze abstractly upon the
model for long time, and then, as il re.
assured, he would 60 to work again with
renewed energy ; and SO be continued for
many long and weary weeks until the
model was completed, and stood before
him perfect in all its parts. AS he work
ed it in the presence Of his wife, CLEAN
of satisfaction sat upon his countenance
and he smiled. 1t was the first smile
that had ilumined his features since he
had been at work upon the model. He
carried it off to finished mechanic, who
he engaged to make a fine duplicate for
twenty dollars; and when he had finished
his Job, the wife saw him take that
amount from their slender store more in
sorrow than in anger, but she knew the
utter follow of protesting.
Richard Miller now for the 6rst time
consulted friend, who, having bad some
experience in procuring patents,Gave him
the benefit of his knowledge. To pro-
cure the patent would cost him thirty
dollars more. This alarmed Miller; but
tkefpAtent must be had. and that amount
went. In due time letters patent arrived.