The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-05-28


and Wagner by nature, aren't youP"
Oh, certainly, miss. Yes, miss. You
see, miss. ! design 1t especial for child 'en.
There ain't but only the one scat now for
the person as works it. but mean to
put another seat on, and TO fix Il up real
handy. And have another notion in
my head that'll mako it go faster. Yes,
miss, and mean to set Il up higher on
its wheels nor it is now. stylisher. Oh,
"would It be desirable for IL to be
higher or go faster for q children's
wagonP Do you think it would be as
safep" -Iil ~
"oh, certainly, miss. Yes. I reckon
you're right. That's so.r
1t was extremely clever in you,
Wagner, to think 1t out" pursued,
relaxing from criticism into compli-
ment. :" It is really remarkable n
lie laughed good deal--he had a
habitual, nervous laugh-in gratitied
way at this, and presently, after much
bowling and scraping, cIattered away
down the street. Fred Leighton and
Mr.. Barnwell had both been spending
the evening with me, and were present
now. Fred took his hands out of his
pockets TO say, "I saw n cart that
worked on that same principle in Balti-
more the other day." 1851 Hi
"Oh, Fred, you didn'tw -i hiHi"
Fact. Pity about that inventive
friend Of yours f... a...lf
am very sorry. was thinking he
might get out n patent for it, and make
money by it. lie is so poorl Oil
wish You would give him your boots to
mend. That is his trade" ....fl
I'm try him." Fred agreed.
NJ n,rou,on ....o ~>.e-.
than Fred. He declared himself inter
have a talk with him In his workshop.
He tells me he has several other leetle
ideas he has been studyln' out tha. he
would like to show off,"
know where he lives; Tll 70 with
YOU" | said, grasping at the notion.
Mr. Barnwell was one of those apple
checked. prematurely bald. natty per-
sons who have a natural predisposition
to benevolence. I'm my minds eve
l beheld Wagoner's fortune assured, II
MIR. Barnwell would only befriend him.
Which brings me back to where
began. That was day before yesterday.
And here are Mr.. Barnwell and I now.
having "met by chance the usual way"
rapping ut Wagoner's door.
lie opens it himself, and ushers us
first into little shop, then into a little
back room. mo need to knock, "he
explains. "Customers allays walks
right in"
The little shop was furnished with a
counter. Under glass case were n lit
tie candy, few cakes, a few paper flow
ers. doubt whether trade In these ar
ticles was brisk. I fear the Wagoners
had too many irons in the fire to succeed
Mt any one thing.
Mrs. Wagner was sewing in one cor
ner OF the back room on gaudy patch
work quilt. In an opposite corner was
acobbler's bench. The husband and wife
were in direct contrast to each other.
She was pretty young mulatto woman,
with soft gazelle eyes and a half-asleep
air. He was wide. .awake-looking as
his companion was inert, of light cafe
Gu lat color, which he would have
characterized himself rs "bright;" eyes
strikingly large and observant; hair al
most straight. He was all action. with
q hearty desire to please in every ges.
ture. .
Mr.. Baruwell rubbed his hands to-
gether in his hearty way. $50 you sit
and sew while your husband works."
he remarked to Mrs. Wagner.
She replied, Yes, STR" dreamily.
Wagner added. "Yes, indeed, miss"
with quadruple animation. ut is GER
tainly very agreeable for n gentleman
to have his occupation, and for lady
TO have hers, and for they both to carry
them on together" .l.H ..f
Mrs. Wagner produced hair ring
she had been plating. This was an
other of her industries. 1t is really
very nice, LOU" 1 said at which praise
she smiled and sighed, and cast down
her gaze.le eyes prettily.
Wagner had already remarked To
both his visitors: I'VE would be ex-
tremely proud il you would set down.
Oh, certainly. It's all in n lifetime, as
the sayin' is" After brief period, ap-
parently designed for the purpose of
taking breath, he proceeded to exhibit
his leetle itiees."
First of all an article which looked
like a mOuse-trap, but which he ex-
planned was a paten' designed to lit
heavy weights. He moved little bits
of wire about, and explained to me tho
different points of the contrivance. II
seemed to me extremely ingenious. and
| told him so
ooh, yes, miss, it's very nice affair.
There's nothing exactly like It. Ger.
tainly, miss and sir. look Mt this here
It's a-worked hack 'ar,'s and ior'ards by
jest a-prcssin' this here board with the
foot. never see nothink like this
Certainly, sir. | am allays a-thinkin'
out these lectle things. Work is dull"
glancing ut his empty cobbler's bench.
"Now here's the wagon You thought
so much of, miss. I've put an entire
new crank into it to make it turn more
easy and convenient like. Don't look at
IL too close, miss. It's put together real
rough. But I'm not nothin' of a car
penter. nor yet a wheelwright. AND
So" finishing off with his usual little
nervous laugh.
Twas cheered to see that Mr.. Barn
well was giving the subject his close
attention. But, alas, he said to me
presently, in the undertcne he knew so
we'll how TO manage: "They have some
like 1t TO n T." Indicating the mouse
trap. He likewise criticised the con-
struction of the wagon. ''Springs
crook cd" he objected.
Next we were shown q go cart which
was propelled by a windmill, at will
be very nice on windy days,"I declared.
To which Wagner added: "Oh. Ger.
tainly. miss" cheerily, and put it aside.
1T occurred TO me il was y curious
notion. I'm allays a-thinkin' up these
here curious notions when l have
spare hour or so. But here's somethin
else, ladies and gentlemen, so to speak
somethin' for the fourth of July for
the youngsters"
"Another wagon I" Lou and Mr.. Barn
well and all laughed together. "Oh.
certainly. Yes. miss. You see, sir, one
boy sits In front. and presses this here