Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-11-12

a story of the life Of George Stephenson, who
invented the first locomotive. This was such
a favorite with Wibert that the sick boy gave
il to him.
All that he read set him to thinking. Why
couldn't he too invent something and become
famous? Long after everybody else slept
Wilbert lay in bed with his eyes wide open,
until he had thought out plan for hilching
horses to carriages in such manner that
they couldn't run away.
The very next day he walked to the village
and bought few tools and such material as
he thought his device would require, and
then set about mdking a model.
"The Judge good-naturedly laughed at his
motion" as he termed it, but allowed him to
work at it all of his spare time. Works a
mint" said he, 'and such work amt mis-
chief, at any rate"
At last Wibert had his model completed
save a single part, and was obliged to make
another trip to the village to get the proper
material. When he returned he was alarmed
| by the discovery that his model was gone.
He ran down stairs to the study, but held
back as he saw the Judge and a stranger in.
tently examining his missing work.
81 always believe" said the Judge, "in
letting boys work out their notions. 1t don't
hurt EN-, and it teaches 'em patience"
"Ofcourse, of course, replied the stranger.
'For instance, this notion as you call it,
will never do. 1t isn't the thing at all but
see here, Judge, examine this hub. There
a notion in that worth something. tell you
what it is, any boy who can stumble on such
an idea, even by accident, has got good stuff
in him."
just then the Judge caught sight Of Will
bert.
"Here's the lad himself. And so, said he
to the boy with q great show of severity,
this is all that your work for two weeks has
brought out. Mr.. Congdon here, Clarence's
father, says your invention amt worth any
thing. What do you say to that2 Your
work amt much of mine, after all, is ity"
Wilbert felt very much like choking with
vexation and grief. He couldn't bear to have
fun made of his model, especially before a
stranger, but he wisely remained silent.
80 you name is Wilbert Z" inquired Mr.
Congdon. well, now, Wilbert, 1 want you
to let me take this toy of yours home with
me. have come after Clarence. We leave
this evening for Boston. Trust me with it,
and you wont regret doing So"
So Mr. Congdon left with Wilbert's com
panion and his notion" after which the
boy seemed lost for few days. He went
back to the old farm, and handed his mother
the wages the Judge had paid him, and an
order for a new suit of clothes kindly added
by Mrs. Barton
Toward the close of the year he sat one
night, reading as usual, by candle light, and
oddly enough it happened to be Christmas
eve, when a rap came at the door and Judge
Barton entered. He held in his hand an i'm
portant looking envelope, which he reached
toward Wilbert, saying, Here's a Christmas
gift for you, boy. Works mint-works a
mint. Yes, indeed, it's better than gold
mine, for it brings it's reward already
coined"
Now, you see, Wibert had never had but
one letter before in his life, and that was
little boyish scrawl from Clarence, and no
wonder he opened the big envelope timidly
The contents began, Know all men by these
presents, " and here Wilbert looked again into
the envelope to see where the presents it
spoke of were hidden.
The Judge explained that this was paper
from the United States patent Office, grant
ing a patent to Wilbert Fairlaw for an i'm
proved carriage-hub.
Now" said the Judge, that patent was
secured for you by Mr.. Congdon, who got the
hint for the hub from that notion of yours.
I'll see that the royalty ON the manufacture
of this hub will pay for his keeping and
when he is old enough, he can do as he thinks
best about the patent"
Ten Christmas-eve have come and gone
since that visit by the Judge, and many
changes have occurred. The old house has
been partly rebuilt, and Mrs. Fairlaw still
lives there. The Judge, too, is living, and
comes down frequently to see the firm" and
the new factory, which stands close by the
ravine and the big chestnut-tree. The name
of the firm and its purpose is seen upon the
large sign;
FAIRLAW & CONGDON,
MANUFACTURERS OF IMPROVED Huns AND
SPoKEs.
When the Judge came over upon his first
visit to the works after business was started,
he was conducted to the long work room,
full of whizzing machinery, by Wilbert and
Clarence, and shown, greatly to his delight,
his fayorite motto, which was painted across
tho wall
"WoRK's MINT