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

AL, iuy utaT MISS + lOTH!
l gave my friend Mr.. Barnwell my
hand but Mt tire same time followed
with my eyes my other friend, Mr..
Frederick Leighton, who at that moment
went cantering down the street, escort
ing his cousin, George Neal.
Il suppose that may be considered
AN engagement" commented MIR. Barn.
well, following my gaze.
"Or perhaps only a skirmish, re-
Joined, hastily. Mr.. Barnwell said no
more; he never argued. But could see
he did not agree with me. .a.t.E
stopped in front of shabby little
house. This Is where Wagner lives"
5 -Isaid.
had known the Wagohers, husband
and wife, for some months. Mrs. Wag-
oner did my washing, and Mr.. Wagner
carried home the basket. / employed
her originally because she needed the
work: She did 1T 50 badly, what with
seorehing, Mildewing, burning. that l
despaired and expostulated. She looked
helpless; but her husband looked as
though bright idea had struck him.
/ "A fter that there was u marked i'm prove
ment. suspected him OF becoming my
washerfman. 1t was on the occasion oi
one Of his weekly trips to my house that
he had requested an interview with mo,
and had presented me with bouquet,
unpinned from a conical newspaper
bundle. i was not unfamiliar with his
bouquets, which were usually COM
pounded Of balsams and marigOlds, and
of the unknown her bs of unsav ory smell
which grow in the gardens of Philistia.
Having made this presentation, he said,
with some slight hesitation, that he had
something TO show me. " A new paten',
miss"
He was nominally q cobbler by
trade. Something you use In your
shoemakingP" suggested. thought
he meant pattern. To this day am not
sure that he did not.
'.Oh, certainly, miss" (He always
S.h.r sassn 0y s1yims, Syms,ev oh ss:anly"
agreed.) mo, miss; IT'S a kin oi a
little wagon I've been a-studyin' out.
II works real easy. It's a right handy
| little thing, miss. I'd like TO show Il
..f would liketo see II, ,the-whatever
itis. Wagner" f3
I"if you'd be at homo Tomorrow
| eyenin', miss. I'd be proud to bring it
Dyer"
ba Evening in Port Royal means any
hour after twelve meridian. so rather
expected TO see the paten' put in an APP
pearance long before dark. Instead of
which IL was eleven o'clock when Wag-
vner rang our bell, and inquired for me.
He had made sure offinding me returned
from any walks abroad.
ai 81 brought it over, miss. It's drawed
Ip close 70 the sidewalk. Will you
look at itp"
went out accompanied by various
members of my family. There stood a
rough little cart. Wagoner pulled II
backward and forward, explaining mat
ters In his eager voice.
I'll show you how It works, miss, 7"
he said, finally. He got in, worked a
crank up and down. and started of down
| the street at nearly breakneck speed.
b" 1t goes beautifully" l said. as spokes-
| woman oil the party, when no stopped
last, and stood before us. hat in hand
| waiting to beconsratnhted. rlt's lik
Ryeloeipede. ..,-. .,.,..
rOh, certainly. No, miss. It amt a
bit like velocipede. 1t has this here
principle different. I've been assured
by gentleman which he understands
these things that there has never been
nothin' eIae'ly like this here paten' of
! E-sYhy. Wagner, that's splendid.
fou'h make your everlasting fortune"
n'.0h, CERTAINLY. Yes, miss. l hope
/ 50. miss. Won't YOU try 1t. missP"
! mounted the tran. feeling myself
somewhat ridiculous, and yet wishing
to encourage inventive genius. moved
the crank as directed. and OIL started
! in the bright rso0lilig glIt.f tThe group IN
front Of our house laughed encourag-