The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-04-13

lows. Wilbert went in with the man,
secretly wondering at the beautiful
rooms, the rich carpets, pictures,
and easy chairs. They surpassed
ANYTHING he had ever seen or
of. Then Wilbert was sent
after the doctor, and made himself
so handy that it was agreed he
should stay and help nurse Clar-
ence. for that was the boys name.
For six weeks the injured lad lay
in he'd and Wilbert remained faith
fully by him. As Clarence grew
stronger, the boys became very fond
of each other, though they had
never met before the accident,
Clarence having just arrived from
Boston on a visit to his uncle.
He told Wilbert that his father
was a manufacturer and that his
mother was dead. The young Wis
itor had a great many books, some
of which Wilbert found time to read
while watching by the bedside.
One of these was story of the life
of George Stephenson, who invented
the first locomotive. This was such
favorite with Wilbert that the
sick boy gave it to him.
All that he read set him to think
ing. 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
a plan for hitching horses to carria-
ges i'll 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 making a model.
At last Wilbert had his model
completed, save single part, and
was obliged to make another trip to
the village to get the proper mate
rial 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 stranger
intently examining the missing
work.
Il always believe, said the judge,
in letting boys work out their no
tions. 1t don't hurt 'em, and it
teaches 'em patience.
'Of course" of course, replied the
stranger. For instance, this no
tion,' as you call it, will never do.
1t isn't the thing at all; but see
here, Judge, examine this hub.
There's a notion in that worth
something. 1 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 Wilbert.
Here's the lad himself" said he.
Mr.. COngdon said kindly, "Wilbert,
l 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 won't regret doing Sc"
So Mr.. CongdOn left with Will
bert's companion and his notion,
after which the boy seemed lost for
a 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 impOrtant-looking envelope,
which he reached toward Wilbert, |
saying: Here's a Christmas gift |
for you, boy. Works a mint
works mint. Yes, indeed, it's
better than a gold mine, for it
brings its reward already coined"
Now, you see, Wilbert had never
had but one letter before in his life,
and that was a 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
looked again into the envel-
ope to see where the presents it
spoke of were hidden.
The judge explained that this
was a paper from the United States
patent office, granting a patent to
Fairlaw for an improved
carriage hub.
Ten Christmas ewes have come
and gone since that visit by the
Judge and many changes have oc-
Cured. 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 fac
tory, which stands close by the ra-
vine and the big chestnut tree. The
name of the firm and it's purpose is
seen upon the large sign:
FAIRLAW q CONGDON,
OF IMPovED HUBS
AND SPoKEs.
When the judge came over upon =
his first visit to the works after bus
ness was started, he was conducted
% the long work-room, full of whiz
ling machinery, by Wilbert and
Clarence, and shown, greatly to his :
lelight, his favorite motto, which
vas painted across the wall: