Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-11-01
A WONDERFUL MACHINE.
1t Is in Common Tse-rhe Remarkable
Thing, 1t Can Accomplish.

1t Is in Common Use-rhe Remarkable
Thing, 1t Can Accomplish.
Mother, why are you sewing with
your hands and not on the machineP'
asked George.
Because the machine is out Of
order, and can not make it run"
''And can'tyou fix it?'
mo; must send for some one to do
it. But there are some kinds of sew
ing which can not be done on ma
chine, so | am in no hurry about it.
Machines are bothersome things
any way said Hugh. Il went into
papa's Office to-day u practice little
on his typewriter, and he said |
couldn't, bectuse he hadn't the right
kind of paper for it,
"Wheu I'm maa" said George,
I'm going 20 invent machines. But
I'm going TO mike the kind that are
not always getting out Of order.
You'll be sml,t log if you do
that" said Hugh - ~ thing gets
out of order sooner OF later, doesn't
it, mother?"
"Most things do" she said. -
Wouldn't It be splendid mother. :"
said George" If some body could in
vent machine that could do just about
every thingp One machine to write
and SOW and knit, and-yes, and sweep
and wash. and plenty of other things. ="
Yes, such machine is a very good
thing"
rs, mother? Why, you don't mean
to say there is such "a machine?n
Yes. | do.
And have you ever seen oneP'
Yes
"Ohl I'd like to sea one. Was it
when you were in Europe when you
saw it?n
Yes. but have seen them in this
country, too"
do they go " steam or electrici-
typ asked Hugh.
Neither. / think.
Tell US some Of the things they can
do, mamma.
well, ] have seen them sew and
knit and write, as you say"
"The same machine?n
"Yes, and sweep and cook and wash
dishes And some OF them can cut
down trees, and use a saw and ham
mer; indeed they're so delicately
formed and yet so strong that they can
pick up pin or grain of sand, or
build locomotive or "a ship or a great
building Only, for any great work it
takes good many of the machines
working together"
"And don't they wear out or get out
of order very soonpn
mo, have known machines which
with the most ordinary care had
worked on for seventy years or more"
What are they made of !? Who
makes them?" cried George, eagerly.
But Hugh laughe as he took his
mothers hand and kissed it,
"It's all true, :" he said Here is
little machine that makes skirts, and
sews on buttons, and puts on patches,
and mends stockings and makes
pies and cakes. aud sweeps and dusts,
and plays on the piano, and paints,
and embroiders.n
"And here is one, said mamma,
taking his hand in her turn, that can
handle pencil, and a pea, and mar
bles, and bat and ball, and rake, and
hoe, and a hammer. Can pile up
wood, too, and chop kindling (when
It's master has a mind to let Itch,
HughP) You could tell OF plenty of
other things it can do
"And plenty more it may do after
awhile, . said Hugh, thoughtfully.
YES, there is no telling what such
a machine, well and carefully trained,
may do"
s.And it doesn't get out of order"
said George, critically examining his
machine; "and yet how many little
hinges and joints there are. -
His mothers machine was not
plump like his own. and he came to
look at the tendons which did their
duty so perfectly as her nimble fingers
moved. Hugh turned his own fingers
and hands this way and that. ten
looked at his grandmother, who sat
knitting in the porch outside.
Yes. indeed he said. grand
mas hands have kept on for seventy
years and see how livsly th-y are yet.
And how many good things and kind
things they must have done in all these
years. And these machines never have
to be oiled. | never thought before
how much there is to a hand. Why,
If one of all these little joints should
strike work. what fuss there'd bel''
Yes. laughed George. trying with
his hand the effect of stiffened joints;