, 1896-03-21
TWO INVENTIONS.

lS"u ~ AAS
washing machine. Inventions, and es-
pecially washing machines. were not
as plenty then as now, and, from my
general disposition to tinker" around,
l was looked upon by the neighbors as
a black sheep" and by my W kin as
a sort of a "ne'er-do-well'-to be toll
Grated from necessity rather than en-
couraged.
l had constructed water wheels and
sawmills galore for which l furnished
power by damming the little pasture
stream that flowed neal the house,
while my father. l regret to say, per-
formed the same service in comment
ing on my general disposition to pot
ter over nothing" as he called it.
One day our washerwoman. who
made weekly visits to our house to
renovate the family linen, remarked
about me-"if he would only invent a
washing machine he would be of some
account" That settled it. Nettled
with the lack of appreciation that all
my efforts had heretofore received, l
determined to make one supreme and
final effort to construct something that
should force recognition, and l deter
mined that it should be a washing ma
chine. l progressed finely with the
woodwork OF my model, but l was
greatly hindered in the completion by
rnoeor ~ =, d;ctoooo- frop, r,o
chine shop or metal worker to whom l
was obliged to look for the proper con-
struction of the various springs, etc.
So l finally prevailed upon my father
to give me a pittance and go to the
city to perfect my invention. That is
how | came to reside in the city. | Sc
cured board from a widow who kept a
few other borders. My land!ady had
seen better days, nut the ueath of her
husband had left her in reduced cir.
cumstances. She had two daughters,
however, both of whom were bright
and intelligent. and both possessed
those graces that can only come by as
ISOLATION with the better class. 1 had
no been there long before l was hope
lessly in love with Fanny, the elder,
and though at times her manner to-
ward me was tender and encouraging,
she seemed to be more or less influence
ed by her mothers representation that
10 encourage the attentions of a poor
inventor" meant the probability of a
lifelong existence in even worse than
their W Strengthened circumstances.
In the meantime. in the course of my
experimental work, | had become ac-
q%uainted with a skilful machinist and
model maker who lived at Onondaga
Hollow, some ten miles south of the
city. and the road to which led through
the famous reservation OF the Ononda-
ga Indians. which was then, and is
now. occupied by a n of the
aborigines of that name. The winter
a nearly passed by, and my inven-
ton was about perfected. but | seemed
to be not much further advanced in
my suit with the lovely Fannie. One
night in February l was obliged to
make a final trip to the valley t assist
in putting the finishing touches to my
now complete washer and to bring
it home with me for exhibition and
trial. Sleighing was good, and | invit-
ed Fanny to accompany me, secretly
determined to learn my fate before we
returned, for l felt that my success
would be nothing should she decline
to share 1t with me. l therefore pro-
cured a housekeeping pair of horses,
the best to be found in the city. drove
up to the house Of my affinity. and we
were soon whirling away on the Res
ervation" road. We arrived at our
destination without adventure further
tina that which Is usual on such occa-
sions. and soon secured my perfected
model and commenced the homeward
journey. The night was cool. the
horses frisky. and the moon did her
old-time duty. As we neared the RES
ervation' the farmhouses became
more and more scattered, and the bay
ing of a Watchdog was the only sound
to be heard. Fanny, who had pre-
viously sang, laughed and chatted
merrily on our ride. now became quiet.
l was in hopes that something would
occur that would nerve me to ascer-
tain my fate. and to finish thai ride
either a very happy or a very misera-
BILE Hardly had the thought ma
tured than I heard a peculiar rushing
sound behind us, and, looking around,
could see a flock Of sheep coming at
full speed toward US. and closely pur-
suing them were some dogs. which ac-
counted for the fright of the sheep, and
would doubtless cause them to run for
miles without stopping and occasion
their owner much vexation to hunt
them up. Now being, as l stated be-
fore. Of an inventive turn Of mind. I
thought the time had arrived for me to
introduce my second invention. Fan
ny. being q city girl. had never seen a
sheep, saw in the shape Of outlets or
roasts at her mothers table. 1 there
fore betook myself to indulge in a
strategy. one Of the kind that Is con-
sidered fair in either love Or war. Low
ering my voice into a strange stage
huskiness I said: Fanny. my girl. are
you. brave-can you bear terrible
nswsf" why. Henry. what 10 the
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