Problem: CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

NED DECIDES ON VISITING SAN FRANCISCO--LARRY PAYS A VISIT, AND RECEIVES A SEVERE DISAPPOINTMENT--THE ROAD AND THE CITY--UNEXPECTED NEWS.

Few joys in this life are altogether without alloy. The delight experienced by Larry O'Neil and Captain Bunting, when they heard the hearty tones of Ned Sinton's voice, and the satisfaction with which they beheld his face, when, in their anxiety to prevent his falling headlong into "the hole," they both sprang out of the tent and rushed into his arms, were somewhat damped on their observing that Tom Collins was not with him. But their anxieties were speedily relieved on learning that Tom was at Sacramento City, and, it was to be hoped, doing well.

As Ned had eaten nothing on the day of his arrival since early morning, the first care of his friends was to cook some food for him; and Larry took special care to brew for him, as soon as possible, a stiff tumbler of hot brandy and water, which, as he was wet and weary, was particularly acceptable.

While enjoying this over the fire in front of the tent, Ned related the adventures of himself and Tom Collins circumstantially; in the course of which narration he explained, what the reader does not yet know, how that, after Tom had recovered from his illness sufficiently to ride, he had conducted him by easy stages to the banks of the great San Joaquin river, down which they had proceeded by boat until they reached Sacramento.
1. Who is visiting San Fransisco?
2. Who had not ate anything?
3. Who was happy when they heard his voice?
4. What were they anxious they would fall into?
5. What did the two of them jump out of?
6. What did they rush into?
7. Who was not with him?
8. What was in the tumbler?
9. Where was Tom?
10. What stories did he tell at the campfire?
11. What body of water did they travel?
12. Where did they go?
Answer: 1. NED
2. Ned
3. Larry O'Neil and Captain Bunting
4. the hole
5. A tent
6. his arms
7. Tom Collins
8. hot brandy and water
9. Sacramento City
10. the adventures of himself and Tom Collins circumstantially
11. the great San Joaquin river
12. Sacramento

Problem: Humans have sewn by hand for thousands of years. It was said that the first thread was made from animal muscle and sinew . And the earliest needles were made from bones. Since those early days, many people have been involved in the process of developing a machine that could do the same thing more quickly and with greater efficiency.

Charles Wiesenthal, who was born in Germany, designed and received a patent on a double-pointed needle that eliminated the need to turn the needle around with each stitch in England in 1755. Other inventors of that time tried to develop a functional sewing machine, but each design had at least one serious imperfection.

Frenchman Barthelemy Thimonnier finally engineered a machine that really worked. However, he was nearly killed by a group of angry tailors when they burned down his garment factory. They feared that they would lose their jobs to the machine.

American inventor Elias Howe, born on July 9, 1819, was awarded a patent for a method of sewing that used thread from two different sources. Howe's machine had a needle with an eye at the point, and it used the two threads to make a special stitch called a lockstitch. However, Howe faced difficulty in finding buyers for his machines in America. In frustration, he traveled to England to try to sell his invention there. When he finally returned home, he found that dozens of manufacturers were adapting his discovery for use in their own sewing machines.

Isaac Singer, another American inventor, was also a manufacturer who made improvements to the design of sewing machines. He invented an up-and-down-motion mechanism that replaced the side-to-side machines. He also developed a foot treadle to power his machine. This improvement left the sewer's hands free. Undoubtedly, it was a huge improvement of the hand-cranked machine of the past. Soon the Singer sewing machine achieved more fame than the others for it was more practical. It could be adapted to home use and it could be bought on hire-purchase. The Singer sewing machine became the first home appliance, and the Singer company became one of the first American multinationals.

However, Singer used the same method to create a lockstitch that Howe had already patented. As a result, Howe accused him of patent infringement . Of course, Elias Howe won the court case, and Singer was ordered to pay Howe royalties . In the end, Howe became a millionaire, not by manufacturing the sewing machine, but by receiving royalty payments for his invention.
1. What was the first thread made from?
2. What about the needles?
Answer: 1. It was said that the first thread was made from animal muscle and sinew
2. And the earliest needles were made from bones

Problem: There are two mice. They are called Bill and Paul. They are good friends. One mouse lives in the country; the other mouse lives in the city. On a sunny day they meet in the street. Paul: Hi, Bill! Have a look at my house in the country. I'm sure you can enjoy yourself. Bill: I'd love to. But I hear that the food is not delicious, and your house is not good. Is it so? Paul: No, that's not true. Go and see! Then Bill goes to the countryside with Paul. Bill: Why do you live in a hole in the field? You should come and live in the city. You would live in a nice house made of stone. You would have better food to eat. You must come and see me at my house in the city. Paul: Thanks! Maybe you are right. I'll visit your house one day. _ days later Paul goes to Bill's house in the city. The house is big and beautiful. They are sitting in the sitting-room, having a big dinner comfortably. Suddenly, there a great noise. Bill: Run! Run! The cat is coming! Paul: Oh, no! It's terrible! Both the house and the food are nice, but I do not like living in the city. I enjoy living in my hole in the field, for it is nice to be poor but happy than to be rich but afraid.
1. What are the names of the mice?
2. Who lives in a field?
3. Where does Bill live?
4. Are they enemies?
5. Where did they see each other?
6. Where was the feline at?
7. What doesn't taste good?
8. Was the meal small?
9. What did Bill scream?
10. Is the city scary?
Answer:
1. Bill and Paul
2. Paul.
3. In the city.
4. No.
5. In the street.
6. In the city.
7. The food.
8. No.
9. Run! Run! The cat is coming!
10. Yes.