Year: 1859

> Some wears ago, in little city in tie Wes


lived Richard Miller. an honest, Industrious
sober shoemaker. He had emigrated from
|. Philadelphia, few years previous to the
|, opening Of my story, with his wife and child


and by economy and the closes, attention to


business. he managed TO lay up six hundred
dollars This sum be would have undoubt-
edly so increased. as to place himself and


family beyond the reach of want in few


years, had it not been for that insidious mon.


ster, consumption The fell destroyer came


to him, as is usual in such cases, in bad


cold, and for long time he tlattered himself
into the idea that it was only bad cold; but
like skilful sapper and miner. it soon un-
dermined his constitution. and he began to
have some glimmering of his real condition
There was no use staying any longer in
the west, so he sold out his stock, and FIX
lures, and returned to Philadelp phia, where
he took his permanent abode. Having be-
come entirely too weak to work, he spent his
days in that inactive. but petulent state, SO
common to consumptives.


| One day he took i. into his head to consult
an eminent physician-one of the professors
of Medical College-iu order to ascertain
his true condition. He called upon him, sta
ted his case, and underwent the customary
examination.


Young man. said the professor, your
lungs are badly affected, and am only deal
ing frankly with you, when l say, that in
my opinion. you are not long for this
world!'


Miller's heart sank within him when he
heard his doom. He had the most implicit
confidence in the professor: and, as he tho't
Of his wife and child, he felt very much as if
for the future the world would be blank TO
him.


Did you ever drink whiskey p inquired
the professor, as he paced the room.


Never, except upon one or perhaps two
occasions said Miller.


You can keep yourself alive two years
probably three-by the moderate use of
whiskey. l. is dangerous prescri ption; but
in giving it to you | have reason to believe
that you will not let it gain the mastery,
Get the best whisky you can buy, and drink
pint of it a day


Poor Miller. ready TO grasp at the nearest
shadow Of relief, went to liquor store,
purchased a demijohn ofBourbon whisky. and
commenced taking doses of it throughout the
day.


A year rolled away, aud Miller was much
improved. His cough was easier, and the
stimulous seemed to impart a kind of artif-
cial strength to his body; but. regret to say,



holic drinks, had assumed an abnormal con-
dition. to appease which it now required not
less than a quart per diem. He telt that he
WAS not doing much in retarding his march
down to the grave; but the heavy doses of
alcoholic stimulants invested the past, pres
ent and the future with feeling OF oblivi-
BUSINESS that was quite relief to his laeian-
choly broodn!s over his misery when he was
properly himself


i
and he frequently walked as far away from
home, as his stregth would permit him-gen-
orally in the neighborhood Of the brickyard,
in the southwestern part of the city. One
day, having extended his walk beyond his
usual limits, and being overtaken by a thun-
der storm, when he reached the bricky ards,
he took shelter under the shed Of one Of
them. Having drunk an unusual quantity
of liquor during the day, he fell asleep upon
the wheelbarrow on which he was resting,
while the storm was still raging. nor did he
wake till the dawn of the next day. a mild.
beautiful June morning. At first he was
m ystited; but soon recalled to his recollec-
ton the storm and the brickyard, and feel
ing somewhat drowsy, he composed himself
for another nap. 1t is uncertain low long
he sept-probably not over an .hour-but
during that time he had a remarkable vision.


He dreamed out the principles of a machine
for the manufacture o! brick-a ach;ne that
would in great measure supercede the use
of hand labor. Every wheel cog or casting
passed through his brain. and in his dream
he even saw the machine in operation.-
When he awoke, it was quite light and he
FASTENED towards his home. His mind was
entirely taken up with the machine. his dream
having evidently made an impression upon
.rla IN
his most wakeful hours Long before he had
reached his home he had resolved to carry
out the spirit of his dream. After breakfast
he made the necessary preparations TO carry
ou. his model. The obstacles that interpos-
ed were legion, but he overcame them all
Tools that he could not borrow, he bought,
and it was now that he went TO work most
patiently and perseveringly, paying very lit
tie attention to the whisky. as his whole
soul seemed wrapped up in one grand OBJ
ject.


His wife, from the beginning of the work.
thought that his mind was giving away =
and the poor patient, enduring woman, find
ing their stock Of money rapidly decreasing.
took in sewing. while he sawed, planed, and
chise ed at his model. H grew morose, and
seldom spoke Sometimes he would gaze
abstractedly upon the model fer long time,
and then as if reassured, he would go to
work with renewed energy; and so he con-
tinued for many long and weary weeks. until
the model was finally completed and stood
before him perfect in all parts. As he
worked it in the presnce of his wife, gleam
Of satisfaction sat upon his counsenanee and
he smiled. 1t was the frs; smile that had
illuminated his features since he had been at
work upon the model. He carried it of to
finished mechanic, who engaged to make
fine duplicate for twenty dollars; and when
he had finished his Job. the wife saw him take
that amount from their slender store more in
sorrow than in anger, but she knew the ut
ter folly of protesting.


Richard Miller now. for the first time, con-
suited q friend in the matter and that friend
having had some experiencein in procuring pa
tents. gave him the benefit of his knowledge.
To procure the patent would cost thirty dol
lars more This alarmed Miller: but the pa-