Year: 1859

| WOuiu &C w Dut0 OhO VII q
cy. If it failed to work, he would charge
nothing but if it answered the expecta.
tion Of the inventor. then he would charge
two hundred dollars for machine and
risk. This was virtually taking an in
terest in the success of the invention, and
Richard closed with him. The mechan-
ic was prompt and energetic, and putting
his whole force to work, in few days
turned over to Miller complete machine
| His next business vas to give the ma
chine trial. He went over to Camden,
where he had an acquaintance in the
brick business, and prevailed upon him
to let the trial take place at his yard next
day at II o'clock. The proprietor had
very little faith in the machine, but as
he had a large lot of brick for sale, he
was willing to submit to almost anything
to attract attention to his yard. To this
end he silly inserted an advertisement in
several of the daily papers of Philadel.
phia, announcing the trial Of wonder
full patent brick machine, naming the
time and place, which, of course, he
thought would only be another addition
to the long catalogue of failures in that
line Of inventions.


Next day Miller partook Of an early
breakfast, and then possessed himself Of
the last dollar in the house to pay cur
rent expenses. He bade his wife be OF
good cheer-that he thought he should
return before night with not less than
FIVE hundred dollars. The poor woman
thought it more likely that he would re-
turn detected, broken hearted, and ready
to die; but she said nothing.


From this house he went direct to the
machine shop, and had his invention tax
en- to the ferry boat, had it safely landed,
and put up ready to operate at the ap-
pointed hour. He knew nothing of the
advertisement in the papers, and was
therefore little surprised to see upward
of a hundred people congregated in the
yard. He did not like it, for in case OF
failure the modification would only be
the greater; but he consoled himself
with the belief that in case of success
competition might spring up to enable
him to realize one thousand dollars for
his right, instead of FIVE hundred dol
lars. at which moderate figure he held
! it.


The clay having been elevated, the
horse was started, and the machine NOV
ed. 1t was moment Of intense anxiety
to every one, and painfully SO to Richard
Miller. Eureka 1t was triumph
Mould after mould of beautiful brick
were carried from it, until, in an incred-
ible short space of time thousand were
finished and drying in the yard.


There stood Richard Miller gazing
upon his invention. 1t was the full re-
alization of his dream in its minutest par
ticulars. 1t was the happiest moment o.
his life. He was just on the point of Of
fering the right OF making and vending
the machine in the United States to the
highest bidder, when an old Yankee tap.
ped him on the shoulder and said:


Young man, that's very good ma
chine of yours. but see where very
important improvement can be made
Under such circumstances, will give
you fifty thousand dollars for your right
title, and interest in it


Miller grasped one of the levers Of the
machine to keep him from falling. No
it could not be the whole must be 8
continuation of the brick.yard dream.


How much did you say ?" asked
Miller in doubt. af


"Fifty thousand !" said the man, evi
IDENTIFY ready to increase the amount il
Miller demanded it.


I'll take it! gasped the inventor
who still could not believe the evidenc.
of his senses. asl eaaHs"


'Then come with me-" let1 sa04o,


A few minutes more, and they were OF
their way to Philadelphia and in cross
ing the river Richard Miller paid tn.
last sixpence he had in the world, fol
ferriage. Once arrived in the city, they
went directly to the Office Of a lawyer
where the necessary papers, a full as
signment, were drawn up-Miller all thu
while doubling the possibility of the maj
having anything like the amount he of
fered but he still resolved in his mint
that he was safe if he got but singh
thousand in cash, and the balance il
worthless promissory notes. At length
the assignment was finished and signed
and the man handed Miller check pay
able at one of the principal banks. for tn