g black hand
on the white-painted dial could be seen distinctly and the temperature
read while we were ploughing in the field below the house. The
extremes of heat and cold caused the hand to make several revolutions.
The number of these revolutions was indicated on a small dial marked
on the larger one. This thermometer was fastened on the side of the
house, and was so sensitive that when any one approached it within
four or five feet the heat radiated from the observer's body caused
the hand of the dial to move so fast that the motion was plainly
visible, and when he stepped back, the hand moved slowly back to its
normal position. It was regarded as a great wonder by the neighbors
and even by my own all-Bible father.

[Illustration: THERMOMETER]

[Illustration: SELF-SETTING SAWMILL
Model built in cellar]

Boys are fond of the books of travelers, and I remember that one day,
after I had been reading Mungo Park's travels in Africa, mother said:
"Weel, John, maybe you will travel like Park and Humboldt some day."
Father overheard her and cried out in solemn deprecation, "Oh, Anne!
dinna put sic notions in the laddie's heed." But at this time there
was precious little need of such prayers. My brothers left the farm
when they came of age, but I stayed a year longer, loath to leave
home. Mother hoped I might be a minister some day; my sisters that I
would be a great inventor. I often thought I should like to be a
physician, but I saw no way of making money and getting the necessary
education, excepting as an inventor. So, as a beginning, I decided to
try to get into a big shop or factory and live a while among machines.
But I was naturally extremely shy and had been taught to have a poor
opinion of myself, as of no account, though all our neighbors
encouragingly called me a genius, sure to rise in the world. When I
was talking over plans one day with a friendly neighbor, he said:
"Now, John, if you wish to get into a machine-shop, just take some of
your inventions to the State Fair, and you may be sure that as soon as
they are seen they will open the door of any shop in the country for
you. You will be welcomed everywhere." And when I doubtingly asked if
people would care to look at things made of wood, he said, "Made of
wood! Made of wood! What does it matter what they're made of when they
are so out-and-out original. There's nothing else like them in the
world. That is what will attract attention, and besides they're