" None of the family knew what I was
doing, but they knew very well that all such work was frowned on by
father, and kindly warned me of any danger that threatened my plans.
The fine invention seemed doomed to destruction before its
time-ticking commenced, though I thought it handsome, had so long
carried it in my mind, and like the nest of Burns's wee mousie it had
cost me mony a weary whittling nibble. When we were at dinner several
days after the sad discovery, father began to clear his throat to
speak, and I feared the doom of martyrdom was about to be pronounced
on my grand clock.
"John," he inquired, "what is that thing you are making upstairs?"
I replied in desperation that I didn't know what to call it.
"What! You mean to say you don't know what you are trying to do?"
"Oh, yes," I said, "I know very well what I am doing."
"What, then, is the thing for?"
"It's for a lot of things," I replied, "but getting people up early in
the morning is one of the main things it is intended for; therefore it
might perhaps be called an early-rising machine.
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