CYRUS HALL M c C O R M I C K 



bind grain." Now, it so happened that Me Cor- 

 mick had been kept awake nearly the whole of 

 the previous night by a stubborn business prob- 

 lem. He could scarcely hold his eyelids apart. 

 And when Withington was in the midst of his 

 explanation, with the intentness of a born in- 

 ventor, McCormick fell fast asleep. 



At such a reception to his cherished machine, 

 Withington lost heart. He was a gentle, sensi- 

 tive man, easily rebuffed, and so, when Mc- 

 Cormick aroused from his nap, Withington had 

 departed and was on his way back to Wisconsin. 

 For a few seconds McCormick was uncertain 

 as to whether his visitor had been a reality or a 

 dream. Then he awoke with a start into in- 

 stant action. A great opportunity had come 

 to him and he had let it slip. He was at this 

 time making self-rake Reapers and Marsh Har- 

 \ :sters ; but what he wanted what every 

 Reaper manufacturer wanted in 1874 was a 

 self-binder. He at once called to him one of 

 his trusted workmen. 



"I want you to go to Janesville," he said. 

 "Find a man named Withington, and bring 



mo] 



