10 JETHRO WOOD; 



led with the idea which he ultimately per- 

 fected. Many curious incidents and memories 

 are treasured among the traditions of his neigh- 

 bors and friends. " When only a few years 

 old," writes a venerable man whose recollec- 

 tion spans two generations, " he moulded a little 

 plow from metal, which he obtained by melt- 

 ing a pewter cup. Then, cutting the buckles 

 from a set of braces, he made a miniature har- 

 ness with which he fastened the family cat to 

 his tiny plow, and endeavored to drive her 

 about the flower-garden. The good old-fash- 

 ioned whipping he received for this 'mischief,' 

 was such as to drive all desire for repeating 

 the experiment out of his juvenile head." 



Such innate and ruling passion might be 

 suppressed, but could not be subdued. As his 

 mind matured, his thoughts took definite shape. 

 His home was always upon a farm, but he was 

 never a farmer, in the sense of Poor Richard's 

 homely couplet : 



