108 CONVERSATIONS ON 



key, and then fastening it to the post of a shed 

 by a silk cord, which he tied to the end of the 

 hemp string, he got under the shed, and 

 waited a long time. Now, boys, if he had 

 been impatient, all his work would have been 

 of no use. But he even waited, after a very 

 heavy cloud had passed over his kite without 

 giving it any of its lightning. At last, when 

 he was almost ready to give it up and go 

 home, he saw some loose threads on the hemp 

 string rise and stand .up straight, just as he 

 knew the electrical machine would make them 

 do. He directly put his knuckle to the iron 

 key, and off came the spark, which he knew 

 at once was exactly like the spark which he 

 could get from the machine. And so, boys, 

 he found out what he wished to know ; and 

 this was the way in which the kite helped 

 the philosopher." 



" Well, Uncle Philip, this is really a very 

 pretty story about Dr. Franklin and his kite. 

 Was anybody with him ?" 



" Nobody but his son ; he took him out to 

 help him raise the kite. But, boys, I see the 

 other lads are walking on towards the bridge 

 with our kite ; let us follow them, and as we 

 go, I will tell you of an electric animal" 



