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6 6-18-1867 Towards night he complains that his thread was wearing out from too great friction, I suggested that a horses
head which lay near might be stuck upon the pole, that a stronger illegible ting string of horse hair would pass smoothly
over its nose, Merrill thought it strange that a horses tail should pass over a horses head - remarked that it was a curious
meeting of extremes, etc - all this last night much now of a similar nature of nonsense, wit, invention; but here is what
I wanted to tell you when the wheel had wound up the cup to the top of the pole Merrill the Engineer dashed his joined hands
into the falling stream caused the water to shoot over instead of under the wheel thus reversing its motion and lowering the
cup. I objected that this was a very imperfect re- versing con illegible , suggested levers that would be self acting. Since
com- mencing this letter he burst into the room exclaiming with glowing illegible Ive got it - dont need any levers then followed
an ardent des- cutition of the newborn reversing apparatus to be regulated by clock work hidden in the dam beyond the reach
of meddlesome boys and said he I can make a larger one to pump water or illegible wheat I can patent it said he - his eyes
twinkling sparking all inventors have trade marks and mine shall be a horses head on a pole with hair hanging from the holes
where its eyes were in margin: Merrill read your illegible a few minutes ago I hoped? to hear that you were better. Tell
illegible illegible Katie that we often speak of them and will soon write to them.