The Interpreter's House, Or, Sermons to Children

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1880. Excerpt: ... IX. otiires. No. 1. MOTIVES. Wherewithal!--Psaim cxix. 9. 'HAT is it makes the old mill-wheel go? It is the water, which empties itself from the flume of the mill-race. What is it makes the windmill grind the corn? It is the wind beating against the flanges, or sails of the mill, up in the air. What is it makes the engine go? It is the force of steam. What is it makes the horse go? It is either oats or the whip. What is it makes us go? It is our motives. What are our motives? Our motives are the secret causes, which influence the will. At the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, all the hundreds of wheels, and cogs, and machines, in Machinery Hall, were set in motion by the great Corliss' engine, which swung out its big shaft, as playfully as an elephant swings out his trunk, at a menagerie, for apples and nuts, when the boys stand around and tease him. And yet, think of all the wheels and cogs, which that engine had to drive! Now, the power which started all those many machines, was the power of steam in the famous Corliss' engine. This power is called motive power. It is the power, which makes a thing go. The weights on a clock, are the motive power of the clock; they pull at the wheels, when the wheels are wound up, and make the clock go. The water in the tank, at the top of the public building, presses down upon the wheel of the elevator, and carries a load of people up to the top of the house. That water is the motive power of the elevator. Some time ago, I was with a party going through the famous Cheney silk factory, in South Manchester, Connecticut. There we saw the wonderful Jacquard loom, invented by a French weaver in Lyons, for weaving figured silk goods. It is the most wonderful piece of machinery you can imagine, as it goes on making bea...