In time William became a clergyman, and he married Nellie. But his income was very small, and they had to save in every possible way. Nellie saw with pain the care-worn look on his brow; she knew too well why it had settled there. At length a happy thought flashed across her mind—she would send for her knitting-needles, and begin her stocking-knitting again. She knew there would be no difficulty in selling any number of stockings she might make. Her needles moved so quickly that before long the amount of work completed was sufficient to offer for sale.
As William sat watching his wife's needles, he carefully observed how the loops were made, and how the same thread travelled round and round the stocking, forming a new loop every time it passed through an old one. As he watched Nellie's fingers, the idea gradually dawned upon him how a machine might be invented to do the work instead; and after much planning he succeeded in making the small model of a knitting-frame. Delighted with his success, he went to London, where, after much difficulty, he gained access to Lord Hunsdon, one of the Queen's ministers, who informed Queen Elizabeth that a poor parson he knew had a wonderful machine for making stockings, which he wanted her Majesty to inspect. The Queen refused the patent because the machine only made woollen stockings.
William was very much disappointed, but he resolved nevertheless to carry out his plans. For seven or eight years he patiently worked away, improving his machine, until at length he completed a frame delicate enough for silk work. With this he made a pair of silk stockings, which he forthwith forwarded to the Queen. Elizabeth praised their beauty and elasticity, but gave him nothing for them.
As the time passed on, William's expenses increased, and although he had made considerable money, it had been necessary to spend so much on his machines that very little profit remained. The sale, too, of the woven stockings was hindered by popular prejudice, and, added to all this, his friend at court was dead.
At this crisis, Lee's stocking-loom, which was being discussed far and wide, became an object of interest to Henry IV. of France, who sent William an invitation to remove to that country. Thither the inventor went, hoping great things from royal patronage, and taking with him a few workmen, set up his machinery at Rouen. For a short time he carried on a brisk, thriving trade, and began to indulge the belief that his last days would be his brightest, when suddenly his hopes were crushed by the assassination of Henry by Ravaillac. This sad event put an end to the success of William. The French people regarded him with suspicion both as a Protestant and as an Englishman, and after wandering about from place to place, he died, broken-hearted and almost starving, in Paris.
To-day, machine-made stockings are worn by the people of all civilized countries, and thousands upon thousands of dollars are made by their manufacture.
AT ODDS.