Thus, even in his boyish sports, he was continually searching out the secrets of philosophy.
Not far from his grandmother's residence there was a windmill which operated on a new plan.

Isaac was in the habit of going thither frequently, and would spend whole hours in examining its various parts.
While the mill was at rest he pried into its internal machinery.

When its broad sails were set in motion by the wind, he watched the process by which the mill-stones were made to revolve and crush the grain that was put into the hopper.

After gaining a thorough knowledge of its construction he was observed to be unusually busy with his tools.
It was not long before his grandmother and all the neighborhood knew what Isaac had been about.

He had constructed a model of the windmill.
Though not so large, I suppose, as one of the box traps which boys set to catch squirrels, yet every part of the mill and is machinery was complete.