The Bruffeys were a family of inventors from Pocahontas

 The Bruffeys were a family of inventors from Pocahontas County, West Virginia. One of the family members, whose name is not given, worked for many years on the unsolved problem of perpetual motion. He developed a machine that was so finely poised that a grain of wheat would start a large wheel turning. However, the machine could not be controlled, and the longer it ran, the faster it would become. Eventually, the machine would tear itself to pieces.

The inventor's last effort was to start the wheel and watch it fling itself into fragments as it spun out of control. He was disappointed that his machine had not worked, but he was also fascinated by the sight of the machine destroying itself. He believed that the machine had taught him something about the nature of perpetual motion, and he was determined to continue his work.

The story of the Bruffeys' perpetual motion machine is a cautionary tale about the dangers of pursuing impossible goals. However, it is also a story of the human spirit of invention and the desire to achieve the impossible. The Bruffeys' machine may not have worked, but their story is a reminder that the human mind is capable of great things.

Here is a possible continuation of the story:

The inventor was disappointed that his machine had not worked, but he was also fascinated by the sight of the machine destroying itself. He believed that the machine had taught him something about the nature of perpetual motion, and he was determined to continue his work.

The inventor spent the next few years experimenting with different designs for his machine. He tried using different materials, different shapes, and different mechanisms. He even tried using magic, but nothing worked.

Finally, the inventor gave up. He realized that perpetual motion was an impossible goal. However, he was not discouraged. He had learned a lot from his experiments, and he was determined to use his knowledge to create other inventions.

The inventor went on to have a successful career as an inventor. He created many new machines, some of which were even practical. He was never able to create a perpetual motion machine, but he never gave up on his dream. He believed that perpetual motion was possible, and he was determined to find a way to make it happen.