Southern pioneer, and Carroll, Choctaw and Tallahatchie Counties advertiser. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-19
A CLOCK STORY.

rally known that we first elevated this esti- |
mable young writer into fashionable notice.
he made considerable of story out of the |
old clock case. A clock story once originated
in New York, the very name of which will
set each into ordinations yet; but wait till
we have dash at the fun, and then let see
whether the old Harlaem clock, Humphreys
time piece, or the Picayune chronometer
shall flourish best in the regard of Time?
An old snuffy neighbor, from whom we
derive the anecdote, is marked by several lu.
dicrous pecuIiarities, which we might attempt
in vain to render palpable in writing. Much
the funniest part of the affair lies in a solid and
melancholy expression of the countenance,
which darkens into something fearfuy mys-
FERROUS as the narrator goes on describing the
fright and horror endured by himself and
wife at midnight. when ghost-ke clock CON-
menced echoing solemnly the death tick?--I
Our old friend is himself watch rePairer,
having little seven by nine shop in the low
er part of the city, which is just large enough
to endure the occupancy of his bench and stool,
half dozen pewter snuff boxes, in the shape
of watches, which hang in the window, and
one customer who has to squeeze in and close
the door after him TO obtain room TO stand.
Our friend is a Frenchman, and has pair OF
eyebrows that his wife once told him would
make capital shoe brushes! If any good ltho-
grapher will call upon us-one who has fancy
to conceive, appreciate and produce the lu-
dicrous--we will take him TO see face of
irresistible drollery. We can just take an ac-
cidental stand by the awning post outside,
and, without drawing his attention from his
work, see the old matchmaker through the
window, with his little lass magnifier, sci in
horn, sticking fast between one Of his huge
eyebrows, as he peers into the delicate ma
chinery of time piece The lovers of fun
(produced by character) may thank any man
who will multiply the face we speak of upon
paper.
Well the old fellows story in this, and you
may hear it all from his own lips, if you will
just go and offer him your watch TO be repair
ed. Just make any accidentally remark about
an old clock, or death-tick and he will open
upon you at once with the whole story. He
! is in possession of an old clock, which he
brought from France, and which he says is
just his own age, sixty-nine, having been COM
! Pleted by his farther the very day that he was
born. Upon the evening of his last birthday,
he and his old helpmate sat together late in
the evening, chattering about early days and
la belle France. over generous little pitcher
OF warm stmulant, an unusual indulgence in
honor of the occasion.
The old pair became melted and melancho.
, ly over their "reminiscences, and, when the
> pitcher was finished, went to bed in tender
state OF luxurious unhappiness. The old clock
struck midnight as the eyes of the watchma
ker were closing in their first doze, and as he
tell away into slumber, a monotonous tick
tick, tick. seemed to commence right at hi
head In the wall. He turned over. hearing
:, the ominous death warning still, and, at length
troc IUIn 70 dicror owl h,,r1 ID hn1d ir
o the pillow, with brief sob for boyish times
y addressing himself to sleep. Heavy indis
i tinctness came over him but not sleep leaving
still conscious OF tick, tick, tick, increasing
r to rap, rap, rap, and growing, finally, into ;
# vehement thump, thump, thump!
. Just as the old fellow was sinking into obliv
!. iousnesS of this annoyance, his old clock il
g the corner suddenly struck one, which aroused
:. him for moment, as he thought it could no
" be more than twenty minutes past twelve; bu
! concluding he must have been deceived in hi
~ doing, he tried again to slumber. Wors
70 than ever sounded the busy little invisibl
~ Phantom in the pillow, like Macbeth's con
l. science, crying "seep no more!" What wa
10 the poor watchmaker's CONSERVATION, whe
y, the old French clock in the corner again struc
) one? He started, paused, and then jumpe
= upright in the bed All was silent. He de
liberated monument in puzzled astonishmen
:, and then concluded it must be two O'Clock, an
n he must have missed the first rap of the han
es mer. Laying quietly down again, his hea
=, scarcely touched the pillow before one o'cloc
=. was sounded once more distinctly from ii
- clock bell! The old fellow flung himself b.
- meath the blankets, covered up his head, an
II caught hold of his wife in Undesirable terro
~ His conviction was that of the old cloc
- which had noted every minute of his ber
for sixty nine years, was now warning hi
~ of instant doom, and he woke up his wife, c.
nd treating her to keep herself perfectly comfor
nd able, as it was certainly his last night upc
~ earth. The old lady obeyed him to the lie
of ter about making herself comfortable, as 81
Of went right off 10 sleep again with the utmo
70 expedition.
=. Ranui with heavy and snllen sound al