Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-02
THE DISCONNECTED PENDULUM.

Il 4
An old clock that had stood for fifty years in farmer
kitchen without giving its any of complaint early
one summers morning, before the family stirring, sud
denly stopped Upon this the plate f we may credit the
able) changed countenance with alarm the hands made
vain effort to continue their the wheels remained
loniess with surprise; the weights hung If dead each
member felt disposed to lay the blame the others
length the dial Instituted formal inquiry to the
the stagnaton when hands, wheels weights with voice
protested their innocence
But now faint tick heard below from the pendulum,
who thus spoke
81 confess myself be the sole cause OF the present stop
page and am willing for the general satisfaction, to assign
my reasons The truth is that am tired of ticking"
Upon hearing this the old clock became enraged that il
was on the very point of striking
"Lazy wire /" exclaimed the dial-pate holding up its
hands,
"Vey good replied the pendulum " it is vastly easy
for you. Mistress DIAL who have always, every body
knows, set yourself above met vastly easy for you
say to accuse other people Of aznes who have had
nothing to do all the days of your life but people
the face and to yourself with watching all that goes
in the kitchen Think, beseech you, how you would like
TO be shut for life in this dark closet and wag backward
| and forward, year after year, as do
Gas to that said the DIAL sis there not window in your
house on purpose for you to look through
"Fo all that resumed the pendulum Sc it is very dark
here and, although there is window dare not STOP
for instant look Besides really tired of
my way Of life and, you wish, I'll tell you how took this
disgust at my employment. happened this morning be
calculating how many times should have tick in the
you above there can give me the exact sum-"
The mnuehand being quick at figures presently replied
Eghty-sx thousand four hundred times"
exactly So" replied the pendulum; WE'LL appeal to
you ALL il the very thought OF this not enough fatigue
and when began multiply the stroke of one day by
those of months and years. really it is wonder if felt dis
couraged at the prospect after great deal of reasoning
and hesitation, thinks to myself I'll stop"
The dial could scarcely keep its during this
haangue but resumng its gravity, thus replied, Dear
Mr. Pendulum am really astonished that such useful in
dusous person yourself should been by this
sudden action 1t you have done great deal of work
In your time have all, and likely to do which,
although may fatigue think Of the question whether
it will fatigue to do Would you do me the favor to
give about half dozen strokes TO illustrate my argument
The pendulum complied and licked six times In its usual
PACE.
Snow, resumed the dial, may be allowed to inquire
if that exeion at all faguing disagreeabe you "
Not the least replied the pendulum, " is of six
strokes that complain, Of sixty but Of millions"
every good, replied the dial "but recolect that though
you may think of million Of strokes in instant, you
required to execute but and that however often you
may hereafter have to swing, will always be given
you to swing in"
'That consideration staggers me, confess" said the
pendulum.
Then hope" resumed the diaplate we shall all i'm
medaey return to duty for the maids will lie in bed if
stand dlng thus"
Upon this the weights who had been accused of light
conduct used all their influence in urging him proceed
when, with consent the wheels began turn the
hands began move, the pendulum began swing and
ing that sreamed through hole in the kitchen shining
full upon the diaate, it frightened up if nothing had
been the matter.
When the farmer down to breakfast that morning,
upon looking the clock he declared that his watch had
gained half an hour in the night.