Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-08-02
The Leisure Hour.
~ DRAFT O.v THR B.s.vK OF
SP.9Iv.


AT last the matchmaker paused from his
task and called us TO look at it. 1t was
some kind of a registering instrument for
the Coast Survey-a patent on which he
greatly prided himself. Seven or eight
pendulums were arranged in such Il man
ner that their number corrected the single
error of each escapement. Further 1 do
not remember, but only recall how we
narvelled at the beautiful steadness OF the
movement, and how my wife clapped her
hands joyously at the happy end of so
much toll and thought.
at is DONE" said the Matchmaker, ris-
ing. "Let us look how the night goes;"
for 1t was a constant custom with him al
ways before going to bed to stand at the
door for little while and look up to the
heavens. He said it was to see what the
weather would be, matter in which he
greatly concerned himself, keeping pet
thermometer in the garden, and noting day
bv day its eccentricities with an interest
which no one but my wife ever made be-
lieye to share. / followed him to the open
door, where lie stood leaning against the
side post, looking steadily up TO the sky.
The air was crisp and cool, and overhead,
thick as snow-hakes, the stars twnkled as
if they were Keeping time to the ticking
clocks. Presently my wife came out, and
laying hand on his arm, stood beside us
and drank in the delicious calm of the au-
tumn night, while the lad fidgeted under
his elbow between them, and got his share
,c tIo aud tbo nniot
at seems hard to think they are moving
forever and ever" said the boy. ~ Won
der if they are wound up as often as your
clocks, father?"
at is only great clock, after al, )" said
Willow" and must stop some of these
days, suppose. Did you ever think of
THAI, little SUMMER"
"Will last our time" said my wife.
"Your time ~ returned the clockmaker.
"Your time is forever, little woman; you
may live in the days not of this world, to
see the old wonder of it all fade out and
perish"
Just then a man stopped in front OF us
and said, "Does Mr.. Willow live hereH"
eyes," said l 4; and as he came toward us
we naturally gave way, thinking him some
belated customer and he entered the light
ed shop.
Then Willow turned again, and the two
men came face TO face. The stranger was a
man of great hight, but spare and delicate.
He leaned on gold-headed cane some
W hat teebly, and seemed TO me person of
great age. What struck me most, however,
Of ND
a certain elegance of dress and manner.
The moment Willow set eyes on him he
staggered back, rceled moment, and,
catching at a chair fell against the tall clock
over which he had set the figure of Time.
"What has brought you here?" he cried
hoarsely.
"My son, my boy" said the elder man
in a voice shaken by its passion OF tender
ness, "can you never, never forget?"
"Forget p said the other. 81 had al
most come to that, but, remembering anew,
how can l ever forgive? Cop he cried
fiercely, darting forward ON a sudden and
opening the door. "Go before the madness
comes upon me. Go, go before l curse
YOU" Then he reeled again. and growing
white, fell into n chair, and, as if choked
with emotion, stayed, rigdly pointing to
the door.
Then my wife ran forward. Leave u.s."
she said, "whoever you are. You see
how i'll he is. You can do no good here.
Come again If you will, but go away now."
The stranger hesitated and looked in be-
wilderment from one TO another, while the
lad, till then silent, opened the door wider
and said gently, "Will ii please you TO go,
grandpapa?"
"My boy-his boyr' exclaimed the new
conner, patting his curly head. snow am
indeed punished" he added, for the lad
shrunk back with look of horror quite
strange on face so young, and, suddenly
covering his face with both hands, the elder
man went by him and passed out into the
street without a word. Then the boy hast
lily shut the door, and we turned to Willow,
who had fallen in something like swoon
from his chair. Silently or with whispers
we gathered about him, while my wife
brought pillow and some water and gave
him to drink. AT last we got him up stairs
to our own room, where for some days he
lay in state Of feebeness, which seemed
to me very strange in one so vigorous but
little while before. On the next morning
after his attack he showed some uneas-
down the painted arms over the fireplace
and hide them away; but beyond this he
gave no sign of what he had passed