Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1874-05-21
For the ADvERTIsER.
NY MOTHERS CLOCK.
BY ECILAN.

There is an old clock up in the
garret, one of those tall, old-fashion-
ed, three -cornered structures. Itwas
my mothers clock, given her by my
grandmother. Having served its
three score years and ten right faith
fully, and now that its weary wheels
and pendulum have refused to per
form with their past correctness, it
has been stored away up in the dusky
attic, where the spiders have woven a
tangled roof over the faded, wrinkied
face. To me, it Is as the greeting of
of an old friend, for it was the first
object that riveted my baby attention
| remember of my mother often hold
ing me in her arms and opening the
great door, to show me the steady
movement of the great tongue, and
once when was sick she touched a
secret wire, and the old clock struck
before its time for my amusement
always held that special piece OF
| furniture in reverential awe; now 1t
has been stored away to give place to
one Of bronze and gold. The hands
are locked together, as if folded in
their everlasting rest; the weights
have both run down, and are lying
ON their rusty sides; the cords are
broken, as break the threads Of our
mortal lives; the figures or the dial
plate are hardly discelnible; the door
l5s-swine;pg or one OF is hinges; the
lower part, in which was looking
glass, and the upper, on which was
painted a vase Of flowers, have been
broken, and only 4 piece here and
there remains; one Of the feet has
cone unglued, and YEARLY the whole
framework leans against the friendly
wall for support Dear old time
piece; many and many time have
YOU moved our hearts with a sudden
thrill, as leisurely YOU plodded on
your steady course. How restlessly
did nv mother, when maiden, turn
to know Of YOU how long would be
the time until the coming Of her low
er; how nervously on her bridal day
did She see your slender finger point
ing to the hour that WAS to bring
that lover to her side, to be parted no
more forever. Then, yearatte- year,
how many times We're those sweet,
patient eyes turned upon you, that
dinner might be ready just at twelve
and supper served at six. You never
failed her, dear old friend of former
DAYS. sad relic of past shade and sun
shine. Your place in the household
was no minor one; we were directed
bv your firm hand in all our occupa-
lions. To school, from school, to
play and TO study, my mother found
i, pleasant delight to be guided by
YOU. and | was Ted by her wise will
and counsel. shall never forget
the time when my father was TO re-
turn 10 us after long voyage over
the sea. He wrote he would be home
at seven in the evening. Ny gentle,
/ loving mother busted herself prepar
| inc a welcome feast, and at each lit
tie leisure, between the baking OF
each oven full of marvellous buns,
she would pause to look how long it
wculd be until the coming Of the old
stage-coach, and every time she would
say only one hour or thirty or
"twenty' minutes. as the time drew
nearer. The table was spread with
its snowy cloth, the fine old blue
edged china was placed on the white
surface, a print of yellow butter, a
goodly array OF jel.ies, preserves, and
sweet meats, q homemade cheese,
and pot of home brewed beer, and
on the hearth, in the open ovens,
stood smoking the delicate, savOry
chicken, the loaf of white bread and
the sweet brown buns As the ap-
pointed time drew near, and all things
made ready for the coming of the
one so dear to US, my mother stood
before the little mirror in the clock
door, arranging her hair with unusual
care, twining here and there through
the silvery threaded tresses, for
get me-not, or pansy. and, as if for
an apology to me, she said, "Willie,
these are the flowers | wore when
your father first saw me, and this
evening | could not resist wearing
these little emblems of 10y early
love-" There was happy expires
sion on her face as she spoke, an ex-
preston l shall never forget; for Is
she stood there, looking upa me with
that sweet smile playing around her
beautiful mouth, saw a deathly pal
lor o'erspread her face, and | knew
IN an instant it was an attack Of the
heart disease, with which she had
been afflicted for years. | caught
her in my arms and kissed the purp-
H.. IT, ,,l:io ,loodipfIl,- turned