Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-09-27

alone. except for favorite cat which was
perched sleepily on his knee, for he was
COSY old bachelor, AYES, Punky's the boy
for mn money /" and the old man rubbed his
hands and stroked his cat and smiled as
though he had got hold Of q bright idea.
On the following Sunday evening Just as the
little clock in the widows kitchen was strik-
ing sepen, and Peter and his mother were
reading the story in the good book which
begins " Now Peter and John went up TO the
temple at the hour Of prayer" there was a
knock at Che door, and when Peter went TO
open II a man put small package in his
hand saying " T'empw Fuga has sent his"
aud went off in moment without another
word The packet was instantly opened and
two small parcels appeared; on the one was
written " For Punky's mother and when
the paper was unwrapped, 10 ten golden
sovereigns cleaned and smiled at them as If
they knew how welcome they were to the
poor toiling widow. The other parcel bore
the words For Punky," and contained a
a beautiful silver watch the hands Of which
were Just at screen o'clock, and the little thing
went tick, tick. ticking away as who should
say "Punctual Peters the boy for me-"
Peter and his mother exchanged glances Of
bewildered surprise.
ran have sent them Punky makes It look
like Mr.. Campbell's doing, and Tempus
Fuqi looks like Mr.. Dalkeith's, an vet
Gamma understand why either of them sud
haze done it,"
The fact was that Mr.. Campbell had gone
to Mr.. Dalkeths to make inquiry as to the
character of my punctual hero, and their
conversation had resulted in united resolve
10 make the widow aud her son so valuable
a present. This Peter did not know for
many long day, as both the gentlemen
avoided all mention of it and STAYED off all
inquiry. But as he went to the shop the
next morning, and when his master met
him with smiling face, the old church
chimed in his ears " Tempu FugHis Peters
| friend" must not make my story too long.
| Peter continued TO retain and deepen the es-
TEEN in which he was held by Mr.. Dalkeith
| he rose from one grade to another until he
became the confidential manager of his en-
| ployer and when he was able 20 take the
" dear mither away from her poor cottage
aud hard toll, and place her in his own home
surrounded with every comfort, his satisfac-
ton was complete. Old Mr. Campbell spent
much of his time at Peters house, and had
no greater delight than to welcome the
thrifty son and the happy widow 70 his
snug back parlor. At length the old man
died and left the whole of his savings and
stock-in-trade, amounting to several thou
sand pounds, to Peter McOwan, my young
friend Punky,' and at the foot OF his will
were these words, He who knows the
value of time and the worth of punctuality
will best know how to turn both time and
money to good account" The only condi
ton attached to the bequest was, that Peter
should visit the old mans grave at secer
o'clock in the evening of the anniversary OF
his death. Twenty years afterwards Peter
became the mayor of his native city, having
also received the honor of knighthood toi
his services in the cause of philanthropy
lie took for his crest a sun-dial, with tn,
shadow at the figure seven, and the motif
Tempus Fuga" On the day that Sir Pete
MCGOWAN was chosen mayor he went to tn
morning service at st. Dunstan church, hi
dear auld mther hanging on his arm
and just as they passed into the porch tn
old clock bell chimed out its hourly burden
Mother" said Peter, edo you know VIVA
the chimes are saying IIarlI 'Punky
God is good to YOU" aye" said tn
gray-haired matron, looking up in his fac
with happy smile, Ilark again good t
Puukv's mither, too. - Christian Globe.