The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-09-08

Campbell, as he sat rubbing some JeWel-
ry, for he was a matchmaker and jeweler,
in his shop one day. Whoever he Is,
he has the making of a man in him. He
goes tick, tick, like chronometer. L
pull down rny shutters and say good
morning; he puts up his pleasant face
and says, Good morning, sir and as
soon as the shine of the bottles in the
druggists window falls on his cap, boom
goes st. Dustan clock-One, two, three,
four, FIVE, six, sevenl That lads a
brick, and / must have little talk with
him."
One day, as Peter was passing Mr..
Campbell's shop door, one of his mas
ter's shopmen met him, and said, with a
sneer, Well, Mr.. Punky, you're a
sneaking little monkey" for he and the
other fellows in Mr.. Dalkeith's employ
were jealous of the lad who had won the
masters favor, and who was praised and
rewarded, while they were scoIded for
lateness and laziness, and then with a
loud laugh at his own wit, the shopman
pressed on.
Mr.. Campbell, who heard it, was out
of the shop in a moment, and reckoning
Peter, said, g Excuse me, master Punky,
you pass my shop so regular that 1 feel
1 should like TO make your acquian-
lance"
my name is not Punky," said Peter,
blushing, q It's Peter MCGOWAN, sir, and
I'm an apprentice with Mr.. Dalkeith,
the druggist
Not Punky? Then beg your par
don; but thought L heard the young
man who has just passed call you by
that name"
cob" said Peter, with deeper blush,
that's a nickname the fellows give me
in our shop; but" said he, with laugh,
/ dinna mind it."
Punky, Punky? Why, whatever
does it mean ?" said the jeweler
Why" quoth Peter, looking into
Mr.. Campbell's face with an open, in
genious smile, L" always try to be at
the shop exactly at the time, an so they
began by calling me 'Punctual Peter
but l suppose they thought that was
over long, and 50 they've cut it short to
Punky." Aud neither Peter nor his
nearer could help laughing as he said
this. In the course of conversation the
kindly old gentleman extracted from
the youth all the history of his fathers
death, his mothers hard struggle for
bread, and how he was trying to earn
his own livelihood, and hoped by-and- by
to keep his "dear mither," so that she
should not have to work any more. Mr.
Campbell then shook him warmly by
the hand and, making him promise to
i've him call now and then, babe him
good evening.
Punky," said Mr.. Campbell to him
self, as he sat in his snug little sitting
room all alone, except for favorite cat
which was perched sleepily on his knee,
for he was cosy old bachelor. " Yes,
Punky's the boy for my money!" and
the old man rubbed his hands and stroked
his cat and smiled as though he had got
hold of a bright idea. On the following
SUNDAY evening just as the little clock
in the widows kitchen was striking seven,
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
knock at the door. and when Peter
went to open it man put a small pack.
age in his hand, saying ''Tempus Fuqit -
has sent this, and went off in a moment
without another word. The packet wa.
instantly opened and two small parcel:
appeared on the one was written Fol
Punky's mother" and when the pape,
was unwrapped, 10! ten golden sover
eigns cleaned and smiled at them "a /
they knew how welcome they were to the
poor toiling widow. The other parce
bore the words For Punky," and con
tanned beautiful silver watch, the hand
of which were just at seven O'Clock. anc
the little thing went tick, tick, tickin,
away as who should say "Punctual Pc
ter's the boy for me-" Peter and hi
mother exchanged glances of bewilderec
surprise.
Well, this is go" said Peter, 'Wh
can have sent them, 'Punky' makes i
look like Mr.. CampbelPs doing, ant
Iempas F'ngt' looks like Mr.. Dial
keith's, an yet Gamma understand VIII,
either of them sud hae done it."
The fact was that Mr.. Campbell has
gone to Mr.. Dalkeith's to make inouir,
as to the character of my punctuaI hero
and their conversation had resulted in
united resolve to make the widow an,
her son 50 valuable present. This Pc
ter did not know for many long day, a
both the gentlemen avoided all mention
of it and STAYED of all inquiry. But a
he went to the shop the next morning
and when his master met him with
smiling face. the old church chimed i
his ears, g 7empus FVgit is Peters friend.
1 must not make my story too long. Pc
ter continued to retain and deepen tn
esteem in which he was held by Mr.. Dial
Keith; he rose from one grade to anothe
till he became the confidential MANAGE
of his employer, and when he was able I.
take the dear mither" away from he
poor cottage and hard toll, and place he
in his own home surrounded with ever,
comfort, his satisfaction was complete
Old Mr.. Campbell spent much of hi
time at Peters house, and had no great
er delight than to welcome the thrift,
son and the happy widow to his snue
back parlor. At length the cid man died
anG left the whole of his savings and
stock-in-trade, amounting to several
thousand pounds, to peter McOwan.
nay young friend Punky;'' and at the
loot of his will were these words
: lie who knows tie value of time and
the worth of punctuality will best know
how TO turn both time and money to good
account" The only condition attached
70 the bequeEt was that Peter should
v's's the old mans grave at seven o'clock