Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-08-07
The Old Clock Makers Story.


his tools carefully put away IN the leather
valse that he had carried strapped on his
back like knapsack, the modest sum he
had asked for his services had been re-
ceived and placed in his well-worn wallet,
and he had come out on the piazza by
Robbie and Bessie to take his departure.
What wonderful man was this old
clock maker, to the children! All day they
had kept ut his side watching his skillful
fingers adjusting the intricate mechanism
of The bronze parlor clock; setting the
German cuckoo clock in the kitchen call
ing the hours again and the time piece that
had stood useless on the mantle piece in
Robbie's bed room, spread all its concealed
surprises before their brigh inqnisitive
eyes, arlfully put the works in order again,
and aroused from its slumbers a sweet
toned striker that henceforlh would SUM-
mon Robbie from his morning nap; and
had won the boys heart by teaching him
how to wind it; while Bessie stood by in
open-eyed admiration, that ut last found
ullerance in the innocent question::
20. Mr.. Clock Maker. is 90 Santa Kausp'
How Robbie, in his six-year-old expert
ence, laughed ut this. and asked her if she
Vltl uOl hllpW lutI y tItt Sittuo SsshS III buC
winter time, with his reindeer and his
sleigh, and now it WAS almost peach time.
On the broad piazza the old clock max
er fingered, his eyes resting wistfully on
the fair upturned faces of the children.
This look caught Mrs. Hewitt's notice rs
she crossed the hail. She came forward
Robbie, Offer your friend chair, she
said addressing the little boy, and then
turning to the old man. Why not wait
until later? 1t is SO warm now 10 travel
on the dusty road. 1t will be pleasanter
walking when the evening breeze rises.
With grateful gesture he accepted the
pruffrred courtesy, and Mrs. Hewitt was
called to the piazza shortly after by
Bridget.
Come, mistress, and see the darin s.
It's the quarest thing the likin' they've tux
10 the gin tleman out there! It'll do your
heart good to to see them.'
In front of the steps leading down to the
walk Robbie had placed the chair on which
the old man was sitting. On each side of
him sat the children. The old mans hands
were crossed on his knees. and in them
were nesLled the little fingers of his young
admirers, while they looked up at him
with a reverential gaze that was mex
pressibly touching. He was not speaking
10 them; his gaze was fixed far away
across the wide fields that stretched in
| front of the house in an unbroken sweep,
until they seemed to melt into the sky that
was now coloring with the tints of sunset.
Mrs. Hewitt joined the party. drawing her
chair close 10 the sloup, for she, too, felt
herself strongly attracted towards the
stranger, while Bridget, with her red. bare
arms folded across her kind breast, looked
with shining eyes at her little favoritcs.
There were traces of some great sorrow
on the pale, worn face, Mrs. Hewitt
thought as she looked at it. Perhaps that
a. co lnted for the patient sweetness with
which all day he had borne with the chill.
lren's :ncessant questioning and the inter-
lering of the meudling liltle fingers.
Have you far to go?' she asked as he
withdrew his gaze from the landscape and
turned it towards her.
Until my work is done, madam | 90
wherever there is u chance of obtaining
employment.
Il have never seen you in this neighbor-
hood before. Is your home in this vicinily?'
Homer he repeated in accents of the
deepest sadness. have no home, mad
am, am alone in tile world. quite alone.
A thrill of pity dimmed her eyes. She
could not help contrasting her own happy,
PROSPEROUS life with that of the unforLu-
nate homeless man before her And she
mentally thanked God for all his blessings
her fond husband and her darling chill.
dren, and that husbands mother who was
AS dear to her as her own. Far away
down ,he road now she saw Il black speck
that she knew was the buggy bringing
home her husband and her mother in law
from their visit to the city. With an i'm
pulse of kindness she exclaimed.
Then you shall not 90 on the road to-
night. Stay with us and rest. Tomorrow
you Can resume your journey, but tonight
our home must be yours. Thank God, it
is happy home; and you must share our
happiness this evening".
Two little hands squeezed his in earnest
entreaty-four innocent eyes looked COAX
ingly up at HIM. He could not resist their
pleading. Kind Bridget in twnkling
had unslrapped the knapsack, and he re-
sumed his seat, saying:
Il have been homeless many years,
dear lady. but to-day, know not why,
something of my lost peace seemed to have
come back to me when | entered under
this blessed roof. I he looks of this little
fellow made me think of my own sturdy
little one as he was at his age. could
almost fancy that it was he again who Was
standing at my keen chirping to me; and
that IL was his little fingers that were rov.
ing over the work table playing with the
tools there. But he WIS welcome to do it
Often and often have | been glad to re-
member that never chided him for it
my little lad, my little lad!
You had Ii family, then, and you have
lost themP' sympathizingly asked Mrs
Hewitt.
Dear madam, | had u family; a wife,
the dearest, tenderest soul, with heart
full of love and goodness for all her fellow