Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-05-06
AUNT MATTHIAS CLOCK

AUNT MATTHIAS CLOCK.
You know, my dear Herbert. ~ said
my aunt Martha, that in the precari-
Gus state OF ny health, with nv life
hanging as II were, upon a thread. il
Dehoyes me to see thai all my affairs are
IN order"
Certainly" responded, with duti-
ful bat difficult gravity.
My aunt was only little past middle
age, weighed eleven stone two, had a
color Ike a peOny, and waist which
measured twenty-eigEt inehes-was. in
truth, IN fun health and vigor, and
likely 10 live to a ripe old age; so that
her favOrlte fiction that she was the VIC
tim Of a hopeless and mysterious NAL
ady, and might Al any moment shuttle
OF tins mortal coil, was without tie
slightest foundation in fact. Never
theleSs she derived much enjoyment
from the illusion, and delighted in the
contemplation of her own premature
deceaSe, and in perpetually going over
all the details of her interment and
other cheerful accessories of the supreme
event.
She was a dear old soul, and | was
indebted to her for much Of the happi-
ness Of my childhood and the easy en-
joyment Of my youth. l owed her both
affection and duty and paid them heart
lily; but | must confess | found it diff
cult 10 respond Decomingly TO the con-
stantly recurring claims on my sympa-
thy with reference TO this death bed
bOgy Of hers. The perpetual cry of
"WOlfl'' had hardened me, suppose.
These anniversaries are solemn
things. " my aunt observed, shaking her
head and signing profoundly. Il can
not disguise from myself, Herbert, that
| shall IN all probability never see an
other birthday. Before the second of
March comes round again | shall most
likely be mOuldering in the silent
tomb"
-'Whirr-r gurr-r-r - bOOm-boom
-bangl' sounded from the dim corner
Immediately behind my seat.
Good heavenSir | exclaimed, spring
ing TO MY feet, and turning round 80 as
TO face the enemy. what on earth
was that? Something explodedl"
My aunt sat still, perfectly unmoyed
and placid.
That, my dear boy" she explained,
sis your grandfather's clock"
"A clOckI'' l echoed. ''ls that all?
/ thought it was an internal machine.
What. III the name of all that's diabol-
ical. is the matter with the thing?"
The chime is out of order,n aunt
Martha replied. 1.-The clOckmaker says
IL is worn out; but it used to have the
sweetest, clearest tone. L remember 1t
when | was a child
Its a hideOus discOrd nowV' le-
marked, with some dntnlES, for was a
good deal ruffled at having made such a
donkey of myself in my first alarm
u am very fond of the old clock, "
said my aunt plaintiyely. lit Is asso-
ciated with the happiest days OF my
life. and its chime-altered as 1t Is
brings back my dear fathers voice. lie
was a martinez with regard to punctu-
ality. and that dear old clock kept time
for the whole house. 1t has always
SINCE been in my bedroom. l liked TO
see il the first thing when L awoke IN
the morning; but | had 1t moved down
here last week. It-it"-reluctanti
disturbed me little in the night, L
don't sleep so well as used, L hnd-'in-
other symptom of the end, Herbert
and | thought it better to move the
clock"
II don't wonder-the brutel" l NUT
tered resentfully.
II have felt the change" continued
nav amt lat my age one feels every
thing. But am trying to wean my
self from earthly things, Herbert, and.
AS 1 said Just now, l am anxious TO see
that all nv affairs are in order and pre-
pared for what may come at any mo-
ment. have done my best, | think
-mCdestly-"tO save everybody trou-
bic. and have explained my wishes as
clearly as | can, both in writing ana
verbally "
"Yes; YOU have nothing to reproach
Yourself with on that score" acqui-
esced, with veiled Irony.
at will be for you, Herbert. TO see
that they are carried out faithfully,
concluded my aunt, cOmplacently ac-
cepting my remark. :,
You may trust me, aunt Martina,
| replied
ayes. nv dear boy, | know | can
You are 4 heir, of course, HerDert'as
4 have often told you. Everything Is
LETT to you, exec epting the legacles TO the
servants. poor things, and provision
for my niece. Phyllis Mortimer, my
moor SISTERS only child. | have never
seen her; her father quarrelled with me
after moor Aunie's death, and then he
died. and the girl grew up amongst LEI LEI
own relatives on the other slde oi ..ne
water. Queer sort of people they mus.
he | fancy. or they wouldn't i've aI
sach a place as Calais. They evidently
shared Philip Morlimers preludlce
against ne. aud of course l couiu not
force myself upon the child alter her
fathers death; if we had been recon-
eiled before that, 1t would nave peen
different. However. Phyllis IS my own
sisters child, the only one LETT Oh oul
family excepting yourself, and 1 nave
thought it right TO remember the reia-
tlonship and to treat her as my niece II,
INV will have left her one huhdreu
and fifty pounds year. Mo-
Il am very glad TO hear 1t, aunt MAI
THAI / said heartily.
Yes. my dear boy; knew you mou
approye.n my aunt relolned. ..,nS
now there is only one thing unset,,.u' ,,,
and that is-the clock. / am aIraio =,
looking anxlously at me-you .,i Mouiu
not care to have it, although, EN.n :
tender glance at the abominaoie ins'A "