Sharp County record., 1885-04-02
THE SPOILED CLOCK.
How Ned Fixed" 1t and Made 1t Go,
and the Way 1t Went.

How Ned Fixed" 1t and Made 1t Go,
and the Way 1t Went.
The eight-day clock gave great deal
of trouble. 1t had habit of stopping,
and no one knew why. 1t was duly
wound and everything done for it that
could be done for a clock. But still it
would stop. 1t was the clock frankie
went to school by, and the one that
marked off the happy play hours when
his little friends came TO see him, or
when he was allowed to visit them. So
he missed it, and wondered a good deal
about it, and wished it could be fixed.
But some alterations were to be made
in the house, and his mother said Ninny
should take the clock to the garret
until its new nook was ready, and then
it should be sent down town for repairs.
The garret was the place where all
the boys got together on stormy days.
There was room to play circus and
soldier, and no one came there to say
Hush" or Pray, boys, do be quiet. "
In one corner was Frankie'S playhouse.
There was his big dappled-gray rocking
horse, his span of rocking-ponieS, his
swing, his box of tools, and more play
things of every kind than you could
count Ninnr, whom sho carried the
clock up there, took care to get it as far
away as possible from this corner.
Thin boys will be sure to be afther
it." she said. 80 I'll put it on a high
beam in the dark, where they'll niver
find il"
But it had not been long in its dusty
solitude before there came a rainy day,
and all the neighborhood boys fOcked
in. Ned was the biggest and most rest
less one, and it was not long before he
spied the clock.
Hello, frankie! Whose clock is
that" he cried.
It's ours; it's spoiled" "
"Spoiled9 Doesn't it go?'
NO, it doesn't 60; it dosn't do any
thing but stop"
We'll, don't see how it can stop if
it hasn't been going roared Ned with
a loud laugh.
Lets look at it, anyway" he add
ed, climbing up on box and lifting
the clock from its shelf. He carried
it to window and set it down on the
floor. All the boys gathered around.
"Open it," cried John.
Lets see the wheels" ," clamored
Willie.
Ned opened the door, but found in
side only the key to wind it with, for of
course the face hid the machinery. Ned
shook it and it began to tick.
Il can fix it, he said. "You let it
stand too still. See. it goes And,
sure enough, it did, feebly, and for only
a few minutes.
Ned had no wish to do mischief, but
he had great desire to tinker Say,
frankie, may | fix it?"
"If you can replied frankie, glad
". Mamma said she wanted it
fixed"
frankie $ box of tools stood near. and
Ned took a screw driver, and undid one
screw after another until the face was
loose This he took of. The boys
crowded closer to exclaim and ask
questions.
"Oh, what lot of wheelsm cried
one.
"Are they gold?" asked another.
They're brass said Ned. And
this thing here is the spring"
1t was interesting indeed to see its
wheel within wheel, and that coil of flat
steel-blue wire. Ned examined every
part, took out one screw and then
another, until finally he had everything
out of the case This took him an hour
or more. Then he tried Winding nn the
spring, and found he could turn the key
round and round, and the spring would
tighten by slow degrees. But as soon
as he took away the key it would un-
wind with whirl.
at goes now, doesn't it?" said
frankie.
"Ye-s,n said Ned, little doubtfully.
Truth is he was beginning to be dis
treSsed at the sight of so many scat
tered pieces, and so many screws, and
to feel certain he could never put them
together as they were before.
ayes, it goes" said frankie jOyfully.
"Now, Ned. let me wind it,