The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-02
For THE ARKANsAw TRAVELLER.
 FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
BY JENNIE PORTER ARNOLD.

"Clang, clang, clang p ringing out loud and clear on the fresh air of that quiet summer morning, resounding through my chamber and awakening me from my sweetest morning nap.
 If there was one thing that perfectly detested more than another, it was that changing old five o'clock bell. The rule was to ring it three minutes, but ,s1i.y believe the watchman rung it ten, just because scolded so much about it. l had fumed and fretted over it ever since l took up my abode in that pleasant little chamber, which overlooked the irregular collection of buildings known as the "Cedarvale Spoon and Spec Manufacto- ry." But fretting and fuming were of no avail, for the detestable clang of its metal tongue disturbed my slumbers at the dawn of every new day. And this morn- ing of all others, when was dreaming so sweetly of-well, no matter who-per- haps will tell you at some future time. It has nothing to do with this story.
 It was cnly the remains of an old cus- tom-this bell ringing-which had been in force when Cedarvale was fourishing manufacturing place, long before my day. But if the good people of the present little one-horse village permitted the old rule to be observed, they regarded it as did as nuisance, and with an execration on its clattering tongue, turned over and went to sleep again.
 But on this particular morning l opened my sleepy eyes to find my roommate, Della Martin, already up and dressed.
 Della and had been mates since the days when we trotted to school hand in hand, and spoiled our new pinafores mak- ing mud pies in clam shell in our fathers gardens. Now we had been |" burnishers" in the spec department of the Cedarvale manufactory for six months or more, boarding together in the quaint old boarding house across the green. stretched my eyes as wide open as their heavy lids would permit, and jerked out sleepily: "What are you up for now It isn't morning yeti;
 "Why, yes, it is, too and the prettiest morning you ever saw. But it will be hot enough to melt you before noon, and l am going over to the shop to work while it is cool. Come, get up, sleepy-head,' giving me vigorous shake, for, by this time, was dozing of again. "Get up, and go with me. lwant some company"
 "WeIl, you won't get mine at this un- earthly hour," retorted, jerking away from her. "I won't get up in the middle of the night fer anyone" and turned over and tried to go to sleep again. But at the moment the bell, which had stopped an instant to take breath, suppose, burst forth again louder than ever.
 "Confound that bell wish Mcintyre would crack the old thing so it would never make loud noise again,"I ex- claimed, springing up from the pillow and glancing vengefully out of the win dow to where my enemy still swung and changed in the clumsy old belfry on the factory.
 All the sympathy received was hearty laugh from Della.
 "Oh, you can laugh" l said savagely, "but if you wanted to sleep as much as l do, you would hate it, too."
 "Well, you can't sleep-so do please get up and go with me. We can get three or four dozen done before breakfast and it will be SO much nicer than working through the heat of the day."
 It was common practice among the "burnishing girls" who lived near the factory to work for an hour or two before breakfast and take long rest at noon, during the warmest weather. But liked my morning nap too well to lose it, and the breakfast bell oftener found me in bed than out. So Della coaxed and teased in vain. obstinately refused, until was so wide awake that knew might as well get up as to try to sleep longer.
 "Well, suppose I should go," said at last when she was nearly out of patience. "l should starve, know, to work two hours without breakfast"
 "Starve, indeed! Poor little darling piaing all away from horse-load to a cart-load, isn't she2' Della said, mock ingly. pinching my plump arms-I weighed one hundred and forty, which I suppose was pretty plump for seventeen years. "Well, if you are likely to starve,