The Washington critic., 1886-06-21
TRUE STORY OF A WATCH.

IBenjamin Northrop in the N. Y. Graphlc1
In the pawnbroker's window where
the old, reedy, many keyed Clarionet
was lying in its green frayed case and
where the gold watch was hanging
with its placard which told the inquis-
tive passer.by that 1t had been pre-
sented by Queen, there was silence
after the Watch had told its story, as
our readers were informed one short
fortnight ago. The Queen, so the
Watch facetiously observed, was one
Of pack Of cards, not the spouse of
reigning monarch, as the Clarionet at
first supposed.
SO when this denouement was made
the Clarionet felt more justly aggrieved.
II noticed your impatient curiosity"
exclaimed the Watch after pause,
'and told you the wrong story. The
Queen that gave me to my owner wore
no crown of gold. Her head was con.
tent to be crowned with golden hair,
but II was in her true blue eyes that one
could see her royal nature. Her life
will be crowned, however, by such
crown as never was worn on an earthly
monarch. She was the wife of simple.
minded engineer employed on the
Straightline Road, named George Mar
tin. He used to own me, and II ever
there was Queen she was one. Do
you want to hear my real story?'
OF course they did, from the inquisi-
tive Clarionet up to the Diamond Ring
in its velvet.lined case. They wanted
to hear II very much, so after clearing
its throat the Watch began:
"All the employees of the Straightline
road" explained the Timepiece, "ex-
cepting the firemen and engineers were
on strike, and perhaps this was what
made George Martin-the husband Of
my Qucen-the engineer of the Night
Express No. 10, button up his great
coat more closely and pull down his
cap more tightly as the train slowly
pulled and rumbled out of Salemville
and started on its long journey to
3ordertown. Anyway, whatever 1t
was, his face was paler than usual and
he kept q tighter hold upon the lever
as he peered into the mist and darkness
which almost hid the track before
him.
"'Just such night as No. A went
over the bank at Long Point Water
Tank, he remarked to Jim, the fire.
man.
'Pshaw2' returned the latter.
That's all right answered the en-
gineer, but / wish l was at home with
Queen Betsey and the girls all the
same
"Then he relapsed into silence, and
the train sped on, whizzing past small
stations, shooting around curves and
rumbliDg over culverts, while the engi-
neer never for an instant lost sight of the
almost invisible track which stretched
out in two threadlike lines before the
flying engine.
"On the side of hill there wan
dered valley, which narrowed at
places SO that the roadway was
crowded for room. Then again il
widened out into small valleys divided
into meadows, wheat fields, groves and
pastures, while the picturesque houses
of the farmers dotted the hillsides. Just
at the entrance to this valley, ON the
first hill which guarded the way like
sentinel, was where the Queen lived.
'Their lawn sloped gently to the
| bullOW pll VI WOOuSt lhC
leaves in summer she could catch a
glimpse of the lights of the flying
train, looking like a company of
Will,o' -the-wisps on race for life, so
rapidly did they flash past the trees.
Through the same leaves he could see
the lighted lamp that the Queen al.
ways left in the front window to cheer
him on his lonely way. Even in that
passing glimpse the lamp talked to him
as only a lamp in the window can talk
1t told him to hurry on; to keep 6
brave heart; to keep his head clear, his
eyes sharp, his ears keen, and to re
member always that some one was
watching for him, waiting for him and
praying, too.
"The lamp did not confne itsel
merely to conveying messages to an6
fro in the gloom, like commonplace
electricity, even though these messages
did not come through the ears. no
through the eyes, and never reached til,
brain before going straight to the heart
which the most expert electrician ha
never yet accomplished with his subtl,
fluid.
ut had other and still more wonder
full gifts, possessed by lamps in genera
ever since Aladdin's time; but wis
lamp, and all lamps are wise, never dis
plays this marvellous achievement Il
mankind except at night time, and onl.
then when that specimen of mankint
to whom 1t shows this gift can see it
gentle rays through the window pane
of home. 1t must be his home, too
Its charm is broken in any other place
Besides the power of talking /
could paint as never a mortal artis
painted since the painters art wa
known. Quick as flash, the ray
which had pierced the darkness AM
entered the engines cab set about will
iuvinsible paints and brushes to per
form their work of magic. Their worl
was no sooner commenced than ended
The walls of the cab, with their dirt
windows covered with grease and oil
the polished steel levers, the gauge, tn
bars and the wheels of the engine wer
gone, and in their place were neatl
papered walls hung with pretty pic
lures; the windows were as clean a
soap and water oft applied could max
them, and the curtains were of spotles
white. The Moor was carpeted wit
ingram Of neat and CHEEKY pattern
where the sun beams liked to spor
especially when baby sported wit
them-a pattern that was homelike b
lamplight. The picture didn't stol
with this. A sweet-faced woman 50
in an easy chair rocking, by the side @
the dying embers in the CRATE, for eve
in summer the nights are cool on tn
hillside, Her hair was the color of rip
corn silk and her eyes so blue and ter
der, so true ana gentle, that even til
magic artist painted just a little slowe
when he came to this fair figure, linge
ing lovingly as he did his work.
Then the door by his side opened
and in crib by the side of bed wei
nestled two little baby girls. The