The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-03-26
STORY OF A CLOCK.
pY sEprERLEE.
I was once an object Of pride.

By sEprERLEE.
Twas once an object Of pride.
Unlike my metallic rivals Of this stu
pcndous nineteenth century, I am or
ganized of wood. must tell you how
tho completeness of finish, visible in m,
wheels and general structure. cam,
about. A poor boy wandered through
the streets Of Germany, saying over ant
over again: IF I find a good Job,
promise to wall it with honesty, morta,
1t with prayer, and roof it with perse.
verance."
At last he got to the ears of Clock.
maker Politessc, who said: "Serve your
time, Max, and we'll see what can be
turned out of you"
So Max served his time.
Day after day I watched him delve 81
his art, and saw his lips move and his
eyes fix steadily as if for some unseen
Presence. That was prayer.
I know mo matter how that often he
felt himself to be in sort of enigmati.
cal vortex, so complicated and exquisite
were all the little mysteries of his art;
despair seemed to seize him and he
would throw down his tools and weep.
After while he would set to work
again with determined execution that
made the bits of wood fit into place like
revealed puzzle. That was Persevcr.
ancc.
WEAKNESS would seize him; lie would
grow disconsolate over the poor pit.
lance earned; promise and hope would
absorb him at the prospect of doubling
his income by sighting his work. But
he lowered in manly scorn of the temp.
tation, and became more than ever
docilc to his art. That was Honesty.
Sometimes workmatc would stop nj
his bench with a filthy novel. This
one he would invariably shake of, and
work with the vim of q blacksmith.
saw two merry fellows drag hin,
each by an arm to drink with them.
That reused the lion in him. He
knocked them down.
He became such an adept that was
put in his hands to be finished, and !
was an intricate job, so Politesse aver
red; and felt sometimes like saying to
Max: Don't despair; there's hard
place to everything worth having"
L saw him one day try SO hard to
make tho work move in order that he
flung his face down on his hands and
remained SO till tho veins swelled out
on his forehead. Whom he looked up a
bright beam was in his eyes; it was a
cloudy day. too, and all the sunshine
that could be found seemed to be there
on his face.
why" he was saying in stolen
whisper, and like one who had found a
pearl at the depths, If God blesses the
work it must be good. Oh, do, do!
Oh, do bless it!' he reiterated, and
looked up and up as if his spirit from
height to height assembled still, until the
tears came. shy and covert, like a girls,
and that hour was the dawn of his
triumph.
God surely blessed the work." ru.
minated he, as at last stood in mon.
ument like completion on his bench,
land because of that it must ever have
friend"
But wait; let me give you my like.
ness.
was at this time, aud am still, three
foot tall. have large, clean, square
face and strong hands. have two
iron weights and loud, sweet bell
My pendulum wags across the face o.
little German picture published b,
''Verlag Druck v Seltz Wansdcck. .
It is called Sunday Afternoon" ant
represents two little girls with thci1
books and best dresses going to church
The church is in sight, and its gate, al
The end of the will-howcred path
stands open. My frame is of good OLE
lat-'oppcd mahogany, and l have :
blooming Easter cross on my door.
DO you like me?
Well. one day rich lady stepped il
md bought me at sight.
After this, my first launch into SO
,iety. changed owners several times
stood on fine cur;ained pedestals. will
handsome statues on my head, ant
ny bell sounded in "marbl,
aalls." But. alas! for the nineteenth
century, always lmmoring that '.somc
hing new" which is called progress,
hncy clocks of Romco's poised ON on,
loot and holding aloft the time wer,
given my place. ], with my honest ole
lace, was moved back farther AM
artler, and so far forgotten at last a.
% be thought scarce worth the troubl,
If winding. Remarks of the following
nature became familiar:
'"Wcll, where did you get old Noah? p
Somewhere in the chaotic past"
Wnat al ola Wneczer 1t must be b.
his time. Does it go?"
"Yes, when it's wound"
"And do you not wind it?'
"Oh, bless you, we keep it for mer,
associations; it will make capital fire
wood some day."
At the mention of "firewood'' M,
'ccollections returned TO poor Max ant
I'll his hard work on me, and his faitl
that because God blessed the work
would ever have friend.
At last was passed by my would-b'
secondary into the hands of Fritz, one
The family servants about to be married
[ lived newly polished, and highly up
preciatcd with Fritz and his worthy wifi,
for MANY n tlav. and woke him III, r,