The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-06-28
THE BRIDAL Eve.
llY ST..

| back Of tho stove, an old Dutch clock
The clock was imported from old Fa,lcr
land by my father, many years aso. IL
an odd.looking piece OF furniture; tal
rs the room, and III form almost III.
shape Of some Of tho modern metallic
burial cases. It's whole appearance
outside and inside, is Dutch. The
broad face il elninently Dutch, and
when was boy, as the works wonld
give premonitory symptoms OF striking
l used almost to expect tho German
Gin, ssei, drei, etc. i
The story am about 10 tell Of this
clock Is absolutely true-strange as 1t
may seem. r.,
Fourteen years ago--this night was
the night before my marriage--a dis.
NAL, gloomy, fearful night outside, and
within our house that evening it seemed
gloomy and dismal also. eT.7
My parents, being unusually fatigued,
had retired very early, in order 10 be-.
come rested and prepared Tor tho follow.
ing day. My parents were very fond Of
me, and no son ever bore his parents Il
greater love. ....
They were hiehlyin favor Of the up.
proaching marriage. 40 were also the
parents and friends OF my intended
bride. Everything seemed to smile be.
neticently upon our approaching nup.
,ials. We were poor, but possessed
strong bands and willing hearts, with
which to battle life's vicissitudes.
Precisely as the clock struck 7, Iarose
from before the fire, where had sat
thinking OF the past and prospective
future; throwing on q light overcoat, for
it was raining very fast, commenced
putting on my gloves, preparatory to
making short call upon my beloved.
Estinguishing the. light upon the Ia
BILE, l turned toward the outer door OF
the room, when / suddenly heard my
name-Abner=caiied twice, in III utn.
nis.aksbly Germee::: voice.
Tho voice was precisely in tho dlrec.
ton OF the old clock in the corner. l
had always supposed myself courageous:
but my heart stood still within me for u
moment, and felt as il death itself had
slezed upon my vitals. I knew the voice
came from neither OF my parents, for
both were in the most distant part OF the
house. l knew there waa no human
being in The lower part OF the house
save myself.
For several second5 stood rooted to
the spot, unable to move or aDeak.
when at once there came the most
binding and fearful flash Of lightning i
had ever beheld. with an almost stimuli.
taneous crash OF terrific thunder.
THIS brought me from my trance Of
fear to my senses again. Staggering
toward the table, l found a match. md
hastily relighted my lamp. My first
impulse then was to look in the direc.
ton OF the clock. There it stood, grim
and Dutch as ever; but looking again
and listening, l discovered it had stop.
ped at two minutes past seven!
The rain now came down in perfect
sheets OF water, with no prospect OF
abatement, Securing the lower part of
the house, I retired to my own loom.
Tho first thing which met my gaze
from my chamber window tho next
morning was the blackened remains Of
q huge elm that had stood about half
way between the sitting room and the
front gate, and directly beside the path
which led from the one to tho other.
My next act Was to throw myself upon
my knees, and thank the Supreme Being
for my singular preservation.
Had gone out the door upon the
night previous, at the precise moment
when l was about to do 80, who shall
say that I would not have shared the
fate Of the noble tree in whose branches
! had played when child.
AS descended to the sitting room
heard my father complaining that the
old clock had stopped, for the first time
since it was set upin that room.
TO make this discovery, my boy"
said he, upon tho morning of your
wedding.day, savors OF i'll fear"
I took him BY the hand aud led him
to the ruined elm. After explaining to
him the iact OF my wonderful preserva.
ton, l let him draw hisown conclusions
in regard to the strange manner in
which had been saved.
The old clock never ran again, al.
though repeated efforts were made by
the most skillful workmen to regulate
its works. 1t still stands in the same
corner Of my fathers house, and if my
parents pass away before lam called
hence it shall be removed to the best
corner of my own house.
Tho wedding day was beautiful after
the rain, and our life has since been
full Of peace and Joy.