Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-08-03
THE OLD CLOCKS STORY.
BY ANNIE Il. HYDE.


bed. The fact is, there never was
little boy who was sorrier than he was
when the clock struck eight, and he
was told it was bedtime.
''It's only eight o'clock just MS we're
having the most funl' he would say,
and beg for Just a few moments more
Of play with Bob or sister Emily, who
were much older than he and were al
lowed to sit up longer. But all the
begging and coaxlng were of no avail;
the big old clock on the stairs had GER
tainly struck eight loud enough for all
to hear, and to bed he must certainly
go.
81 tell you what, old fellow" said
he to the clock, one evening as he was
on his way up stairs, 'you're the
greatest bother in the hOusel You
make more noise when it's eight
O'Clock than we children do at blind
man's-bluf down stairs, and L think If
you can't be quieter, you'd better just
leave and go somewhere else! DO you
hear?" But the old clock licked on as
loudly as ever, aud Johnny thought he
saw a sort of smile on its big round
face. He sat down on the stairs oppo-
site to have a good look. Yes, there
certainly was a smile, and, what was
stranger still, the loud ticking as he
listened sounded like words, and grad
ually he could hear whole sentences IN
rhyme, something like this: "Strange
You never-hear me striking, telling
you-it's growing latel Don't you
know you're very sleepy, and I've told
you it Is eight?"
Dear me, how very strangew
said little Johnny. "You're the fun
niest old clock ever did see. 1 didn't
know you could talk"
Then the clock replied: "Ahl you
never stop to listen, though [ call you
every day, in the morning for your
lessons, in the evening from your play.
All day long 1 stand here calling, if
you children would but heed. Some
times when they do not listen it is very
bad indeedl'
"WhyP" asked little Johnny. The
clock went on: "Once L heard a dread
ful story of a boy so foud of play, he
would never hear us calling, never
wanted to obey"
''Iell me all about him." said little
Sthnny, deeply interested.
'Far way from here it happened in
the land where L was born. All the
week he played and shouted, gathered
peoples in the corn, climbed the trees
for nuts and apples, helped the farmer
toss the hay, chased the butterflies
and rabbits all the golden summer day.
But when rang the village school-bells,
calling, calling far and wide, and the
bright-faced village children laid their
toys and games aside, he was crying,
pouting, scoldIng, No, he wouldn't,
shouldn't CO. till at last his gentle
mother, grieved and weary, left him
30"
What a very naughty boyl" said
little Johnny.
Loud the kitchen clock was calling,
Hurry, hurry, do not stayl Still
there's time for you to catch them; run
and join them while you mayl My,
how loud that clock was tickingi But
he didn't stop to hear, singing, dancing
through the meadows without thought
of care or fear. Now the bells had all
done toIling, they had closed the school
house door, still he seemed to hear that
ticking even louder than before. Then
he looked behind-oh, horrori-and
his very heart stood still, for the
kitchen clock WAS following, jumping,
humping down the hillr
"Oh, how dreadful" said little
Johnny.
"rast he flew across the meadow,
climbed the fence and leaped the brook; !;
but he knew the clock was following,
though he dared not stop to look
Louder, louder came the ticking; faster
few the frightened child-stumbling
falling through the hedges, over thorns
and brsmbles wildp'
''Pd like to have seen 'em" said
Johnny.
"When at last, all worn and tired,
the poor child could run no more, then
he saw that he was standing Just beside
the school-house door. All, how glad
he was to enter and to study with the
rest, for the ticking could no: follow if
he only did his bestl"
"Tm glad he got rid of the horrid
old thing" said little Johnny.
''Ah, but he had learned lesson !
When the bells rang loud and clear,
who of all the village children was so
quick as he to hear? And, whatever
he was doing, at his work or at his
play, when the clock struck he would
listen, glad and ready to obey. Now,
my boy, if you don't listen when / tell
you it is eight, ri come ticking, whir-
ring, jumping
"Why, my dear little boy, here you
are asleep on the stairs and the clock
striking ninel" Little Johnny sat mp
and rubbed his eyes, and looked very
hard at his mama and then at the
clock; but the steady old timepiece was
looking as it always did and ticking as
soberly as ever.