The record-union., 1893-07-31

which this clock descended taught the
children the pleasant fiction that the
striking OF the clock was produced by a
Httle fay or eli inside the works, who
pounded the bell with his hammer every
hour.
Now the legend OF this clock is that Mt
inc battle OF Austerlitz. just as the little
ell, onIlNlous 10 the roar and storm OF
pattIe, began TO hammer out the hour OF
that day and just as he had struck one
pIoW upon the bell, cannon bali from
one OF Napoleou's great guns came tear
ing through the cottage, breaking of a
splinter from the clock, passing on in its
mission OF death, which so angered the
fay that he dropped his hammer and re-
fused to finish The stroke to twelve, and
Lnat from thencetorth 10 this day be re-
fuses TO strike twelve. But, on the asser-
lon OF Genera! Finley himself, as often
as The hour comes arOund the clock sim
ply strikes one, and no amount OF tinker
ing VIII induce it 10 strike another blow
until another hour rolls around. In
proof OF the truth OF this legend, the old
clock mas TO this day an ugly scar, bear
ing the appearance of a splinter having
been torn OF, and it never strikes twelve,
pII always al that hour, after giving one
stroke, makes tremendous spIutter and
buzz ana then suddenly stops.
After the battle Of AusIerlitz it was
snugIy packed away and brought 10 the
lar west, where its owner located in log
cabin on the site OF the present town OF
gettysburg, Pa. Hero our clock again
resumed duty with its oId-time regular
lty, Win the same popularity about
SJriIIng. In course of time its owners
eldest son, Robert, a brave and manly
youth, became deeply enamored with
rustic beauty III the neighbOrhood by the
name OF Mary. Mary, although in love
with robert, was something OF coquette
and, In spite OF all his aYoWals, had, up
to date, been unable to elicit proper de-
gree OF reciprocity from her. Mary de-
lighted to fiirt with other beauX Of the
nelghborhOod, especially when Robert
was around. About this time our clock
took hand in the business and soon
brought them to an understanding.
one day word came that the Indians
were making foray into the settlement,
and close upon the word came the say
ages, attacking the settlers wherever
found IN an isolated or deteuseless condi-
ton. 1t so happened that Robert and his
aged parents lived some distance from
any OF the neighbors, and here the Indi-
ans came whooping and yelling, intent
on numbering the family. ON seeing
them approach Robert barricaded the
door and for time kept them at bav with
the old fiint-lock rifle, bat at last the door
began to give way, when Robert, quickly
lifting up part Of the puncheon floor.
concealed his parents beneath, replacing
the floor over them, and then, as lust the
door fell III, disappeared as if by magic.
The savages on entering were surprised
to lind the cabin deserted, and while
peerlng about in Wonderment, a rescuing
party was heard approaching, which
caused them to quickly decamp. Fore
most of the party came Mary bounding
into the cabin, and, supposing that Rob-
ert had been killed, began to bewail in
accents OF sympathetic grief, accusing
herself OF all manner OF coquetrv and
GOODNESS toward him, when, had he
only known it, she loved him dearer
than all the world" AT this point the
little fay began hammering away with all
his might, open flew the door and ont
from the clock bounded Robert and
clasped Mary in his arms.
Roberts parents We're soon released
from their hiding place, and in due course
OF time, very naturally, Robert and Mary
were married. Upon the death of Rob
errs parents the young couple took up
their residence on the old homestead.
with the old clock as one of their most
valuable possessions. After the war
Grandfather Robert and Grandmother
Mary moved to Bucyrus, and upon their
death the clock came into the DOS
session Of its present owner, ex-
Congressman Finley. 1t still keeps the
best OF time, but it has never forgotten
the insult received at Austerlitz. and no
amount Of tinkering or repairs has ever
been able to induce it to strike the hour
ofl2.