Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-04-26
HE FIXED THE CLOCK.
TOOK PAYMENT FOR HIS PRO-
FESSIONAL LABOR.
He Was Member of an Old Time Order
and That Gave Him tho Means of Do
ing tho Farmer Good Turn, as 1t
Happcned-A Successful Job.

1t was half an hour beforo dinne or
time. Farmer Brown was sitting on
his high porch inhaling the odor OF
roasting chicken and baking mince
pies, Indicative OF the coming meal
The old gentleman was too portly to
longer follow the plow, but he loved
to watch the pleasant farm life all
around him.
"Pa, pa, here's a tramp" shriily
called out his daughter Sally from
the front yard Farmer Brown arose
slowly, and shuffied around the cor
ner. The person who had excited
Sally's cry was standing by the we'll
sweep expostulating with the fair
one.
"You should not call me a tramp"
jackson. I'm pilgrim, knight OF
the Order OF the Sons Of Rest"
well, pilgrims tramp. amt
hep" queried the old man jovially.
The stranger looked up and bowed
defarentially. "No. sir. A pilgrim
is quite different from tramp. In
these days pilgrims are few. but they
trace their lineage back to bible
days"
..Hey%
"In the book OF Genesis we read
how Abraham went into Egypt. Ho
was tho first pilgrim"
"Do pilgrims work." asked the
farmer, seating himself.
Mot II they know i'll mean they
do not stay long enough in any
one place to have constant employ
ment." responded the newcomer
politely.
"Then they're just plain tramps,"
calculated Miss Sally.
'.No. no, you misunderstand me-"
said jackson deprecatingly, ..they
do not work at hard labor it is true,
but they do exercise their ingenuity
to secure food and clothes. !"
sort OF bunco chaps" suggested
the farmer, thinking OF a certain ex-
perience OF his own.
"Oh. no. indeed" replied jackson,
"nothing like that mean by fair.
honorable methods. Now my forte
is-is''-thinking rapidly of his &C.
complishments-"putting in time" F"
"Be you clock makerP" querled
Sally with renewed interest
"Something that way" answered
jackson, gladly availing himself OF
the loophole.
just the feller I've boon lookin'
for" calculated the farmer; .come
right in, I've got job for you"
jackson reluctantly followed the old
man into the best room, where
great-grandfather's clock stood ST.
lently in one corner.
"It ain't run for nigh onto twenty
years, reckon" he explained. land
as far as I'm concerned don't give
durn If 1t don't run for twenty
years more, but Sally's got the idee
in her head it ought to be fixed. II
you git her started I'll give you
square meal"
"Oh. mister, do fix it. and Ill be
awful much obliged" interjected
Sally, poking her head in the open
doorway.
commanded her father. The head
disappeared.
Jackson's heart was full of dismay,
but his countenance was unmoved.
"Bring me the oil can from the
sewing machine. a feather and a
CLOTH" he ordered in business-like
tOue 4Ho bTtlCltS WeFe IOrbuCOu-
ing. and ths farmer left tho stranger
to his task. Slowly he removed the
hands and opened the dial He
peered in at the works with horror.
Such a complicated mass of machin-
cry he had never before seen. Con-
scIous that Sally was probably watch
ing him, he began dusting the wheels
and oiling the pivots. The entire !
half pint of oil was distributed i'm
partially over the works. and the /
rusty weights wound up. Then with /
fearful heart he gave the pendulum
a gentle push.
Heaven be praised, it swung stead
lily and smoothly.
The job was done and the dinner |
was ready. Fair Sally herself helped /
him to the drumstick and great I
slices of white meat. with plenty OF
the ..fxins, quarter section OF the
great mince pie completing the re-
past
When departing Sally followed !
him to the gate. "rm awful sorry I
called you u tramp" she said. land I
think it was nice OF you to tix tho