Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-04-29

at her fathers side and, putting her
arms round his neck, kissed the white.
tired face and called him by every en-
dearing name she could think of. AS
the door opened, she drew her arms
more tightly round him, as though she
would protect him from threatened
harm
.'Hulloa! What's this?" said the
Mayor, as he and the janitor entered.
Don't, please don't let them dis
charge him. said Barbay, her big, sad
eyes looking anxiously at the two men.
''He couldn't help it, indeed he could
not; for he's been the Town Clock all
day and night. Oh, don't-please
don't!' she pleaded, the tears begin
ming to roll down her cheeks.
This is more serious than
thought" said the Mayor, gently draw
ing the child away, and putting his ear
down to her fathers heart.
"How long has he been this way?"
/ he asked quickly.
81 don't know. went to sleep all of
sudden, and when walked up was
on the floor, and Father was asleep
too"
Get a doctor here as quick as pos
sible," said the Mayor to the janitor.
"He is stunned and may be so for
hours; but I think he'll come out of it
all right. | confess do not know what
to do myself
"Now," he said, turning to Barclay,
who was again leaning protectingly
over her father, tell me who made the
clock strike just now?''
With terrified look Barclay crept
closer to her father as she said:
ooh, please, couldn't wake him;
and l was afraid they would discharge
him."
WELL" said the Mayor, "who made
the clock striker"
81 did," said Barbay, trembling all
over.
"You," said the Mayor, looking her
over carefully-"you made the big town
clock striker"
please, please, don't let them do
anything to Father!" said Barclay. Il
tried SO hard to do it right
She half sobbed out the last words,
as her head went down on her fathers
shoulder.
The Mayors eyes threatened to give
him trouble, as he said kindly:
Come here, little woman. Do not
be afraid. No one shall do anything
to your father that you do not like.
Come and tell me how you made the big
clock strike"
Encouraged by his words and by the
tone of his voice, she loosened her hold
of her father and had soon given an
account of how she had tried to be the
Town Clock.
did count all wrong?" she asked,
wistfully. "Oh, it was so dreadful"
The Mayor put his arm round her
gently and drew her to him, his eyes
glistening and lump rising in his
throat, as he thought of all she had
gone through.
"You are dear, brave little woman, .
he said, earnestly, brushing her hair
back from her eyes. eyes, you count
ed all right and everybody knew what
as though it was almost too weak and
time it was; but the old clock sounded
too tired to strike; that was ALL
"And they won't discharge Father
"No, he shall not be discharged; but
think we must see that he has few
days rest before he goes to work
again.
"Oh," gasped Barbay-oh, how
| beautiful! Then ! don't mind-no, l
don't mind anything and putting her
head on the Mayors shoulder, she
burst into tears.
The next day the story was told all
over the city of how the tall tower. had
been struck by lightning and the Town
Clock had been stunned and uncon-
scious for hours; and of how Barclay,
who had been stunned too for few
moments, had tried to be the Town
Clock herself, so that Father, dear
Father, might not be discharged.-The
Independent.