Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-05-14
enjoy their feast.

enjoy their feast.
A hanging cupboard, from
which couple of spoons, some
salt and a knife were taken, sug
gested certain hOuse.kt eplng ar
rangements, while on the table
we're pen, INK and paper with
book or two, evidently taken from
the hanging shelves IN another
corner. III deed, there were only |
corners IN which to hang things
for tue sides of the room were
great windows looking over the
CITY in all directions. But the most
curious thing in this curious room
was the great bell, reaching almost
from the ceiling to the floor;
tongueless, clapperless bell, that
had made no motion of any kind
since the day it had been placed
in position, many, many years
ago. Hanging in another corner
was the iron hammer that, guided
by the hand OF him who watched
in the tower, struck on tho rim OF
the great bell those clear loud
notes that kept record of the pass
ing of time over the alternately
waking and sleeping city. The
fourth corner held the tall, old
fashioned clock, as old as
the ball itself, that had served in
all that time, to tell the exact mo-
ment when the town clock must
strike. To Barby it was a matter
OF great interest: for Its face was
always changing as it told of the
moon aud the tides and the sea-
Sons.
'B lrbay,j said her father when
their feast over, he saw rapidly
approaching storm; much as | love
to have you here, l must send you
home now as fast as you can 60.
You would not like to be way up
here ia such a storm as those
angry looking clouds are bringing
us
'Oh, Fdther,' said Brrbay, Il
should not mind anything where
you are. Let me stay, please. l
love to watch the clouds play hide
and skeep from here
He looked at here hesitatingly a
moment, and as he did so a sudden
fla of lightning almost blinded
them, while great drops of rain
SplAshed on the wlndOwsils. There
was hardly time to close the WIN
dows before the aashing and boom
lug OF the heavenly artillery be
gan: for it was one of those storms
that come suddenly, only to leave
a sad story behind.
Suddenly she wondered what
made here feel so Querr, and why
she was on the floor. She m1st
have been asleep. She picked
herself up and wondered who
made her 20 to sleep all in mo
ment. And Father, why he had
fallen asleep in his chair too. Dear
Father, he looked so white and
tired; but then he had been the
Town Clock all day and all night.
so that Mr.. Harper could be al
home with his little baby boy.
Would he sleep long aud get
rested. she wondered. Before
Father came the Town Clock had
fallen asleep and failing to strike
the hour on time, had been dis
charged. 1t gave her such a
, hlppy, helpful feeling to think she
was here nov to wake Father in
time. She was so glad she hac
stayed. She wonld Jet him rest
few moments longer, bat it would
soon be time for the town clock tC
strike.
She stood at one OF the window
- and looked down, down en- tn
busy city, then up at the rapid,
moving clouds, already being kiss
ed by the Sun, as he bade them a
loving good. night. She loved I
watch him from here as, bis day
work dOue, he slowly disappeared
= from view leaving such bea1tifu
~ and hopeful promises behind. .Bu
3 better still she loved to be here
with her Father when he watcbe'
over the sleeping city. Once sh
~ and Mother had stayed till the
could hear him call out so lou
- and clear, "Twelye o'clock an
alls wellp
Id Sometimes he was forced
V rOnse the sIeepers when M
ge broke out, lest their beautiful cit
lie should be damaged or DESTROYED
at No wonder every one loved Il
re-. Town Clock who warned them
on danger and watched over theT
sleeping or waking.
II It was time to wake him now.