The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-24
this side. Father" she repeated
louder, as he did not reply.

they would discharge him as they did
the other man; and then what would
become of mother and the children?
With the tears rolling down her
cheeks, she made one more agonizing
effort to waken him, and then looked
in helpless despair at the clock and
at the motionless bell. Suddenly
thought came to her that made her
start and tremble. Could she7 Dare
she? She must try for dear father
and the mother and children.
Climbing on a chair, she took down
the hammer that felt so heavy, and
then, pushing the chair close to the
great bell, she climbed into it again,
this time on her knees 80 she would
be where size could strike we'll. Her
little eyes went up to the clock, that
still marked one second of the time.
She was not too late.
Clang- cla-ng -cl-ang- cl-ang-
cla-ng -ng-cla-ng.
The hammer dropped to the floor,
and, burying her face in her hands on
the rim of the bell, Barclay caught
her breath and gave terrified sob.
Had she counted right? 1t had
never sounded so before. 1t seemed
as though the first sound had deaf
ened all the others and would never
stop. Did it sound so to those who
were listening9 Did everybody know
it was not father, dear father? How
dreadful it all was! Would they do
anything to father-or to her-if it
was all wrong?
She looked up. How soundly father
still slept! Mr.. Harper would soon
come now and let him go home. He
would not mind his going to sleep,
for he had been kind to him.
There were footsteps on the stairs.
MIR. Harper was coming. No, there
were voices. In an instant Barclay
was at her fathers side and, putting
her arm round his neck, kissed the
white, tired face and called him by
every endearing 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 Barclay, her big,
sad eyes looking anxiously at the two
men. HE could not 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 beginning to roll down her
cheeks.
"This is more serious than I
thought said the Mayor, gently
drawing the child away, and putting
his ear down to her fathers heart.
"How long has he been this way?"
he asked, quickly.
IL don't know. Invent to sleep all
of sudden, and when walked up l
was on the floor, and father was
asleep too"
"Get doctor here as quickly as
possible" said the Mayor to the jan
iter. He is stunned and may be so
for hours; but I think he'll come out
of it all right. 1 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:
"Oh, please, | couldn't wake him;
and was afraid theywould discharge
him."
well" said the Mayor, "who made
the clock striker"
81 did," said Barclay, 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. 81
tried SO hard to do it right"
She half sobbed out the last words,
as her head went down on her fa-
theirs shoulder.
The Mayors eyes threatened togive
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 l count all wrongl" she
asked wiatfullv ooh IL was sO