Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-05-14
THE TOWN CLOCK.

BY ANNIE WESTON WHITNEY.
The heat was terrible; bat 3arbary
dll not seem to mind 1t as she
hurried along the close, dus'y
street, her clean calico gown giving
her a bright, fresh look that it did
one good to Ste on such a day In
her arm she carried a Queer.lO,k
ing bundle. She smiled happily as
she hurried on, her thoughts all OF
Falher, dear Father, to whom she
vas going
Stopping as she reached the Clly
nan. she looked up, half expect
antly and hopefully, up at the tall
tower reachihg 50 far, far above
her. \ brighter smile cane into
ber face as lOnd, clear and diSt'nct
came from above the clang-clang
-clang-clang- cldng - claDg -
that told the hour Of day.
She looked a moment longer,
but Father was not to be seep;
dear Father who was so good aud
kind and whom every body loved.
Aud Why shouldn't theN7 How
could they help it, aud how could
they DO without himY Why, Father
vas the old Town Clock, or one
half of it, as Mother used to say
Mr.. Harper being the other halt.
Poor Mr.. Harpell she was so sorry
for HIN, because his little baby boy
was dead.
she was at the foot OF the long
| flight of steps now; the steps lead
ing to Father, dear Father, the
Town Clock; for strange as 1t may
seem, there is in one of our South
ern cities a town clock whose only
face Is a human face: whose onl,
hands are human hands, and whOs'
machinery is the muscle of strOul
mans arm.
Any one else might have though
the long fight of steps leading Il
the tower a tedious climb in th
heat; but Bdiby only stopped
moment to look mp. Sue loved th
long climb, because it took he
always nearer dear Father; an
then 1t seemed, so odd to be gOiD
up. up over the ;Ops of the houses
and stores. and 10 look down ever
little while through the tuDn
little windows and see the peop'
growing smaller and smaller unit
/
they looked like fares then
look up at the beautiful sky an
wonder about the dear Heavenl
Father who loved every one s
dearly and who watched over the
always. Up higher and still high'
the little feet climbed, until thel
was only a wooden door betwee
> her aud Father. Softly she Opene
1t and peeped in.
Bless my soul and body? SAID
pleasant voice. and the next IN
ment Barby was in her father
Z, arms.
p what brought you here this h
r day, Sweetheart, and what's IN Il
is bundleY be asked, after she hi
Of laid aside and proudly displayi'
bag cantaloupe.
r. And you brought it for Faith
TO look atP he SAID, With twlnh
in his eye.
For Father to eat,' she saI
's sweetly.
You always remember your {
father, Sweetheart he said, ''
lngIy. 'Wsn, will try to mana
m one half If you'll attend to
RS other. | could not possibly
,ss more than tnat while you are he
e,s It would be so impolite, y
t! know
~ III 90 away will you eat 1t a
- she asked, again putting her ar
4o round his neck, bat looking II
ID his face as though she loved ey'
curve aud impress on it.
i could not touch it, | would
al so Disappointed he said tax
In of her hat and kissing her Il
head. He always called her
'- little sweetheart; bat every
/, else called her when she was v
little.
1t was in a queer corner o
still quearer room in this tall 20
sr that they sat down by a mari