Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-02-25
THE OLD CLOCK.


THE OLD CLOCK.
''All the world loves loverl' The
words We're ringing in my ears as | sat
on the cushioned seat in the deep square
window The world was all white and
beautiful snow covered the fields and
meadows far into the horizon where
the sun was sinking in his crimson
glory
Ii was twilight. everything was soft
and dreamy, and the tick of the old
clock seemed to my girlish mind to re-
peat the words had heard my mother
say laughingly To my father after some
tender Jest of his Loves lover-tick
took k-loves lover"
was in big old fashioned hall,
there were the broad low stairs leading
to the rooms above the tall mahogany
clock with its dear old face that was
like friend to me What deal il
could tell of all that had come and gone
since il stood in its dim recess Tales Of
the first kiss beneath the mistletoe Of
the sweet words whispered on the
stairs. of the stories told around the
blazing Yule logs. all memories of other
days when grandmother was Young
like me
Tick took. loves lover tick took -
| turned toward the clock the red glow
from the outer world lighted up its
face Surely wa- not dreaming, The
face seemed to he smiling mt me. and
the words changed into little girl
little girl. as if half pitying me be.
cause was left alone.
heaved IA sigh. and before il had
well passed my lips the old clock seemed
1 to say I've seen many things and il
little girls would keep their ears open
they could learn from almost everything
| about them We don't say much. with
half point of hand toward the big old
bookcase which gave groan in an
swcr. "But We watch and learn n great
! deal more than people give us credit for.
can tell you about your grandmother
and how |. by what you would stupid
ly call an accident. changed her whole
| life. =
! II gave me strange feeling to hear
/ the clock which had loved and listened
to from babvhcod speak SO plainly tc
me. Before this had always known il
could tell me So much if | could only
understand. and now. quite suddenly.
l understood just as if the old clock.
with its slow and steady "tick-tock.
tick took. spoke in my own language.
was Just little nervous and did
not like To- answer. but guess the clock
saw the half smile on my face. for il
went on after few moments. YES. il
is many years ago when your grand
mother was young; n sweeter lassie
never breathed dream sometimes in
the night. when alone of all the house
am awake. of seeing her come gliding
down the stairs in her light gray dress.
with its manv yarded skirt, the dainty
lace collar fashioned with the big
brooch her hair. with the trcsseS that
would not quite straightcn out, drawn
down and over the ears. like curtains
of gold to set off her fiowerlike face.
'.Shc would ALWAYS heed me my
self was youpg then. the old clock
sighed. II told her when To- rise so as to
surprise the flowers when fresh with
dewdrop diamonds when she must
study and read So as 10 be- able to hold
ber own with the best These things she
/ did not mind hut she would look at me
quite wis,fully when | would tick ont.
/ Tick took. q o'clock . o'clock. but
I up the stairs she would disappear and
dark would he the house till the little
lady appeared in the bright sunshine
4 the mex: morning.
/ Zone day there was stir and an ex-
citement all preparations for your
grandmother FIRST ball. Silks and laces
We're everywhere. and the flowers that
filed the little window yonder heard all
her hopes and dreams as she bent above
/ them i'll her daily care.
1 ''As evening drew on the sleigh bells
We're heard coming across the country
to thu door. there was crowd Of serv-
ants in the hall. each one peering eager
/ " ever another : shoulder To see the lit
tie mistress in her white silk which
rustled as she moved and set OF So well
her shining eyes.
''Ah. me. that was the beginning of
ii all. for it was not the same little girl
who looked into my face next day. and
listened with all my strength as she
! whispered fresh hopes and fears to the
sympathetic flowers.
MANY gentlemen now came to call.
and most frequently an older and n
/ graver enc. who said little. but seemed
/ 10 bidc his time. There was a Younger
/ one on whom my little mistress seemed
to smile. and who whispered all sorts Of
/ pretty nothinYs in her ear handsome
lad. but somehow liked not the shift
ing of his eyes
MANY is the night l kept my old
I frame creaking with anxiety. Some
/ times | would try to put in IA word to
the little on rs she sat where you are.
only she never seemed to hear me. A
smile was ON her lips and her heart was
far away.
Things W mt on that way for some
time. till one day heard her father :
voice raised n IA sterner tone than he
had ever used 10 the little mistress.
The heavy library door was opened
hastily by her and as SHE pushed past
me mp the stairs j saw how flushed and
hot her cheeks were burning
Then came a time when she sat and
brooded in the window The young
man came no more. and the elder man
was kinder than ever Int all To no pur-
pose: the young girl did not seem to
4 know that h. was near. Aftcrward she
seemed to turn t. me for sympathy and
would watch my face so anxiously / did
not quite like il. for often il would end
/ In her taking her scarf and shvly slip
ping ont. ana II wouid De near an nour
before she would return with n strange
light in those eyes knew SO well. and
manys the time il all ended with a
night of tears.
II know | listened To the murmur-
ings of the flowers, and flowers are not
safe coniidantS. though women folks
think they are They rustic and tell
each other all they know One has but
10 listen and the secret is ont. carried
far and wide by the birds their lovers.
''lt was a drcary. bitter night and
the little one knclt before the fire with
her slender hands. that trcmhled SO they
stirred the lace about the wrists. ont
stretched before the b aze. She seemed
To see face in the red ashes
"'Now she murmurcd If that does
not fade for one whole minute | shall