Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-01-31
THE OH CLOCK.

OF ,,)yes a loverr' Inc
az wv :.',lg in my ears as sat
es "oius "oi1 " seat in the deep square
- Oh 'ae e"' ~, ,;orld was all white and
"ih''o"' 10y covered tho fields and
a pe"u''i"' into the horizon, where
r. l'e'''o"' sinking in his crimson
: the sun W e'""'"e
is glory. ..;,;oh+ evervthine was soft
ar ~ was nv. and the tick of the old
1T o1nc,, sened to my girlish nina 10 re.
l. cio ". ~ s' words had heard my mother
a peaG uabinyly to my father after some
say l'i lest Of his. "Loves lover-tlck
: W.. .'k-loves loverP :,
6 w WAS in a big old fashioned hall'
= .,,re we're the broad low stairs Leading
n " tho rooms above, the tall mahogany
9 clock with its dear OLD lace 'iia' "e1
s ike friend to me. What deal ~
could tell of all that had come and gone
s;nce II stood in its dim recess. Tales or
the first kiss beneath the mistletoe' OF
tho sweet words whispered on the
.ta;rs of the stories told around the
blazing Yule logs, all memories OF other
davs-when grandmother was young
like me.
"Ticl- took, loves lover, textbook!
T turned toward the clock; the red glow
from the outer world lighted up Its
face Surely l was not dreaming! The
face seemed to be smiling at me, and
the words changed into "little girl
little girl" as if half plying me be-
cause was left alone.
heaved sigh, and before 1t had
we'll passed my lips the old clock seemed
to saw: GIVE seen many things, and II
little girls would keep their ears open
they could learn from almost everything
about them We don't say much, with
A half point of hand toward the big old
bookcase, which gave groan IN an
swer But we watch and learn a great
deal more than people give us credit for.
l can tell you about your grandmother
and how l. by what you would stupid
ly call an accident changed her whole
life"
1t gave me strange feeling to hear
the clock which had loved and listened
to from babyhood speak so plainly to
me. Before this l had always known it
could tell me so much if could only
understand, and now. quite suddenly,
l understood just as if the old clock,
with it's slow and steady "tick-tock,
tick-tock, 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 it
went on after few moments. Eyes. it
is many years ago when your grand
mother was young; sweeter lassle
never breathed. l 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 it's many yarded skirt, the dainty
lace collar fashioned with the big
brooch. her hair, with the tresses that
would not quite straighten out. drawn
down and over the ears like curtains
of gold to set off her fowerlike face.
"She would always heed me. l my
self was young 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 to be able to hold
her own with the best. These things she
did not mind, but she would look at me
quite wistfully when would tick out,
Tick, took, 8 o'clock-9 o'clock, but
up the stairs she would disappear and
dark would be the house till the little
lady appeared in the bright sunshine
the mex: morning.
Gone day there was stir and an ex-
citement - all preparations for your
grandmother first ball. Silks and laces
were everywhere, and the flowers that
filled the little window yonder heard all
her hopes and dreams as she bent above
them in her daily care.
Gas evening drew on the sleigh bells
were heard coming across the country
to the door there was a crowd of serv-
ants in the hail. each one peering eager
ly over another's shoulder to see the lit
tie mistress in her white silk, which
rustled as she moved and set off 80 we'll
her shining eyes.
"Ah, me, that was the beginning of
it ALL for it was not the same little girl
who looked into my face next day, and
l 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 a
graver one. who said little, but seemed
to bide his time. There was younger
one on whom my little mistress seemed
to smile, and who whispered all sorts of
pretty nothings in her ear; a handsome
lad but somehow liked not the shift
ing of his eyes.
MANY is the night 1 kept my old
frame creaking with anxiety. Some
times would try to put in a word to
the little one as 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 went on that way for some
time, till one day l heard her fathers
voice raised in sterner tone than he
Mad ever used to the little mistress,
Inc heavy library door was opened
hastily by her, and as she pushed past
me up the stairs l saw how flushed and
not her checks were burning.
| "Ihen came time when she sat and
brooded in the window. The Young
man came no more, and the elder man
was kinder than ever, but all to no pur-
pose; the young girl did not seem to
know that he was near Afterward she
seemed to turn to me for sympathy end
would watch my face so anxiously did
not quite like it. for often it would end