The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-02-14
THE OLD CLOCK.

"All the world loves a loverl" The
words were ringing in my ears as I 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.
1t 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 taughingly to my father after some
tender jest of his. Loves a lover-tick
-tock-loves a loverl"
Twas 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 a deal it
could tell of all that had come and gone
since it 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-tock, loves a lover, textbook -
/ turned toward the clock; the red glow
from the outer world lighted up It's
face. Surely I was not dreamingl The
face seemed to be smiling at me, and
the words changed into 'thttle girl
little girl, as if half plying me be-
cause was left alone.
heaved a sigh, and before it had
well passed my lips the old clock seemed
to say: GIVE seen many things, and if
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
swer. "But we watch and learn, great
deal more than people give US credit for.
can tell you about your grandmother
and how I, by what you would stupid
" call an accident, changed her whole
life. {"
1t gave me a strange feeling to hear
the clock which l had loved and listened
to from babyhood speak so plainly tc
me. Before this had always known il
could tell me so much If could only
understand, and now, quite suddenly,
I understood just as if the old clock,
with its slow and steady ''tick-tock
tick took, spoke in my own language
l was just little nervous and die
not like to answer, but guess the clocl
saw the half smile on my face, for il
went on after few moments. Eyes, il
is many years ago when your grand
mother was young; a sweeter lassie
never breathed l dream sometimes in
the night, when l alone of all the house
am awake of seeing her come gliding
down the stairs in her light gray dress,
with its 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 flowerlike face.
''She would always heed me. my
self was young then, the old CLOCK
sighed. II told her when to rise SO as tc
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 I would tick out,
Tick, took, o 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 next morning.
"One 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 al
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 crowd of serv-
ants in the hall, 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 so well
her shining eyes.
it all, for it was not the same little CIR
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 g
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; handsome
lad, but somehow l liked not the shift
ing of his eyes.
''Many is the night 1 kept my ole
frame creaking with anxiety. Some
times | would try to put in word tc
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 father
voice raised in a sterner tone than he
had ever used to the little mistress.
The heavy library door was opened
hastily by her, and as she pushed past
me up the stairs saw how flushed an6
hot her cheeks were burning.
''Then came time when she sat and
| brooded in the window. The young
man came no more, and the elder mar
! was kinder than ever, but all to no pur.
pose; the young girl did not seem tc
know that he was near. Afterward she
| seemed to turn to me for sympathy an6
would watch my face so anxiously die
not quite like it, for often it would enc
in her taking her scarf and shyly slip
ping out, and it would be near an houx
before she would return with a strange
light in those eyes knew so well, and
many's the time it all ended with a
| night of tears.
81 know listened to the murmur-
ings of the flowers, and flowers are not
safe confdants, though women folks
think they are They rustic and tell
each other all they know One has but
to listen and the secret is out, carried
far and wide by the birds, their lovers.
''It was a dreary, bitter night, and
the little one knelt before the fire with
her slender hands, that trembled SO they
stirred the lace about the wrists, out
stretched before the blaze She seemed
to see face in the red ashes.
Now, she murmured, if that does
not fade for one whole minute 1 shall
take it as good omen and CO. heard
the words and trembled. Oh, how
was torn in twol The one pride Of my
life had been to tell the truth to every
one, and here was my mistress making
that burden for the first time. 1t was
a struggle, and somehow habit won
The minutes passed, and I announced
it in choked old voice, but she did mo-
seem to know that; only sigh of pleas
ure and tear of regret mingled, ant
with pathetic gesture she threw he