The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-05-17
BY DAWN CRAVE

I5ninal a skillful clockmaster name
Antoine Turenne. His fame had sprea,
so far and wide that the people n
Nancy, Domremy. and even Strassbure
who came to Epinal on monthly marke
DAYS never failed to visit his shon /,
the Grande Rue to inspect the lates
novelties his genius had evolved. Fo
Pere Turenne was a human spider-
never idle, never discouraged; spinninj
webs TO catch Time in. Time" sail
he, is one Of the most precious thing
that the good God has entrusted to us
We must do our best, our most. Will
1t while we can divide it into moment,
and hours; for, ere we know. it vii
have slipped away from us and become
eternity"
About the noon of his life Pere An.
tome had begun the work which hac
been his hearts dream from boyhood-
The construction of a huge clock, full OF
hidden springs and elaborate mechan-
ism, which, when completed, should
adorn the steeple of his native villags
church. With this pious thought ever
I'm mind, he labcred for years. testing
now one, now another fancy: and well
coming with a pleasant smile those
curious neighbors who paused at his
work room doors to watch him.
How does my clock go? 1t does not
go at all yet he would respond cheer
lily. But with heavens BLESSINGS. il
will some day. l think, though, / have
been so long engaged upon it, l shall be
sorry when it's done. We have grown
old together my clock and L. 1t is be-
come friend-a part of me When
You hear it summoning you to holy
mass some morning, after / have lain
under many seasons Of green grass and
immortelles, maybe you will remember
and say: There is Pere Antoine ask
ing us to pray for the repose of his
soul, on our way. -
And they would answer: Readily
VIII we do that neighbor. But if you
are so long upon it as you have already
been, It's our children, and our chill
dren's children whom it viii be remind
ing to pray for our souls"
circles are the only things in the
round world that have no ends" per-
sisted Turenne. My clock, you see, is
square"
And, in truth, news went forth at
last that the wonderful clock was fin
ished; that, mounted temporarily in
courtyard of his dwelling, it would
sound its first stroke at noon one day,
in Advent
LDllS bCAVlE A4AG liAll6 ut6lSl6lGQ the
villagers began to assemble Tall and
imposing in his Sunday blouse and cap,
Pere Antoine moved among them, his
honest eyes fun ~ JOS and title An
toinette. his favorite grandchild,
perched like a birl upon his broad
shoulder.
1T is 'Toinette who has helped me
10 finish it" he said, drawing her gol-
den head against his silver one. In
the five years that she has been here
TO laugh for me when ] was discour-
aged, TO sing for me while l worked. 1
have done more than in all my life pre-
vious. Yes neighborS, it is 'Toinette's
clock; not so, sweetheart"
No. grandperei" cried the child. 1T
is the good Gods clock. because there
is cross on top like there is on top of
his house. And, dear grandpere, hushi'
as a low rUmbling made itself heard.
Listen. Q grandpere, look. 1t is going
10 speak,"
And ! wish I could tell you all that
marvellous clock said and did. There
were twelve doors. one of which
opened at each stroke Of the bell.
We may aimagine how grand it must
have been, when all swung back in
succession and scenes within were re-
vealed: the Alteration of the Magi: a
cock that tapped its real feather wings
and crowed thrice; our Lord on the
prov of a rocking boat, sitting the
waves of the sea: the twelve apostles
in stately procession; and for the last
of all dear St Anthony of Padua
Bneeling with outstretched arms before
a vision Of the Christ-child. In copy
ing that scene from a picture that hung
above his bed, Pere Turenne had been
inspired with tenderest devotion. Never
had he been happier than when, after
repeated efforts. he succeeded in ad-
justing the delicate springs so that
both arms would be extended stimuli
Little 'Toinettes had clapped her wee
hands with ever-increasing delight as
the marvels unfolded themselves: but
at sight of her beloved patron saint
thehere rippled from her parted lips one
Of those sparkling cascades of laughter
In which childhoods suppressed ecstacy !
finds outlet.
st Antoine! St Antoinev she cried, |
forward as though to meet a
friend. But he is even
more beautiful than in the picture over
The bed He lives, he moves. Q grand |
oere. make it strike all over again I'M |
IN st. Antoine comes back"
That cannot be" said Pere Tu- |
-enne. smiling. I'VE must wait for his |
hour"
Marvellous, Marvellous" exclaimed |
he gathered villagers. Dur little |
hurch viii be famous. Quick Let US |
have he new clock in place there
But Pere Turenne demurred. Leave |
t vet awhile with me, he said. After |
t has been going few days. imper-
ections may appear, spring may get |
put Of order, or the like
And as he foresaw, so it happened. |
hose who came next day to witness a
epetitiOn of the clocks performance |
ound the maker working upon is 1t |
lad stopped, the hands pointing to
D'clock.
'Ha hal" commented Epinars rival
n clockmaking. 'FOld Turenne's clock
win never be placed in our steeple.
tbs a pretty toy for him to. play with
III he dies"
But the majority chung to their be-
ief in their skillful neighbor.
Twas simply a spring out of order;
e who made a thing could surely
mend it"
And his workshop once again became
he village lounging place. till the
morning they found it's doors for the
rst time closed. and Turenne. looking
own upon them from an upper win
ow enjoined them, in anguished ac-
ents. to speak softly, tread lightly.
Little Antoinette is sick-sick unto
cath"
Like a broken lily the child lay in
er white bed. the eyes opened wide
nd the smile flown from them. Wax
lg, fevered and delirious in the night,
he had suddenly passed from state
excitement into a lethargy.
God help you. friend whispered
he old doctor. THE loss of a child
'aves a wound that never heals. Give
his potion every hour; but unless she
an be aroused from this stupor. 1 see
tile hope"