The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-10-20
pIsARRAMoep HER CLOCKS
0randmothsr Had Them All Set
Wrong and CouIdn't Tell Time
with Them Right

wrong ana GouIuM'N AVA AAA1u
with Them Right
Long before the Western express
had come within whiatling distance OK
the summerville station Uncle Charles
declared he csald hear the bells OF
grandmother clocks, relates q writer
in Youths Companion. Haven't heard
EN- since I was q boy" he said. "but |
know how they'll sound-all going TO-
gether and every one OF 'em right.
tell you, Lettie, you ought to have
mothers sense of time You can't even
keep our mantel clock straight. Why,
mother has hall clock sevea feet high
and over a century old. Then there's
the banjo clock In the dining-room.
and the sun In the kitchen--we call II
the sun because Of a round hole in the
door,picture TO see the pendulum
through. There are three or four
others besides. and the way mother
keeps them straight is a marvel. II
must be the old wooden wheels. Moth
ing like them made nowadays"
Half an hour later grandmother
greeted her homecoming nock at the
door Of the neat white farmhouse, and
sent them to their rooms to prepare
for q waiting dinner.
"Hellon said uncle Charles. as he
followed Aunt Lettie into the east
chamber. There's Uncle Hiram Doty's
old 'bullfrog' clock. Has voice like a
frog when It's getting ready to strike.
Mechanically he pulled out his watch
and consulted Il, then glanced again at
the clock, He hesltated. then without
comment stepped forward and set the
clock half an hour ahead Aunt Lettie
smiled. but said nothing.
A little later. entering the kitchen,
be beheld the "sun" ticking merrilly In
It's accustomed place. Uncle Charles
compared II with his watch. Grand.
mother was out OF the room. Stealthily
he opened the clock door and moved
the hands back 20 minutes.
Dinner had hardly begun when from
east chamber and Kitchen came simul.
taneously wheeling and banging OF
bella The sun" counted six and
stopped The "bullfrog" did better and
made II IL Grandmother looked up in
alarm ana gazed AZ the 'banjo-clock'
before her. II was. so Uncle Charles
discovered. an hour and half fast.
That alarmed her still more
Charles" said grandmother. Sc
yerely. nave you been settin my
ciocksg"
why yes, mother ! hxed the sun
and the bullfrog They seemed III.
tie on
We'll, mercy sakes How ever shall
tell the time now?"
BY them Of course They're right
now
Yes but they won't be tomorrow
You see. Lettie" (this apologetically 70
her dauehier.ln.lawl they're all
clocks that just won't 20 right
know about how much each gains or
loses in a day. 20 when hear one
urlke can tell abou, what time Il Is
For instance. his morning when the
pig hall clock struck three. ! knew the
hands sad quarter 70 eight The
banjo IS an hour slower. so It said
quarter % seven. aud would strike ten
IN Is minutes wien that struck ten
the sun would say ten minutes to six,
ana would Be almost ready 10 strike ie
The sun Is 50 minutes ahead Of the
'bullfroe which said quarter 20 Eve.
and in % minutes would strike three.
and that Is 25 minutes behind Sarah
Pettit's alarm.eloek With the brass
Eorks that she set IS the town clock
lasi week. and isn't more than Ave
minutes out. 80 L was about quarter
after I've and time 20 get up
She looked Al Uncle Charles re-
proachfully = do declare. Charles.
she said. you've gone and mixed me
up 90 now d'knows ever shall get
Il figured ont again