The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-07

~ risen early and was walking out
on long pike that divided the
| village of Hillsborough and cut the
waste of snow, winding over hills and
dipping into valleys, from Lake Cham
| plain to Lake Ontario. The air was
cold, but full of magic sunfire. All
things Were aglow-the frosty road
way, the white fields, the hoary forest
and the mind of the beholder Trove
halted looking off at the far hills.
| Then he heard a step behind him and,
as he turned, saw a tall man approach
| ing at a quick pace. The latter had no
| overcoat. A knit muller covered his
| throat, and a satchel hung from a
strap on his shoulder
| what ho, boyr' said he, shivering
"'I'll follow thee a month, devise with
thee where thou shalt rest that thou
| may'st hear of us an we o thee. What
O. thy people an the filly:"
"All WE'LL said Trove, who was de-
lighted to see the clock tinker, of whom
he had thought often. "And what of
you?'
Like an old clock. sor-a weak
spring an q bit slow. But, praise
God. I've yet merry gong in me. An
what think you. sor, I've travelled sixty
miles an tinkered forty clocks in the
week gone
II think you yourself will need tink-
ering"
"Ah, but thank the good God here is
me home" the old man remarked
YEARLY.
I'm going to school here said
Trove, land hope 1 may see you often
Indeed, boy, We'll have many a
blessed hour" said the tinker. Come
to me shop: We'll talk, mediate, ex-
plore, an I'll see what o'clock it is in
thy country
They were now in the village, and.
halfway down it's main thoroughfare,
went up n street of gloom and narrow
ness between dingy workshops. At
one of them, shaky and gray with the
stain of years, they halted. The two
lower windows in front were dim with
dirt and cobwebs. A board above
them was the rude sign of Sam Bias
sett, carpenter. On the side of the old
shop was n fight of sagging, rickety
stairs. AT the height of d mans head
an old brass dial was nailed to the
gray boards. Roughly lettered in lamp
black beneath it We're the words,
Clocks Mended." They climbed the
shaky stairs to a landing, supported by
long braces. and whereon was a broad
door with latch and keyhole in its
weathered timber.
''All bow at this door, said the old
tinker as he put his long iron key in
the lock. Its respect for their own
heads, not for mine.'' he continued, his
hand on the caves that overhung be-
low the level of the door top.
They entered loft open to the peak
and shingles, with a window in each
end. Clocks. dials. pendulums and tiny
cogwheels of wood and brass We're on |
a long bench by the street window.
Thereon also We're wise and tools. |
The room was Clearly, with a crude |
homelikeness about it. Chromos and |
illustrated papers had been pasted on |
the rough board walls.
ION me life, it is cold" said the tink- |
er. opening small stove and begin |
ming TO whittle shavings. "'Cold as a |
dead mans nose Be seated an try
try to be happy"
There were an old rocker and two |
small chairs in the room.
Il do not feel the coId.'' said Trove, I
taking one of them
Belize. good youth. thou hast the /
rose Of summer in thy cheeks" said |
the old man.
And no need of an overcoat." the t
boy answered, removing the one he /
wore and passing it to the tinker. II
wish you to keep it. sir
Wherefore. boy: 'Twould best
serve me on thy back"
please take it" said Trove. Il can
not bear to think of you shivering in |
the cold. Take it. and make me hap
py."
well. if it keep me warm an thee
happy it will be a wonderful coat"
said the old man. wiping his gray
eyes.
Then he rose and filled the stove with
wood and sat down, peering at Trove
between the upper rim of his specta-
cles and the feathery arches of silver
ed hair upon his brows.
Thy coat hath warmed me heart al
ready-thanks to the good Cod" said |
he fervently. why so kind:''
If 1 ana kind. it is because I must
be- said the boy. Who were my IA
Their and mother 1 never knew. If III
meet man who is in need 1 say to
=