Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-11-28


somewhere. Where was L? Liddy, she
night. l didn't know
Just here there was crash Of dishes.
Little Liddy had seen the clock case
shake, which caused her to lose nerve
power just as she was very carefully
moving some dishes.
Accidents will happen" said Farm
er Overfield. "Now all fall to and help
yourselves. 1t seems like old times to
find all the family here again just as 1t
used to be-all except Annie, Annie.
Annie. Her name has not been spoken
today. l shall keep this plate and seat
for her here close by my side. Annie's
heart is true to me still. l seem to feel
that. l wish she was here today. The
true note of Thanksgiving Is lacking in
broken family. There can be no true
Thanksgiving where there is an empty
chair that might be filled. l shall al
ways take Annie's part"
He stood, knife and fork in hand, the
tears running down his face.
There was a little shrek in the door
leading to the pantry.
.1 saw something" said Liddy, with
shutting eyes.
"What did you see, Liddy?"
"The sun and moon moving"
"Massy! Where, Liddy?'
"On the face of the clock. Something
Is in there. That clock comes to life
sometimes" she added. going out.
All eyes were turned toward the
clock. Knives, forks and spoons were
laid down, clicking on the many dishes.
The top of the clock, which was un-
covered, seemed animated. Some said
that they could see it move, others that
the supposed movement was merely a
matter of Imagination.
Liddy came into the room again with
more dishes.
81 think" said she, "that the clock
case is haunted.
"Pshaw, Liddyw said the farmer.
"And what makes you say that? Who
is 1t that would haunt that old eight
day clock"
Zone of the Britishers who was shot
by bullet made from the lead
weights. That's my way of thinking.
I've known about it for long time"
"Liddy, you're a little bit off-touch'
ed in mind-that's what you are, Lid
dy. You never was quite all there"
The dinner went on, but amid nerv'
Gus atmosphere. Farmer Overfeld fell
the disquiet and said to one of the
guests:
"Cousin Lucy, you are waiting for 9
place at the table. | would give yor
Annie's If / could, but my heart won'1
let me do that. She might come back
Sit down there at Annie's melodeor
and sing a little song. DO They Miss
Me at Homer That used to be one OF
her songs-heaven knows why. l love
to hum that when am cutting corn.
will get her to sing it to me if she
should ever come back, and she will
=, Her heart is good in the main. And we
1is1s1 all pi.+-e=ssi --.,ssAe---As-4-ad her FOL
that reason"
There was ripple of reed music.
The girl sang to an old time accom-,
paniment on the simple instrument:
when twilight approaches the season
That ever is sacred to song,
Does some one repeat my name over
And sigh that tarry so long?
And is there a chord in the music
That's missed when my voice Is way
And chord in each heart that awaketh
Regret at my wearisome stay?
DO they set me chair nearsthe table
When evenings home pleasures are
nigh
When the candles are lit in the parlor
And the stars in the calm, azure sky?
And when the good nights are repeated
And all lay them down to their sleep.
Do they think of the absent and watt me
A whispered good night while they
weep?
do they miss me at home, do they miss
| me
At morning, at noon or at night,
And fingers one gloomy shade round them
That only my presence can light?
Are joys less invitingly welcome
And pleasures less hale than before
Because one is missed from the circle,
Because am with them no more?'
Mis- Overfield's lips quivered.
'That is a proper tender song" said
Farmer Overfield; "has feeling"
There arose another nervous shrek.
Knives and forks dropped.
"What now, Liddy?" asked the farm
er. "You set things all into agitation" :"
The house dog joined Liddy in the
new excitement He ran under the ta-
BILE and to the clock and began to paw
the case and to bark. There was a
very happy lively tone in his bark.
"What did you see, Liddy?' asked
Mis- Overfield.
"The planets turned. Look there
ow-there-therev'
The sun and moon on the clock face
were indeed agitated. The old dog
barked more joyously.
"The valley of Ajalonw said the
farmer. "That old timepiece is be-
witched. These things are mighty Pc
culiarsome. Pm not inclined to be su-
perstitious. But what am l to think,
/