The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-05-25
Continued from last weekly
CHAPTER v


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 tall man approach
ing at quick pace. The latter had no
overcoat. A knit muller covered his
throat, and a satchel hung from a
strap on his shoulder.
what no, boy!' said he, shivering.
"T'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 WELL" said Trove, who was de-
lighted to see the clock tinker Of whom
he had thought often. "And what Of
your
Like an old clock, sor-a weak
spring an 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, "and hope 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 its main thoroughfare,
went up 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 Bas-
sett, carpenter. On the side Of the old
shop was a fight Of sagglng, rickety
stairs. At the height of a mans head
an old brass dial was nailed to the
gray boards. Roughly lettered in lamp
black beneath it were the words,
"Clocks Mended." They climbed the
shaky stairs to a landing. supported by
long braces, and whereon was q broad
door with latch and keyhole in It's
weathered timber.
Gall bow at this door," said the old
no NtIf l.
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 window in each
end. Clocks, dials, pendulums and tiny
cogwheels Of wood and brass were on
a long bench by the street window.
Thereon also were a 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.
"On me life, 1t is cold" said the tink-
er, opening q small stove and begin
ming to white shavings. "'Cold as
try to be happy"
There were an old rocker and two
small chairs in the room.
81 do not feel the cold" said Trove,
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
boy answered, removing the one he
wore and passing 1t to the tinker. 81
wish you to keep it, SIR"
Wherefore, boy? 'Twould best
serve me on thy back"
"Please take It," said Trove. II can
not bear to think of you shivering In
the cold. Take 1t, 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 filed the stove with
wood and sat down, peering at Trove
between the upper rim of his specta-
SicS anu the ledtueEy urCueS OI SilVeT-
ed hair upon his brows.
''Thy coat hath warmed me heart al
ready-thanks to the good Godv' said
he fervently. why so kind"
IF l am kind, 1t is because I must
le," said the boy. "Who were my ia
Their and mother I never knew. II I
meet man who Is in need 1 say to
myself, He may be my father or my
brother; must be good to him. and IL
1t is a woman I cannot help thinking
that maybe she is my mother or my
sister. So l should have to be kind to
all the people In the world If were to
meet them"
Noble suspicion, by the faith o. me
fathers" said the old man, thought
fully rubbing his long nose. "An' have
We thought further In the matter? |
Have We seen whittier 1t goesr
II fear not"
well, sor, under the ancient law. We
reap as We have sown, but more abun- |
dainty. gave me coat to one that need |
ed 1t more an by the goodness o. God ]