The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-01-03
RISES TO PROTEST.
FAMILY CLOCK MAKES KICK
WITH TIA USUAL TICK.
Tired Of Continually Belns Made
~seapeaoat, Timepieee Threatens
20 co on strike-plsmal Re
eitai Of Woes.


I'm getting nervous prostration."
remarked the family clock TO the Jap
anese vase. Just observe how ierky
my hands are; and / shake so l can't
keep my tick on straight I'll have TO
20 to a sanitarium for rest and re-
pairs soon OF I shall be completely
run down.
no, IL isn't age, o oyerwork, O
eve the 2i-hour day hat Is doing f.;
It's the strenuous excitement OF family
life. You cannot imagine what a jar
h Is on my nervous system 10 be
forced to live a constant lie. That Is
what I am doing. For instance. the
other morning. about two O'Clock. I
was jogging quietly along, almost doz-
ina. when suddenly I heard the click
OF a key in the hail door and stealthy
footsteps creeping along the corridor
All al ones the lights Jared up and I
ia the master OF the house blinking
az meme, As though I were respon-
sibie FOR his troubles and sins. Then
we both heard a STIR In the other
room. Quick as a fash he had rush
ed at me. jerked open my glass face
and thrust my hand back two hours
Think Of e, Two solid hours-and all
that night work 10 be done over again
10 say nothing Of the modification I
felt at having 90 lie 20 his wife.
The next morning. very naturally.
The lady having slept all night and
zone 10 bed early was awake hours
WnHaHm h. haumH--W Nm. -. 49,
90 get him up for breakfast he blinked
at me again and declared he wouldn't
stir until half-past nine. He had
scarcely dozed on when his wife tip
t0ed over 20 me. set me carefully az
$3.50 and turned back and walked her
husband up. I tell you / was dis.
gusted. II appeared 10 me that ! had
been chosen as the scaPegoat TO do
al the family lying.
THAT afternoon the Kid came in
from school with a fresh appetite.
What time ye goin' 20 have dinner.
ERr he asked. and when he was told
that that repast would be served as
usual at $50 quaked In my case. for
J saw HIS eyes steal toward me. Ho
said nothing, but waited until HIS
mother left the room. Then he crep,
over. shook his fist IN my face and
deliberately ierked me up a full halt
hour.
The strain was beginning 90 tell
on my nerves you can imagine Bu,
tho worst was yet 20 come. That
evening the daughter OF the house was
expecting q canor-the one she al
ways takes longest 10 dress for and
never misses. Il seems Il must have
been about time for him 10 come an
20 the family expectations. for she OF
dcred the small boy 90 stay out OF the
library Then her eyes rested on my
face Ny. how that clock does mn.
abe murmurcd Well. he did appear
and he did propose, and anerward-
say. ! wanted 20 turn my face 10 the
vail They kept Il up until IS
o'clock Then her mother called her
from the other room
Its only half.past ten. mother
she said.
hut the old lady wasn't % BE- De
celved. They heard her getting or
and fumhlinE around for her ~sllppcra
AZ the sound the girl looked guilty
Then her eyes lighted on my face and
without a word she stole over ane set
me back an hour and a half.
And now I'm tn be sent out 10 b,
regulated They think I'm not rolia
hle. ! don't toll the truth about the
time. But irs not I that needs ragu
latlng-itu the family on. wen. q
little rest cure viii DO me rood-bu'
vho win do their lying while I'm
Foncg"