Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-02-26
CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V.
IT was Sunday, and a clear, frosty
morning of midwinter. Trove had
risen early and was walking out
on a 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 suntire. All
things We're 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 ne heard q step behind him and,
as be turned, saw a tall man approach
Ing at quick pace The latter had no
overcoat. A knit mufler covered his
throat and a satchel hung from a
strap on his shoulder.
"What no, hoy!" said he, shivering.
"I'll follow thee 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?"
Gall 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 bit slow. But, praise
S5od, I've yet q merry gang in me. An
WAT think YOU, sor, I've travelled sixty
miles an tinkered forty clocks in the
week gone"
y think you yourself will need tigk-
ering." ~
"Ah, hut thank the good God here is
me home" the old man remarked
YEARLY.
I'm going to school here" said
Irove. "and hope I may see you often"
"lndeel, boy, We'll have many a
blessed hour said the tinker. Come
to me shop; Well talk, mediate, ex-
plore, an I'll see what o'clock it is in
thy country
Ihey We're now tn 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 flight Of sagging, rickety
stairs. AT the height of a mans head
an old brass dial was nailed to the
gray boards. Roughly lettsrea in lamp
Black beneatb 1t were the words,
"elecks Mended." They climbed the
ahaky stairs to landing supported by
long braces. and whereon was broad
door with latch and keyhole in Its
weathered timber.
"All bow at this aeeRa said the old
tinker as Ae 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 window in each
end. Clocks. dials, pendulums and tiny
cogwheels of wood and brass We're on
a long bench by the street window
Ihereon also were wise and tools.
The room was Clearly, with 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 white shayings. "fCaId as a
dead mans nose BE seated am try
try to be happy"
There were an old rocker and two
small chairs in the room.
II do not feel the cold" said Troye,
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 it to the tinker. 81
wish you to keep it, SIR
Wherefore, boy? 'Twould best
serve me on thy back,
...Hleass take IT. said Grove. 81 can.
not bear to think of you shivering in
the cold. Take it. and make me hap
py,"
"Well, If 1t keep me warm an thee
Il
happy it will be 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-
Giles and the feathery arches Of silver
ed hair upon his brows.
Thy coat hath warmed me heart al.
ready-tAanks to the good God!'' said
be fepvently. "Why SO kinda"
IF am kind, it is because l must
be-" said the boy. who Were my ia
Their and mother | never knew, If I
meet man who is in need I say to
! myself, He may be my father or my
brother; must be good to him. and if
e e WOMAN ! Cannot halp thinking