The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-01-17
RISES TO PROTEST.
FAMILY CLOCK MAKES KICK
WITH ITS USUAL TICK.
Tired Of Continually Being Made
sespegoat. Timepieee Threatens
to Go on strike--Disrsl Re-
cital Of Woes.

IN getting nervous prostration,"
remarked the family clock to the Jap
anese vase. Just observe how jerky
my hands are, and ! shake 80 | can't
Keep my tick on straight III have TO
go 10 a sanitaaum for rest and re-
pairs soon or ! shall be completely
run down.
NO, IL Isn't age, nor oyerwork, nor
even tho 2i.hour day that is doing II:
IT'S the strenuous excitement OF family
NE. You cannot imagine what a jar
IL Ia on my nervous system to be
forced 10 live constant lie. That Is
what | am doing. For instance, the
other morning. about two O'Clock,
was Jogging quietly along. almost doz-
Ing, when suddenly | heard the click
OF key In the hall door and stealthy
Footsteps creeping along the corridor.
All at once the lights hared up and
saw The master OF the house blinking
at me-me' AS though 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 IL. Two solid hours-and all
that night work To be- done over again
10 say nothing OF the modification |
felt at having TO lie to his wife.
THE next morning, very naturally.
the lady having slept all night and
gone to bed early was awake hours
before her husband. When she tried
to 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
toed over TO me, set me carefully at
1880 and turned back and walked her
husband up. ! tell you I was dis
gusted. II appeared to me that had
been chosen as the scapegoat to do
all the family lying.
That afternoon the kid came in
from school with fresh appetite.
what time .ye goin' to have dinner.
mar he asked. and when he was told
thar that repast would be served az
usual at 80 quaked In my case. for
saw his eyes steal toward me. He
said nothing, but waited until his
mother left the room. Then he crept
over. shook his fist In my face and
deliberately jerked me up a full half
hour
The strain was beginning 10 tell
on my nerves, you can imagine. But
the worst was yet to come. That
evening the daughter of the house was
expecting ealler-the one she al
ways takes longest TO dress for and
never misses II seems II must have
been about time for him To come IN
to the family expectations. for she Of
dored the small boy to stay out OF the
library. Then her eyes rested on nv
face. My. how that clock does run.
she murmured Well he did appear
and he did propose. and afterward--
say. | wanted to turn my face to the
wall They kept 1t up until ~
o'clock, Then her mother called her
from the other room
It's only half.past ton, mother.
she said
But the old lady wasn't to be- do.
eeivod. They heard her getting up
and fumbling around for her slippers.
Al the sound the girl looked guilty.
Then her eyes lighted on my face and
without a word she stole over and set
me back an hour and a half.
And now Pm to be sent out to be
regulated They think I'm not relia.
BILE. don't tell the truth about the
time. But It's not that needs regu.
lating--its the family, oh, well. a
little rest cure will do me good-but
who Will do their lying whi,a I'm
gomez"