Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-04
ON and the Clock

uCy udu never Deeu Ill LLe Guilty IL
the winter time before, and everything
was new to them. Such fan as the.
did have! And how fine it was to g
sleighing and coasting with Uncle
Jack, who lived just mile away.
There isn't a single thing | don
like confided Winnie to Tom as the!
sat talking on day. only just one
l do hate having to go to bed at nigh
80 do I and l think it's mean tc
make us when we're visiting declar
ed Tom.
Last night was right in the middle
of a most exciting game with Lucille
and had to put the poor dear dowr
without undressing her because it haC
struck eight about a minute ago." said
Winnie.
81 know" said Tom gloon1f.y "Was
not l reading the finest story when
had to stop? It's all right for girls to
go to bed early; but I m a boy and
most twelve, and you're only nine"
"You are not most twelve!" cried
Winnie Indignantly. "You were just
eleven last month. Besides, if am a
girl, I'm not afraid OF the dark any
more than you, Tom Price,
ooh, well,' said Tom, maybe you're
not; you are tolerably brave for girl.
But say, Win, do want to stay up
tonight, because Fred Warren told me
he was coming over about eight. Would
not it be awful If I were in bed?"
Winnie nodded "Tell grandma" she
suggested.
But Tom shook his head. "She does
not like Fred; never has since the time
he showed me how to play shooting
buffaloes with Spotty and her new calf.
well, the calf died." said Winnie,
soberly.
Tom was silent. The two children
stood looking out of the dining room
window. They were all alone, for
grandma was upstairs taking nap.
"Oh!" said Tom presently. II know
something splendid to do"
What? Oh, Tom, dear Tom, please
tell mel" cried the little girl.
"Cross your heart you won't tell?"
Solemnly Winnie complied with this
demand.
Tom leaned closer that he might
whisper, I'm going to set the clock
back an hour"
There was little gasp from Winnie,
then frightful silence.
After a minute Tom spoke: Il know
just how. I see grandma wind it up
every night. Watch" Pulling out a
chair. he climbed on it and reached
the clock, which stood on a high shelf.
Carefully he moved the hand. When
he climbed down again and pushed
back the chair, it was two o'clock in
stead of three. He looked at Winnie
What did I tell you?"
he exclaimed.
But Winnie was frightened. IT wish
you hadn't" she said, her blue eyes full
of trouble.
"Pshaw! Whose a 'fraidcat now?"
cried Tom. II can tx it back when
ever like"
Just then there was ring at the
door. Grandma had finished her nap
and Immediately came down the steps
to receive the note which the mes
senger handed her. "Why, children
she said smiling, this is from Aunt
Mary. She wants you to come over at
four o'clock. There's something jolly
going on. but I'm not to tell. Why. what
are you looking so sober about? Don't
you want to go?"
yes" said the children family.
Grandma looked puzzled, but she did
not say anything more. She glanced at
he clock. Dear me, thought it was
alter. Well, you've plenty of time. I'll
get you to wind ball of yarn for me
Until it's time to get ready"
Winnie looked as if she were ready
% cry, and Tom glanced despairingly
It the clock. Oh. how much easier it
S to do wrong thing than to undo it !,
Mamma had always told him that; but
hen it had not seemed such real
hing, while now oh, how dreadfully
oud that clock did tick.
Presently grandma spoke! It's time
or you to go now dearies and dear
ne, how dark it is for the time of day!
Well. run along and have a good time
guess Jack will bring you home,
The two children fairly raced all the
way. At the kitchen door Aunt Mary
net them.
why children she said. "what
makes you so late? I thought you
weren't coming. You see invited the |
minister's children to come over and |
made some candy for you to pull: but
had to let them do all the pulling as
you didn't come Then Uncle Jack !
happened in and took them for little !,
'un in his new sleigh. do wish you /
lad been here. Why didn't you come? /
The children did not know what to !
'ay. They ate few of the doughnuts
which Aunt Mary provided but some
low they did not taste good. Aunt
Nary was puzzled. Pretty soon the |
children said goodbye
81 hope grandma hasn't found out |
bout the clock said Winnie as they |
vent slowly over the hard, frozen fields |
because l want to tell her
NO. let me-" cried Tom. because |
IN never never going to do thing |
ike that again.
But grandma knew, and she had |
,nown all the time.