Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1921-07-08
The Cuckoo Clock
From Mother
==s=sass=-=-=as=s
By DORA NOLAN
l@ by Meclura Newspaper eyndIeats.l

dining room, hands In pockets, pipe
between his teeth. surveying the whole
with an air of perfect contentment.
bis bachelor dreams were realized.
de was married at last to Mabel
this was the first day In their own
home and they had been arranging
their wedding gifts. with delightful
interruptions to explain how wonder
ful that they two had met and loved
and everything.
There is only one fly in the oint-
ment," remarked Harry Pepper. "And
that is"
Pretty Mabel hung on his words ex-
pectantly. "What is it, dearestY' she
asked.
"Phe-the cuckoo clock, honey"
'The cuckoo clock" she
stammered, why mother gave me that
~ asked her to-I love 1t, Harry !"
Tears brimmed her lovely eyes. Harry
kissed her and assured her that he,
too, had admired those impertlnent re-
minders of the fight of time, but al
ways at distance. II never expected
to have one in my own home" he
ended.
But You knew-you knew, Harry,
that adore them-they are cunning"
Il knew it." he admitted, "but /
thought after you married me you
would not care for such an absurdity.
You see, darling, I'm tired at night
after nerEe-wracking day at the
Office, and then to have silly little
bird pop out Of ambush and remind
me It's time to go to bed-but never
mind. I'll get used to it after a WHILE
You're an old DEAR" cried Mabel,
but while Harry Pepper smiled pa
tiently his was no martyr spirit.
Came one morning when the neigh
borhood was rife with tales of burg
laries and the Smiths home had es-
capped ransacking. Came another morn
ing a week later when frightened
maid rushed upstairs and announced
that the silver spoons had disappeared
from the sidebOard and that the cuckoo
clock was missing from its accustomed
place.
u cannot feel sorry, darling" said
innocent Mr.. Pepper to his distracted
wife; ''but / will call up the police
station right away" and he did. He
went to the city that morning with a
curious feeling of satisfaction. Some
discriminating burglar" he muttered.
I'd like to give him q tip about the
blue glass vases that Aunt Lucretia
1onated-well, perhaps Norah will
break them some day when she's dust
Ing / love my home-but some Of
the wedding presents"
In the meantime Mabel Pepper had
called up her sympathetic mother and
related the story of the burglary. Il
really miss his cheerful little call, she
added.
"Never mind, DEAR" comforted her
are just as good fish
IN the sea as ever were caught, and
here are Just as charming brides as
aver sang In cuckoo clockl"
So her mother told Mabel's sad ex-
,erience to great-aunt Lucretia and to
Iarry's Uncle Benjamin, who called on
Ter that day. In the meantime the
,oliee searched diligently for the mid
light maraudeF.
Mr.. Harry Pepper lost his CHEEKY
earring. A troubled look came into
Is eyes, and he made several griev-
rs mistakes In his work. Hang the
uekoo clOckI" Ne muttered savagely
ne night after Mabel had confded
B him that 1t was wretchedly lone
ONE all day there without him-and
nat the empty house seemed more
heerful when she could hear the cum
Ing little chirp Of the clock.
Hang the cuckoo clock |" he cried.
| never heard such q fuss made over
aything in my life"
OF course Mabel was a sensible
ouRg woman, and thought of many
her things, and had plenty Of amuse-
ent to distract her mind, but for the I
ement her new home was paramount
her thoughts.
One Sunday morning. couple of
eeks after the burglary Mabel came {
,wn to breakfast and found the table G
" with roses, while her chair was
saped with packages.
Happy birthday, darling" said her
ssAand, as he slipped pearl ring on r
y finger. II must kiss you how t
any times-sixteenT |
Mabel told him and then began to v
zen her packages. such large ones, ?
ar" she exelaimed; you must help Q
o. 0
"A cuckoo cloek-fr0n mother. Just e
Ee the other one. isn't II, dearf Do e
ng it in the old place, Harry there" n
She squealed again when she found a
at Aunt Lucretia had remembered t,
+ birthday With cuckoo clock. d
ID ence more when Harry's Uncle s
,n1amin's gift was unwrapped and Il
sclosed another cuckoo clock. u
sThree II laughed Mabel Historically.
larry, what shall we do with them?'
'The more the merrier," said Harry
emily. Then, to the lowering maid n
want. "What is II, Norah?" a
please, Mr.. Pepper. / found this on q
, back doorstep this morning" She
We him q large package wrapped In N