, 1921-06-30
The Cuckoo Clock
From Mother
BY DORA NOLAN
70 by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)

-
dining ROOM, hands in pockets, pipe
between his teeth, surveying the whole
with an air of perfect contentment.
His bachelor dreams were realized.
He was married al last TO Mabel
this was the first day in their W
home and they had been arranging
their wedding gifts, with delightful
Interruptions to explain how wonder
full that they two had met and loved
and everything.
There is only n fly in the ONT
ment," remarked Harry Pepper. And
|. that is"
Pretty Mabel hung on his words ex-
pectantly. what is it, dearest?" she
asked.
"The-the cuckoo clock, honey"
1.-The cuckoo CLOCK" she
stammered, why mother gave me that
Il asked her to- love it, Harry! -
Tears brimmed her lovely eyes. Harry
kissed her and assured her that he,
too, had admired those impertinent re-
minders of the flight of time, but al
ways at a distance. 81 never expected
to have one in my own home" he
ended.
But you knew-you knew, Harry.
that l adore them-they are cunning"
81 knew it," he admitted, but l
thought after you married me you
would not care for such an absurdity.
You see, darling, I'm tired at night
after a nerve-wracking day at the
office, and then to have a silly little
bird pop out of ambush and remind
me it's time to go to bed-but
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 r~ansacking. Game another morn
ing n week later when a frightened
maid rushed upstairs and announced
that the silver spoons had disappeared
from the %sideboard M that the cuckoo
clock was missing from its accustomed
place.
II cannot fee sorry, darling" said
Innocent Mr.. Pepper to his distracted
| Mlles Out i Will Cull UP lnt DOllCt
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 a tip about the
blue glass vases that Aunt Lucretia
donated-well. perhaps Norah will
break them some day when she's dust
ingi / 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. 81
really miss his cheerful little CALL" she
added.
Never mind, dear" comforted her
mother-"there are just as good fish
in the sea as ever were caught, n
there are just as charming brides as
ever sang in a cuckoo clock !"
So her mother told Mabel's sad ex-
p~erlence to great-aunt Lucretia and to
Harry's Uncle Benjamin, who called on
her hat day. In the meantime the
police searched diligently for the mid
night marauder.
Mr.. Harry Pepper lost his CHEEKY
bearing. A troubled look came into
his eyes, and he made several griev-
ouss mistakes in his work. Hang he
cuckoo clock - he muttered ~savagely
one night after Mabel had confded
to him that 1t was w~retchedIy lone
some all day there without him-and
that the empty house seemed more
cheerful when she could hear the cum
MING lfffla chfrp NJ tho clock
Hang the cuckoo clock !" he cried.
Il never heard such n fuss made over
anything in my life"
OF curse Mabel was "a sensible
young woman, and thought of many
other things. and had plenty Of amuse-
ment to distract her mind, but for the
omen her new home was paramount
In her thoughts.
One Sunday morning, "A couple OF
weeks after the burglary Mabel came
down to breakfast and found the table
gay with roses. while her chair was
heaped with packages.
Happy birthday. darling" said her
husband. as he slipped IA pearl ring on
her finger. 81 must kiss you how
many times-sixteen?"
Mabel told him and hen began to
open her packages. "Such large ones.
dear" she exclaimed you must help
me-"
"A cuckoo clock-from mother. just
Ike the other n a. Isn't II. dear2 DO
hang 1t In the old place, Harry-there."
She squealed again when she found
thnt Aunt Lucretln had remembered
her birthday with-a cuckoo clock.
And once more when Hnrry's Uncle
Benjamin's gift was unwrnpped and
disclosed another cuckoo clock.
Three :" laughed MABEL Historically.
"Ilnrry, what shall we do with themT'
"rhe more the merrier," said Harry
gloomily. Then, to the lowering maid
servant, "Whnt is It. Norah?"
Please. Mr.. Pepper. ! found this on