The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1921-07-15
The Cuckoo Clock
From Mother
BY DORA NOLAN


with an air OF perfect contentment.
His bachelor dreams were realized.
He 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
full that they two had met and loved
-and everything.
There is only one fly in the ONT
ment,' remarked Harry Pepper. And
that Is"
Pretty Mabel hung on his words ex-
%pectantly. "What is it, dearesty" she
asked.
"Tne-the cuckoo clock, honey"
"The c-u-c-k-o-o c-lo-c-k." she
stammered, "why mother gave me that
II asked her to-I I-o-v-e 1t, 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 all
ways at a distance. II never expected
to have one in my own home" he
ended.
Blu; you knew-yOu knew, Harry,
that l adore them-they are cunning"
Il knew it," he admitted, but l
thought after you married me you
would not care for such an a%bsurdity.
You see, darling, I'm tired at night
after a nerve-wracklng 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 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 ransacklng, Came another morn
ing a week later when a frightened
maid rushed upstairs and announced
that the silver spoons had disappeared
from the s%ideboard and that the cuckoo
clock was missing from its accustomed
place.
Il cannot feel sorry, darling" said
Innocent Mr.. Pepper to his distracted
wife; ''but l win 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 a tip about the
blue glass vases that Aunt Lucretia
donated-well, perhaps Norah will
break them some day when she's dust.
ingl / love my home-but some Of
the wedding presentsl"
In the meantime Mabel Pepper had
called up her sympathetic mother and
related the story Of the burglary. II
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 we're caught, and
there are just as charming brides as
ever sang in a cuckoo clock"
SO her mother told Mabel's sad ex-
perlence to great-aunt Lucretia and to
Harry's Uncle Benjamin. who called on
her that day. In the meantime the
police searched diligently for the mid
night marauder.
Mr., Harry Pepper lost his CHEEKY
beuring. A troubled look came into
his eyes, and he made several griey'
GUS mistakes In his work. "Hang the
cuckoo clockv he muttered savagely
one night after Mabel had contided
to him that It was wretchedly lone
some all day there without hlm-ant
that the empty house seemed more
cheerful when she could heGS the Gun.
ming little chirp OF the clock.
"Hang the cuckoo clocki" he cried
81 never heard such a fuss made Owe
anything in my life.'
or course Mabel was a sensible
young woman and thought Of man!
other things, and had plenty Of amuse
ment TO distract her mind. but for tn,
moment her new home was paramount
in her thoughts.
One Sunday morning. a couple o
weeks after the burglary Mabel camu
down to breakfast and found the tabll
gay with roses. while her chair wa.
hcaped with packages.
Happy birthday, darling" said he
husband, as he slipped u pearl ring Of
her finger. 81 must kiss you hoy
many times-slxteen2"
Mabel told him and then began I
open her packages. 'Such large ones
dear she exclaimed; you must helI
me-"
"A cuckoo clock-froh mother. Jus
like the other one. Isn't It. dear7 d
hang Il In the old place, Harry-there.
She %sQuealed again when she foun
that Aunt Lucretla had remembers
her birthday with-a cuckoo clocl
Aud once more when Harry's Uncl
Beniamln's gift was unwrapped an
disclosed another cuckoo clock.
-Threew laughed Maoel hysterlcalIl
"Harry. what shall We do with themi
'sThe more the merrier," said Harr
gioomlly. Then. to tae lowering mai
servant. "What Is Il, Norahf"
please, Mr., Pepper, l found this o
the back doorstep this morning" 81