The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1922-01-12
The Cuckoo Clock
From Mother
l@ by Mcclure Newspaper syudieste.l
By DORA NOLAN


with an air of perfect contentment.
His bachelor dreams We're 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 i'm the ONT
ment," remarked Harry Pepper. "And
that is"
Pretty Mabel hung on his words ex-
pectantly. What is it. dearestI" she
asked.
"Tne-the cuckoo clock. honey"
"The c-u-c-k-o-o c-l-o-c-k. she
stammered. "why mother gave me that
Il asked her toll i-o-v-e IL. Harry
Tears brimmed her lovely eyes. Harry
kissed her and assured her that he,
too. had admired those iinpertincnt re-
minders of the flight of time, but al
ways at a 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 nerve-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 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
larics and the Smiths home had es-
capped ransacking. Came another mora
ing 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.
II cannot feel sorry. darling" said
innocent Mr.. Pepper to his distracted
wife; .sbut l will call up the police
station right away" and he did. He
went to the city that morning with
curious feeling of satisfaction. Some
discriminating burglar" he muttered.
I'd like to give him tip about the
blue glass vases that Aunt Lucretia
donated-weIl, perhaps Norah Will
break them some day when she's dust
ing! l love my home-but some OF
the wedding presentsT
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.
.sNever mind, DEAR" comforted her
mother-"there are just as good fish
in the sea as ever were caught. and
there are just as charming brides as
ever sang In q cuckoo clock "
So her mother told Mabels sad ex-
perience 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
bearing. A troubled look came into
his eyes, and he made several griev-
Gus. mistakes in his work. Hang the
cuckoo clock!' he muttered savagely
one night after Mabel had c0nfided
to him that ii was wretchedly lone
some all day there without him-and
that the empty house seemed more
cheerful when she could hear the cum
ming little chirp Of the clock.
'Hang the cuckoo clock ]" he cried.
II never heard such fuss made over
anything in my life."
OF course 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
moment 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 pearl ring on
her finger. 81. must kiss you how
many times-sixteen?"
Mabel told him and then began to
open her packages. "Such large ones.
DEAR" she exclaimed; ''yOu must help
me-"
"a cuckoo clock-from mother. Just
like the other one. Isn't 1t, dear? Do
hang il in the old place. Harry-there."
She sQuealed again when she found
that Aunt Lucretia had remembered
her birthday with-a cuckoo clock.
And once more when Harry's Uncle
Benjamin's gift was unwrapped and
| disclosed another cuckoo clock.
''Three Z" laughed MABEL Historically.
Harry. what shall we do with themr'
1.-THE more the merrier." said HaVy
gloomily. Then. to the lowering maid
servant, "What is II, Norah?'
please. Mr.. Pepper. found this on
the back doorstep this morning" She
II I<~ ..I..