THE CLOCK

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE CLOCK

Of the four clock, in »rnn<tpa'« hon.c, "th " dock?.' —• » »«»■ ">

It stood in the sitting-room on the mantelpiece Leonie used to sit on the shabby fender and, with her brown head slightly tilted, gaze up at it with wondering eyes weaving stories round It ,"!' n f tle " had a different tick from any of the others. The diniiig-room clock was plain, outspoken and monotonous. It said, without fulls tick tock, tick tock." Besides that it had an ugly face. The little black clock in grandpa's bedroom said the same, only more youthfully. It always seemed a little excited, Leonie decided, fl-.e quick "tck tck, tck tck" ot the small, semi-circular kitchen clock ■was, to say the least of it, irritating. But "the clock" had a "tick" all its Jts own; very gentle, mysterious and hesitant—"er-tck tock-er tok tock." It was black, with two panels of greenstone on either side of the face, and— on top a little brass sailor boy. He was mysterious, too. but he had a very nice face. His striped trousers, open shirt and coat, which was flying behind him. all spoke of the sea. Sitting there, gazing at him, Leonie could almost feel the breeze. Under .his arm he carried a telescope; over his shoulder a staff. Leonie called him "Dick Whittington." Leonie was ten. Since her parents had died nearly five years ago she had lived with Grandpa Dillis, who was nearly 00. At eight o'clock each night she had to read the evening paper"to him, and often he would talk to her afterwards. Once he told her that "the clock" had been given to her mother for a wedding present, and when Leonie was born he, grandpa, had given her "Dirk Whittington" to go with it. Leonie loved grandpa for that.

And then, one June grandpa died. Leonie wandered round the house, past the closed door and back again, round the path and inside again, into the sitting-room and out. Even "the clock" could not comfort her. The next day four aunts, three uncles and one cousin suddenly appeared from nowhere, "hushed" Leonie away and spoke of "poor father" in tones of grave sympathy. Oly the cousin said cheerfully, "Dear old grandpa." and kissed Leonie sympathetically. She was very pretty and was going to be married the next month. On the day of grandpa's funeral Leonie heard for the first time that there was to be a sale. With a wildly beating heart she approached the young cousin.

"Cousin Beatrice," she said, hesitatingly. "Will they sell 'the clock?"' The cousin looked down in' surprise, mixed •with horror. "Oh, heavens, Leonie," she said, "Don't call me cousin Beatrice. Trixie, please. What did you say ?" "Will they sell 'the clock?"' replied Leonie, her rather narrow eyes widening a little. "The clock ?" "Yes, you know. The one in the sitting-room with 'Dick Wh—' with the sailor bpy on top." "Oh, yes, I suppose so. Everything's to be sold you know." "Yes, I know," said the little girl, hurriedly. "If I b-bought the clock could I t-take it with me?"

"Buy that clock! Whv childie, it's worth about £10 or more. Why—" But Leonie was gone. Ten pounds! She rushed into the half-furnished sitting-room and sank down on her knees beside the clock. The little sailor boy looked at her left ear with his usual eager look, and the clock ■whispered sympathetically, "er tick tock."

"Oh!" moaned Leonie, as the tears rushed into her eyes. Suddenly the door opened. Aunt Miralda, the most important of the relations, as she was the eldest daughter, glanced in surprise at the dismal child sniffing valiantly. "What are you doing here, Leonie?" she asked, snappily. Leonie gulped and twisted her handkerchief in her hands.

"Please, Aunt Miralda, could I have that clock to k-keep? I —" As the silence grew oppressive she bit her lip and slowly hung her head. "Are you mad?" demanded her aunt. "Keep tiie clock? What are you thinking about? Go and help Aunt Mary to make the beds. Impudence!" * • * •

The sale was 1 over. The relations sat at the sold table, having their last "scrap" meal. Leonid sat, squeezed, between fat. jovial Uncle Charlie and great, Aunt Eliza. Aunt Miralda was talking, talking, talking. "What I can't understand is," she was a railing, nodding her head emphaticjillv. "the disappearance of that clock from the sitting-room. It was there at lunch hour, wasn't it, Phil?" Silence. "Wasn't it. Phil?" Uncle Phil took his eyes off Aunt Mary with difficulty. Thev had onlv been married a month.

"Eh?" lie 'said. "Oh. yes, yes. Er. yes. That is, yes. I saw it myself." Leonie gisrLrled, and blushed as Aunt Miralda looked at her. "So did I." continued Aunt Miralda. suddenly. "Vet at three o'clock when the auctioneer was goiiTZ to sell it. it wasn't there! No! It wasn t there.

""Well, well." murmured Uncle Charlie, •who was fraukly "sick" of his elder

By CHRISTINE McLAREN, 14, Argyle Street, Hawera. 9ister. He dug Leonie playfully under the ribs and with a squeal, she jerked round and upset great Aunt Eliza's tea. "Leonie!" snapped Aunt Miralda. "You forget yourself."

lears gathered in the small culprit's eves. They seemed to remind Aunt Miralda of something. She looked at her niece s blushing face more intently. Hurriedly Leonie jumped up, knocking (Jncle Charlie's fork from his hand. "111 get a cloth," she said and ran DUt. Ten minutes later she appeared through the open door which led on to the lawn. In her arms she held the clock, still gently ticking. Immediately seven exclamations were flung at her. '"Leonie!" gasped Trixie. "I knew it," snapped Aunt Miralda. "Well, really!" murmured great Aunt Eliza. "Ha, ha," roared Uncle Charlie. "The little vixen," said Uncle Thomas. "What on earth?" asked Aunt Sadie. "Where did she find it?" asked Uncle Phil and Aunt Mary together. Rather startled, Leonie carefully placed the clock on the end of the table and stood defiantly beside it. Aunt Miralda "snapped" ominously. "Well ?" she said. "I took it,"' said Leonie, stating the obvious fact proudly. "I wanted it, and I didn't think you'd miss it. It was my mother's wedding present and 'Dick' was a present from grandpa when I was born. I wanted to t-take it to the school with me, and —"

"Do you realise that you stole it, young lady?" asked Uncle Thomas. "Oh, I didn't," flashed Leonie, blushing. "I just—just—" "Borrowed it," said Trixie, hastily. "Oh, Aunt Miralda, let her keep it. It's no earthly use to anyone here, and we can't sell it now." "Certainly not," Aunt Miralda was definite. "As Leonie's poor mother was my sister, and I am the eldest —" "Great Aunt Eliza's older'n you, Leonie interposed. "Your great Aunt Eliza was only your poor grandpa's sister," retorted Aunt Miralda freezingly. "I think I should have the clock." Uncle Charlie grunted. "Oh, no, Miralda," he chuckled. "Leonora was my twin, so I should have it." He laughed suddenly and added, "Your move, Thomas."

Uncle Thomas frowned and looked at Leonie, who was gazing, open mouthed, from one to the other, her Chinese-like eyes wide with amazement. "What would she do with a clock like that in an orphanage?" he asked "It's not an orphanage, Uncle Tommie," interrupted Trixie sweetly. "It's a school for orphaned children, but Leonie's coming to stay with Ted and me in the holidays." She looked once more at Leonie, who now stood with one arm round the clock, whilst "Dick Whittington's" hand tickled her cheek.

"Goodness," said Trixie, suddenly. "If it was the child's mother's, why can't she have it? Do you see any reason, Aunt Eliza?" Great Aunt Eliza murmured slowly, "Well, really! Er —no." "Or you, dad ?" cried Trixie, quickly. Uncle Charlie laughed and 6hook his head. "You, Uncle Phil, and Auntie May?" The two looked at each other, smiled happily and said unanimously, "Xo. Let her keep it." Trixie turned triumphantly to Aunt Miralda. "I know you and Uncle Thomas don't agree, and probably Aunt Sadie doesn't, but it's five to three. So Leonie keeps the clock."

"And since when, Beatrice," began Aunt Miralda.

"Keep quie"t, 'Alda," said Uncle Charlie, and from sheer surprise his elder sister did so.

Leonie looked mistily at "Dick Whittington" from Trixie's knee. He seemed to smile thankfully, and the clock clearly paused a moment before it cleared its throat and murmured, "er tck tock, er tck tock."