A CELEBRATED CLOCK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 24 April 1937, Page 3

A CELEBRATED CLOCK

ORGAN PIPES INSTEAD OF CHIMES A celebrated clock is in the State Historical Museum at Madison, in America. Round the face are carved figures below a hunting scene, and above is a gilded vase of roses. The clock, made in Germany in 1770 by Johann Schoepperle, is nine feet high. Instead of chimes it has organ pipes. When Priscilla Sawyer was a child of six the grand old clock stood in the hall of her father’s house. Priscilla had been told she must go to bed, but she disobeyed her father’s orders, crept downstairs in her nightgown, and opened the door of the grandfather clock. Climbing inside, she crouched at the bottom below the heavy brass weights. She kept very still, for she wanted to see General Lafayette, who was her father’s guest that evening. She knew that her father would be sure to show his clock. Presently, a door opened and people left a room and stood in the hall. She could hear her father telling them about the clock. She was very frightened, but up she popped, opened the door, and astonished everyone by saying: "Daddy, don t be angry with me. I did so want to see General Lafayette.” Before her father could answer, the great man stepped forward, lifted Priscilla out of the clock, and kissed her. Priscilla went to bed very proud that she had seen one of the greatest men of her day.