The Clockmaker's Shop

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23618, 30 March 1940, Page 3 (Supplement)

The Clockmaker's Shop

"JpHE clockmaker's shop was silent, but for the ticking of the many clocks that lined its walls. There were clocks of all sizes, big clocks, little clocks, clocks with pendulums and chiming clocks, noisy little alarms and shinv cuckoo clocks, all these lay on

the clockmaker's shelves. Some were dusty, others bright and shiny, while the old grandfather clock declared himself so choked up with dust he could hardly speak. "Why," he boomed, "a fine fellow I am, and with a little polish, I'd be as good as new."

Original, by VALERIE SPANNER (14). M.B.G.

"We are new," several noisy little alarms interrupted. While a palo pink bedroom clock chimed in with, "Why, I am the latest thing out. We bedroom clocks are all the rage nowadays. " "Silly little things, always stopping," said the grandfather clock peevishlv. "I am at least reliable." "Reliable," said an alarm. "Why, you're a good half an hour slow, I do at least keep correct time." "And I," began the pendulum clock in staunch defence of his friend the grandfather clock. He was here interrupted by the cuckoo clock, who always seemed to be chiming. The other clocks waited until his noisy cuckoo had died down and then they resumed the argument. "And I," the pendulum clock once more began, but he was stopped by the alarms who cheekily retorted, "You are old-fashioned, we modern clocks have new ideas." "Well you're not asked to express them," said the grandfather clock cuttingly. "I am at least respectful; vou're always rousing folks in the earlv hours of the morning." "Well that's what we're for." the alarms began. _ . "Just nuisances, just nuisances, the grandfather clock heard the pendulum clock say before he retired behind the cuckoo clock for a little peace. The alarms whispered among themselves for a while and then they subsided and all that could be heard was tick, tick, in the clockmaker's shop, for old Mr. Brunt who kept it had come in to dust.the clocks. He dusted the grandfather clock first and, seeing it was half an hour slow, he murmured aloud, "I must have it cleaned. It's the finest clock in the shop." . The grandfather clock winked at the pendulum clock, and the pendulum clock winked back, and then all was still in the clockmaker's shop.