FOR YOUNG FOLKS.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13645, 10 February 1913, Page 2

FOR YOUNG FOLKS.

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REBECCA'S FORTUNE.

I art) a clock, and my name, Rebecca, is written in a gold circle on my back. I have no date upon me, but I know I am hundreds of years old and very valuable.

The first thing I remembered i^f that I was given as a wedding gift to a young cavalier and his beautiful bride, whose name was Rebecca. Quite proud I was to belong to them, and they were proud of me. They often came and stood near me, and they thought me a slow passer of: time, though in my ■young days I know I was never slow, but kept perfect time. They were always expecting merry friends, and the house was full of happy voices and much laughter. \

Then, came-'a .change. My gay cavalier stood before me bidding his .young wife farewell; he'must go to ■the war. Ah, that was a sorrowful time, and I never saw him again!

My dear lady came and talked to me and told me all the. news—how her dear husband was .wounded and a- prisoner, then of his escape and flight across the sea, ,and that she was going to join him till peace was restored arid they.could come back home.

She came to me in the dusk of the evening—it was, a day or two before she left; —and said—

"Good-bye, dear ;clock—l am making ,you the ' guardian of my treasure!"—and, opening my door, she touched a spring, which disclosed a .small recess in the bottom of my case,. She placed in it a little box of finely-wrought gold studded with jewels. It.was full.of precious stones, and contained also a parchment to say that they belonged to her or to the girl of their family. called Rebecca.

That'was'the last I saw of my first dear mistress. Since then I have' travelled about a great deal, carrying tny secret with me, but I have not left my native land. I have stood in large houses rind in

small', and often in shops among many more of mv kind. 1 have belonged to several Rebeccas, and 'haye1 often wished 1 could tell them of my treasure. ■

- One day I was standing in a shop and feeling Very sad, thinking of days gone by, when suddenly I was brought back to the present by being set in motion. 'Then Lheard my name spoken in a kindly tone by an old gentleman, who said: "Yes, that,is the best; it will please her to have her name on it,

too." ; ■■;":.. -. "...". .•;;;.' ;. ■ After, a. little, time I was taken to a pretty house, not as large as some I have been in. I waited with impatience; to see who my new owners were.

■Rebecca'! •'-'1 -thbug-'tt my old eyes .were deqeivirig me y for' the lovely "girl before me '\vas: so very like my first mistress—eve;\l he fashion of her garments wai i,hc: iiime—and she caressed->me. ;uid called ■me pretty names just as "the first Rebecca used to do. ' f ■ : •'••.

Iw-aited, almost expecting to. see my cavalier come to join her, but for ' several •days no one else came to* see me. 'I 'seemed transplanted back tomyI.early days, for in the dusk of. evening Rebecca came,and said :'" ■'■'■ " • •'.'•' '"':./ '..' :>',' \>.

"Dear 1 clock, I like you very 'Tiuch, but'l know you are given to me just because father will not say 'Yes* to/my cavalier, until he has a fortune to bestow on me. Money, moncy-^-oh, why should he have to

go?" ~...'.., v •.. Hoxv I wished I might tell her of my treasure, for I fe.t sure it would put --'things right for her! The next day "he" came.. ,

"You must come and see ,my dock," I heard her say, and as soon as I saw him I know he was ncr cavalier. "It is called 'Rebecca,' -'•'• she said.

Then they spoke together; they were; saying farewell, their voices broken by sobs.

Presently his glance fell upon me again. Suddenly he asked her— . I - "Does.it not remind you of the clock in the cavalier picture?" Without waiting- for a reply, he ooened my door and. began feeling about in mv case.

"No secret door here, though," he said. She came to his side, saying— "Let me feel. I had not thought of th-'i.t. Oh" if only the old tale were true!"

'1 hen under her gentle touch my secret spring £avc way and my treasure was found. Such a joyful day that was! How I rejoiced' in having brought them such happiness and in having at last given up my treasure io its rightful owner.! There was now no need for Rebecca to p;>rL from her cavalier, for the contents of my casket put things right lor them both; Rebecca's father £»;ive his consent to an early wedding, ?nd in-the summer-time;!, went

'\e with her in her new home. There is now a.little girl called Rcbecra, who loves to visit me She is coming now; I hear her calling— "IXu'dy! Daddy! Come and lift me up—l want tosej Rebecca's clock !"".■-':■

And my cavalier appears, carrying her upon his shoulder,' 'md little Rebecca laughs with great glee while her mother iooks with, pride and joy upon them both, as he opens my door, and shows little Rebecca the place where the treasure lay hi.l for so; many years. 8