THE WATERBURY FIEND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6314, 11 August 1888, Page 3

THE WATERBURY FIEND.

I I got a watch. It was given away with a new suit of clothes I bought. The shopman said that most people seemed to fcbink these watches required a good deal of winding, and made a great noise ; but it was all a mistake about that. All I would have to do would be to wind her a little every time I thought of it, and as to the loud ticking, that would never annoy me. I wound the watch off and on nearly all day. In the afternoon I began to grow weary. I wondered whether I was gaining on the watch or the watch was gaining on me. I decided in favour of the watch. Then I went home. I began to turn. At nine o'clock she was wound up. " Nothing but genius," said I, " could accomplish such a result." Then I -went to bed. Tick, tick, tick, went the watch under my pillow. I moved it down to the foot of the bed. Tick, tick, tick, went the watch at the foot of the bed. Then I put it into my shoe and stuffed my socks down on top of it. No use ; still I heard the tick. Once more 1 crept out of bed. This time I was mad. I picked up the shoe and put it in the wardrobe. Then I piled up all my clothes on top of it, locked the door, and moving the bed into the furthest corner o£ the room, lay down again. "This time," said I, "I conquer," and I chuckled to myself. But it wasn't any use, there was the tick again. Suddenly a brilliant idea struck me. I brought forth I the watch from the wardrobe. I tied it to a string and hung it out of the window, and crept into bed exultant, and was soou fast asleep. I was awakened by someone loudly knocking at the door. " Gnggs," said the voice of the man who had the room under mine ; " Griggs, i£ you don't get that watch away from my window in three minutes I'll kill you." I hauled the watch up. The day was breaking. After breakfast I took it over -to the violinist across the way. I begged him with tears m my eyes to_ accept it from mo ass gift. It would, I said, be a fit accompaniment to his instrument. He took it, and that day I moved.