The Adventures of a Three-Guinea Watch | Page 3

being lowered into a dark, deep pit,
and without time to bid my comrades good-bye, or to take a last look at
my old master, I felt myself hurried away I knew not whither.
This, then, was my first step into the world.
I lay untouched and apparently forgotten for several hours. Gradually
getting my eyes accustomed to the darkness, and looking about me as
far as I was able, I heard a ticking going on in a pocket not very far
from the one I was in, which I at once concluded to proceed from the
watch of my new master. Thinking I might be able to gain some
information from him, I groped about till I found a small hole in my
lodgings through which I was able to peep, and call.
"Tick!" said I, as loud as I could, to secure the attention of my
fellow-watch.
"Who's that?" at once exclaimed the other.
"I'm a new watch, bought to-day."
"Humph! How much?"
"Three guineas."
"Chain and all?"
"No; five pounds with the chain."

"Humph, I cost thirty guineas. Never mind, you're for the boy."
"What boy?"
"The governor's. I heard him say he was going to get him one. That boy
will be spoiled, as sure as I go on springs; he's made such a lot of. Have
you been regulated?"
"I should think I have!" exclaimed I, in indignant recollection of my
education.
"All right; keep your temper. What time are you?"
"Seven minutes to six."
"Wrong! It's seven and three-quarters!"
"How do you know?"
"Because that's what I make it."
"How do you know you are right?" I asked, wondering at my own
impudence in thus questioning an old ticker.
"Look here, young fellow," said the other in an awful voice; "you don't
seem to know you are addressing a gold watch that has neither gained
nor lost a minute for five years! There! You may think yourself clever;
but you're too fast."
"I'm sure I beg your--"
"That'll do!" said the offended veteran. "I want no more words."
I was completely shut up at this, and retired back to my pocket very
crestfallen.
Presently I began to feel drowsy; my nerves seemed to get unstrung,
and my circulation flagged. It was long after the time I had generally
been in the habit of being wound up; and I began to be afraid I was

really going to be left to go to sleep. That, by this time, I knew would
be nothing short of a calamity. I therefore gave a slight tug at my chain.
"What's the matter?" it said, looking down.
"I've not been wound up."
"I can't help that," said the chain.
"Can't you let him know somehow?" I gasped, faintly.
"How can I? He's busy packing up books."
"Couldn't you catch yourself in his fingers or something? I'm in a bad
way."
"I'll see," said the chain.
Presently I felt an awful tug at my neck, and I knew the chain had
managed to entangle itself somehow with his fingers.
"Hullo!" I heard my master exclaim, "I mustn't smash Charlie's chain
before I give it to him. I'd better put it and the watch away in my
drawer till the morning. Heigho! it'll be a sad day for me to-morrow!"
As he spoke he drew me from the pocket, and, disengaging the chain
from his button-hole, he laid us both in a drawer and shut it up. I was in
despair, and already was nearly swooning from weakness.
He had shut the drawer, and his hand was still on the knob, when all of
a sudden he exclaimed,--
"By the way, I must wind it up, or it'll stop!"
With what joy and relief I saw the drawer again opened, and felt myself
taken out and wound up! Instantly new life seemed to infuse itself
through my frame; my circulation revived, my nerves were strung again,
and my drooping heart resumed its usual healthy throb. Little did my
master think of the difference this winding up made to my health and

comfort.
"Now you're happy!" said the chain, as we found ourselves once more
in the drawer.
"Yes; I'm all right now, I'm glad to say," said I. "What's going to
happen to us to-morrow?" I asked presently.
"We're going to be given to the boy, and he's going to school;" so the
silver chain told me. "Nice time we shall have of it, I expect."
After that he went to sleep, and I fell to counting the seconds, and
wondering what sort of life I was destined to lead.
About an hour after I heard two voices talking in the room.
"Well," said one, and I recognised it at once as my master's, "the
packing's all finished at last."
"Ah, Charles," said the