The Adventures of a Three-Guinea Watch | Page 4

other, and it seemed to be a woman's voice
speaking amid tears, "I never thought it would be so hard to part with
him."
"Tut, tut!" said the first, "you mustn't give way, Mary. You women are
so ready to break down. He'll soon be back;" but before my master had
got to the end of his sentence he too had broken down.
For a long time they talked about their boy, their fine boy who had
never before left his parents' roof, and was about now to step out into
the treacherous world. How they trembled for him, yet how proudly
and confidently they spoke of his prospects; how lovingly they recalled
all their life together, from the days when he could first toddle about,
down to the present.
Many tears were mingled with their talk, and many a smothered sob
bespoke a desperate effort to subdue their common sorrow. At last they
became quieter, then I heard my master say,--
"I positively have never shown you the watch I got for him," and with

that he opened the drawer and produced me.
"Oh, Charles," cried the mother, "how delighted he will be, and what a
capital watch it is!"
And she looked at me affectionately for a long time, for her son's sake,
smiling through her tears, and then put me back.
Need I say that as these two knelt together that night, their only son
was not forgotten in their prayers?
So ended the first day of my adventures.
CHAPTER TWO.
HOW I WAS PRESENTED TO A BOY, AND OF A CERTAIN
JOURNEY WE TOOK TOGETHER.
Very early next morning, when my hands scarcely pointed to five
o'clock, the little household was astir. There was a noise of hurried
going and coming, and of trunks being carried down stairs, and for the
first time I heard mingled with the sedate voices of my master and his
wife, another voice, cheery and musical, which I at once guessed to
belong to my future lord and master.
It was not till after this bustle had been going on for a good while that I
was taken out of the drawer and put back into the pocket in which I had
spent so many anxious hours the day before. But here I was destined
not to remain long, as will be seen.
Breakfast was a sad meal to that little family. Even the gay, high-
spirited boy was sobered in anticipation of the coming parting, and as
to his parents, they dared not open their lips for fear of breaking down.
Then there was a rumbling of wheels in the street, and a banging about
of boxes at the hall door; then a last long embrace between mother and
son. She no longer resisted her grief, and he for the time forgot
everything but her he was leaving; then father and son stepped into the

cab and drove away.
I felt the father's heart beating quicker and his chest heaving deeper as
we proceeded. Presently his hand stole to the pocket where I lay hid,
and he said--
"Charlie, boy, I've said all I have to say to you. You will remember our
talk last night, I am sure, and I shall remember it too. I have no greater
wish than to see my boy brave and honest and true to himself.
Remember always I am your father, and never hesitate to tell me
whenever you are in trouble, or danger, or--and I hope this won't often
be--in disgrace. See here," said he, drawing me forth, "this is a watch
which your mother and I have got for you. Think of us when you use it;
and mind this, Charlie, make the best use of time, or time will become
your enemy."
The poor man faltered out these words with a half-broken heart, as he
handed me to his son.
The boy's eyes brightened and his face became radiant at the sight of
his unexpected treasure. What boy does not covet a watch of his own at
some time or other?
"Oh, father!" he cried, "how good and kind of you! What a beauty!"
The father smiled to see his son's delight, and helped to fasten the chain
to his button-hole.
"You and mother are bricks!" exclaimed Charlie, feasting his eyes upon
me, and half wild with delight. "How did you know I was longing to
have one?"
"Were you?" inquired the father.
"Of course I was, and you knew it. What a swell I shall be! And it will
always be sure to remind me of home."
While this talk was going on I had leisure to examine my new owner.

Picture to yourselves a curly-haired, bright-eyed boy of thirteen with
honest, open face, good features, and winning smile. He is big