Christopher and the Clockmakers

elpless, he looked as if he might never survive the weight of it. Even later, when he began to toddle about on his

n. Had it not been his father's, his grandfather's, and his great-grandfather's name before him; and all his life had not Mr. Burton longed for some one to whom to pass on the treas

this signal honor afforded him infinite satisfaction. No gift he could hav

savings bank five hundred dollars to its credit; but what was money w

oping cough, measles, and mumps like other children, and when at length he reached the ripened age of six he was led to school and it was here, w

in the estimation of his father and mother. But Chris himself was overjoyed at the emancipation. It seemed as if a ball had been lifted from his foot and left him free as air. And the

bed he with sardonic glee. "Haw, haw

youngsters had proceeded wit

n!" they piped, capering g

ruthless fashion whether he willed it or not. Fortunately, however, he welcomed his release, and th

dges. "Poor kid! Is it his fault if t

m of the Burton honors was far more sinned against than sinni

g on you, did they?" Billie Earnshaw, the leader of the gang, declared n

existed it was wiped from the tablets of their memory and Christ

in that fashion. Perhaps she hadn't the time. Life was a busy enterprise and the days were short. One could not stop to roll out a name like that unless blessed with leisure. Accordingly in the schoolroom our hero passed as Burton and

hool and went on into the high school as did other boys of his acquaintance. He was not, however, a scholar who leaped avidly toward books. Painfully, reluctantly he trudged his way. Learning came hard-especially

about his bed. He was not to be alarmed, they said. His eyes were not permanently injured. Yet there was no denying his illness had seriously weakened them and they must be given a long vacation. Perhaps six months might do what was necessary-perhaps, on

e released from them. It was almost too good to be true. Had he begged the boon on bended knees, his parents would have denied it. And now, as if by magic,

pronounced. Everybody did. Ill news travels as if on wings, and before the boy had been home a day the

nly he found it no cross to rise in leisurely fashion while the other kids were hiking along to school and sit down to a hot breakfast cooked especially for him; nor, when the be

an entire evening. But the books they selected were never pirate stories. Instead they were almost always things that aimed to improve him, and if there was anything Christopher resented, it was being improved. Therefore while he appreciated the good intentions of his parents in reading and explaining to him Emerson's essays, he would as lief have exchanged all of them for a single

urse, go down to the athletic field and watch the games, but as he was accustomed to being in the thick of them, he derived no great pleasure from sitting about on the edges and looking on, while others fumbled the ball or failed to m

s, it was only to hear them joshing about some event wholly unintelligible to him. All their jokes and horse play led back to the clas

, the only idle person in a rushing world. When he took a walk, except for the companionship of Joffre, he we

inquired one evening, after his mother had all but

paper and emerging abruptly from Wall Street, his atte

all I can do? I'm sick to deat

pleased to be out of school," M

n't keep tramping round with Joffre from morning to night, nor is there anywhere to go if I

d his mother with instant sympat

choed. "I had no idea, however, that you were un

n to pace the fl

you a liberal education into the bargain; but I haven't the money to do that just now, I'm afraid. Some more modest entertainment must be f

ce instantly

ar better than hanging about Elversham day after day. To go to the city would mean new sights, new sound

ised. I feared you would not even listen to the proposal. So you like it,

r was all

dn't be

set you to work," conti

if there was anyt

the reply. "Ours is a trade that ha

ppose

ut for yourself. However, as you say, it may amuse you to go to the store, and per

be errands to run,"

e boy pleasantly,

n, it is true, there are ordinary messages to be delivered; but in most cases any packag

ated Christophe

n nodded. "We never feel safe about sending ou

be held up!" Christopher gaspe

ind it something more than exciting if a group of yeggs thrust a pistol under your n

succeed?" came breath

, rescues the hero, captures the villain, and everything is all right. That is the sort of hold-up you are accusto

crestfallen and flu

little and you won't be so eager to g

he scheme appeals t

anker to meet a

rill to life to encounter a

like that coming on, you can go straight to the movies and indulge it. You shall have no such thrills at my expense," and