THE TALKING WATCH

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1022, 12 July 1930, Page 29

THE TALKING WATCH

Once upon a time there was a prince who w anted a new’ watch, so he sought out a .very clever watchmaker who lived in a quiet part of the city. "I want a repeater,” said the prince: “a watch that will tell me the time when I press a spring, without giving me the trouble of looking at the dial.”

The old watchmaker hunted in a drawer, and brought out a piece of soft leather, in which was wrapped a very large old-fashioned watch. This he held out to the prince, saying: “Here, sir, is the very thing you need.”

“That old turnip!” said the prince, looking at it scornfully. “Why, it would make me tired to lift that, much less to carry it about with me. It’s going, I can hear,” he added, “but is it set to the right time?”

“You may judge for yourself by pressing this spring,” said the watchmaker gravely. The prince pressed the spring and listened to hear the watch chime, but instead of that he heard a small clear voice say: “Time to keep your appointment with your royal father.” “Who spoke?” said the prince, hastily turning round.

“The watch,” said the old man. “You see, I did not claim too much for it. It will tell you the time in a way which no other timepiece can. Take it, my prince; you are going to need its help.” The King sat in his chair of State frowning terribly, for he had heard that the Prince had gone out, and felt sure that he would be late for his appointment. But just as the hour struck, the Prince walked in, bowed low to his royal father and quietly took his place before him, ready to listen to the king’s oommands. “Son,” said the King, “I would speak of your future.” “Father, said the Prince, “I am all attention.”

“Son,” said the King, “it is time you began to learn how do rule over this country. I am going to send you to the Farthest Corner, where a dreadful monster is said to be spreading ruin and desolation among my people. If you can defeat the monster' mv people will always love you, and will gladly accept you as their king when I am dead. Go forth, then, and prove your worth.”

“But, father,” said the Prince, “suppose I am not able to defeat the monster?”

“Then,” said the King, “the people will not be able to blame me. It will not be my fault, as I have sent my son to help them.”

Now this sounded very cruel. But the King was wise, for he k«ew that the monster could certainly be defeated by anyone who was both wise and bold. He would gladly have gone liimself, but he had seen for some time that his son was growing more and more idle, and that he would make but a sorry king if he were not quickly taught a lesson.

“Go.” said the King, after a silence which was broken only bv the sighs of the Prince, “and think over what I have said. But know this—if you refuse to go on this errand, you are no son of mine. I will disown you for ever! Come back in an hour’s time to tell me your decision.”

Away went the Prince, very’ slowlv and sadly to his room, where he flunghimself on his bed. He was most unhappy, for he hated travelling and sleeping in strange beds. At last he remembered with a start that the hour of which the King had spoken must be nearly gone, and he pressed the spring of the watch to find out if this were the case.

“Time to saddle your horse!” said the watch.

The words put courage into the Prince’s heart.

“Ho! there! Saddle my horse!” he cried, and he ran to the King, who was waiting anxiously for his coming. “I am off at once! Good-bye, father*” cried the Prince. “They are saddling my horse at this moment! You shall hear from me soon!” The Prince rode on and on, till the shades of evening told him that the day was nearly ended. He was nov-half-way to the Farthest Corner, and lie began to wonder whether he ought to ride all night, or if he might seel: out some shelter until morning. By this time he knew that he could always get advice from the wonderful watch, so he pressed the spring. “Time to dismount and water your horse in yonder stream,” said * the watch.

Without complaining, as he would once have done, that he. too. needed refreshment, the Prince led his liors’ to tpe water’s edge. The animal drank deeply, looked at his master, and then walked slowly off along a narrow path.

The Prince followed, never doubting that the horse would lead liim astrav. By and by they came to a tiny cottage, little better than a hut. at the door of which stood a beautiful girl. She was shading her eyes with her hand, for the last rays of the setting sun shone full upon them, and she seemed to be looking for someone. “Whom do you seek, fair maiden?” asked the Prince.

“I was told,” she replied, “to watch for a traveller who would come at sunset. For hfm I have prepared food and a bed. that he may go on his journey tomorrow rested and refreshed.”

“How will you know' him?” asked the Prince.

“I am to ask him the time,** replied the girl.

At once the Prince pressed the spring

of the watch, which answered “Time to sup and rest.” “That is the answer,” said the giri clapping her hands, “Come in, I pra you! ”

The Prince entered the cottage, anil found himself in a room smaller than the closet in which he kept his clothes On the table was spread a clear, cloth, on which the girl had set forth a simple meal. There was brown bread of her own baking, crisp and new, sweet fresh butter and cheese and a pitcher of clear water. The Prince handed the maiden t«» her seat and sat beside her. At firs* he could not eat for looking into he’ eyes, but when she told him that was disappointed that he did not ear the food she had prepared, he began to eat at once. “What delicious food!” he said; “1 have never eaten such a charming meal!”

That night be dreamed that th- : maiden stood beside his bed and as | It© sprang up to greet her, he touched ! the watch, which told him “Time to get up!” He was now wide awake, and nr hastened to light the fire and fetch wood and water to spare his fair hostess. Her smile when she came downstair? was more than enough to pay for his labour, the first work that the Idle Prince liad done with his own hands. Ho arrived at the Farthest Corner at noon, and the people who dwelt ther* ran out to meet him. “I come from the King. he tola them, “who is jp-Jeved to hear that his faithful subjects are terrorised by the dreadful monster. Where is he? I have com© to conquer him!” They told the Prince that the monster had a tail a mile long and that he was the most thirsty monster that ever drank from a river. He had alreadv drunk all the streams dry and had started to drink up the water In the wells. He took so muc.i room to turn in. and his tail was so long, that he could never move a step without knocking down a house or a tower or a church. He could knock down the buildings so much faster than they could put them up again that they were all thinking of digging out caves to live in. ‘How deep is your deepest well: asked the Prince “About two hundred feet,” he was told. “We never use it, because we should need such a long rope.” 4 Get in good supplies of water from the other wells today.” said the Prince. “At nightfall wc will cover them over with stones and put earth on the top to hide them from the dreadful monster.” The people did so. and when the dreadful monster came out to drink next morning he could not find a single well except the deepest one. He did not want to drink there, for it was very awkward for him to reach down so far. but he was very thirsty indeed and, at last, when he had failed to find a drop of water anywhere else, he went ts the well and began to drink. Now the*Prince had had the earth about the well dug up and moistened with water, and when the monster leant over to drink, the earth gave way. and he fell right in! His head stuck in the mud at the bottom of the well, and although there were yard? and yards of him sticking out at the top. he was quite helpless. The more he struggled, the more lie stuck. But he could not get out, and as the well was one that was never used, the people of the Farthest Corner did not in the least mind his staying there. They rang the bells for joy at the defeat of the monster, and would have loaded the Prince with presents if he would have -taken them.

But he declined them all except one milk white steed, which he took away with him when he rode away the next morning.

By noon he had reached the house where the maiden dwelt. She was at the door watching for him and waved her hand when he came in sight.

After dinner she asked the time, and the watch said. “Time to ride together to the palace.” The maiden was quite ready to go with the Prince. She mounted the milk-white steed and the two rode gaily off to the prince’s home. The Prince told him of the trick by which he had trapped the monster, and the King was delighted. “My son!” he said, “how can 1 reward you? Ask what you will. 1 can refuse you nothing.” “Dear father.” said the Prince, “on my travels I met a beautiful maiden. I crave your permission to make her my wife.”

“Let me see her,” said the King. His son led. him to the window and showed him the fair maiden on the milk-white steed. As soon as the King saw her he gave a shout of joy. ’ Your beautiful maiden is the daughter of tlie King of the next country to my own.” he said. “She was stolen from her cradle and he ha> despaired of finding her after these long years. I can wish nothing better than that she should become your wife. Take her witn your father's b!essing.” So the Prince married the beautiful maiden, and on their wedding day they went to the old watchmaker to take back the wonderful watch. But he told them that it should be his wedding present to them, and it is their most prized possession.

As for the monster, he sank deeper and deeper into the mud as the. yearwent by. and now there is not a scrap of him to be seen. The rivers flowed again in the Farthest Corner. and everyone in the Prince’s Country ft red happily ever after.