"You see, Christopher, we've all enjoyed having you round the store this winter," murmuredMcPhearson. "You've brought cheer to everybody. We shall miss you when you go back to school next season. Nevertheless we rejoice your eyes are on the mend and we wanted you to know how glad we are."
"It was bully of you all—simply bully!" burst out the lad. "I don't deserve anything of the sort, for I know I must have been more bother to everybody than I was worth. You are the ones who have been patient. But the watch is a dandy. It is exactly the one I would have picked out could I have had my choice. You see, I've never owned a line watch. I guess it was just as well, too, for I never appreciated watchmaking until Mr. McPhearson told me what a really good watch meant. Now I'd as soon starve a kitten as not take care of it."
A clapping of hands greeted the assertion.
"But you were wrong about one thing, Dad," the boy continued. "I am not going to thank the men through Mr. Rhinehart or anybody else. I am going round the store to thank every person myself."
"Bravo, son!" replied Mr. Burton. "But before you start on this pilgrimage I have just a word to add. The gift you hold in your hand has been presented to you by the men of Burton and Norcross. Your mother and I have had no part in it, and the present we have planned for you has not yet been delivered. It is a different sort from the one you usually receive from us. Nevertheless, although it is neither a wireless, a typewriter, a dog, or a bicycle I hope you are going to like it."
He paused for a moment and glanced round the office.
"There is one man in our employ who has been here longer than any of the others," he went on. "He is a man whom we all respect and whose loyalty and friendship we value highly. Years ago he left his native land to become a citizen of this country and give to America his skill and knowledge. His faithful, intelligent labor has had much to do with the building up of our business and the establishment of a standard for thorough, reliable work. You all know the man I have in mind—Angus McPhearson."
Cheers broke in on the speech. The old Scotchman was a general favorite. It was easy to see that.
"This winter," added Mr. Burton, "this craftsman has annexed to his other duties that of tutor. He has taken you, Christopher, and taught you more in a few short months than I ever knew you to learn before in all your history. Because your mother and I are grateful to him for his kindness, interest, and instruction; because, as the head of this firm I value his services and wish to recognize them, I have selected for you a birthday present that shall include him. I know you like him very much—"
"You bet I do!" interrupted Christopher enthusiastically.
"And so," continued Mr. Burton, bestowing on the comment only a smile, "we have planned to send you two to Europe this summer on a clock-seeing expedition."
"Oh!" cried Christopher.
"Oh, sir!" came in a bewildered whisper from the Scotchman.
"You will first go to Scotland," explained Mr. Burton, "and there McPhearson is to visit his old home and the friends he wishes to hunt up. He is not to hurry about it, either. Then, while you are there, he is to take you for a trip through the Scotch Lakes that you may see the beauty of the land that turns out such splendid men as he. After that you will travel down through England, seeing all you can as you go and searching out the old clocks and the famous collections of them that he has told you about. Then across the Channel in an airship (you will like that, Christopher) and on to France, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. How does the proposition strike you, son?"
"We'll see the bears of Berne, Mr. McPhearson," cried Christopher excitedly. "And the Straasburg clock, too! And that wonderful clock in Venice. Think of it!"
"I am scarcely able to think of it," gasped the little Scotchman.
"You would like to go?" inquired Mr. Burton gently.
"Oh, sir, it has been my dream for years. I have thought and thought of sometime making such a journey. But it never has been possible. The expense—"
"It is going to be possible now," cut in Mr. Burton, smiling. "That is, if you are willing to take Christopher along."
"Nothing would please me better," ejaculatedthe watchmaker. "He is a fine lad. This year I have come to—"
"We know you have, Mr. McPhearson," asserted Mrs. Burton softly. "Your kindness to our boy has proved that. That is why we are going to trust him to you. He is the most precious thing we have in the world. We should not let everybody borrow him."
With that the group broke up. Mr. Norcross hurried into his office; Mrs. Burton opened her bag and once more began to fumble with her foolish gauzy samples; and Mr. Burton took up from his desk a handful of letters and glanced curiously over them. Even Mr. Rhinehart, Hollings, and the others scattered to their awaiting tasks, and Christopher and McPhearson were left alone.
"That's a present worth having, isn't it?" the boy cried with delight.
"It is like a dream come true," the Scotchman answered, with misty eyes.
By Sara Ware BassettThe Invention SeriesPaul and the Printing PressSteve and the Steam EngineTed and the TelephoneWalter and the WirelessCarl and the Cotton GinChristopher and the Clockmakers
By Sara Ware BassettThe Invention Series
Transcriber's Note:P. 124 Fromantell changed toFromanteelP. 126 Closing double quotation mark added afterNew York City."P. 196 Eli, junior changed to Eli,JuniorAlternative spelling for focused / focussed, shan't / sha'n't, jeweler / jeweller, honor / honour, and the spelling of Nurenburg and Straasburg have been retained as they appear in the original book.
Transcriber's Note:
P. 124 Fromantell changed toFromanteelP. 126 Closing double quotation mark added afterNew York City."P. 196 Eli, junior changed to Eli,JuniorAlternative spelling for focused / focussed, shan't / sha'n't, jeweler / jeweller, honor / honour, and the spelling of Nurenburg and Straasburg have been retained as they appear in the original book.