Original Cowboy Stories
written by......R. V. Jahns"FAMILY TREASURE......" "Most all the families I know have a special treasure of some kind.......It may be a painting by some favorite relative, a special souvenir or something of that nature. My family is no different. The treasure of my Grandparents on my father's side was an old chiming mantel clock my Granddad's father brought over with him from the old country. In preparing for their trip to Oregon from Texas, my grandparents very
carefully wrapped the old clock and packed it in one of the covered wagons they were going to take to their new homeland....all the time very cautious of doing anything that would damage the precious treasure. Many miles and many days later the family caravan arrived in Homestead, Oregon, a small settlement on the Snake River. After sometime of looking the country over Granddad found a place which suited his dreams and fancy. In due time Granddad filed on it and now they had a new home, thankful for the Homestead Act. Of course, with just a bare tract of land much had to be done to make it a home and building a cabin was among the first of the necessities. After weeks of grueling work with shovel, axe, saw, and other things, logs had been pulled from the woods, baked, and cut into the proper length, notched, and stacked into a pole which turned out to be a fine cabin of the frontier nature. But getting the cabin erected was only the first step. Much work on it remained such as building a fireplace, doors, shelves, and the like. But finally this was all completed and my Grandparents moved into their new home. My granddad fmally brought out the old mantel clock which chimed so beautifully, carefully wound it, and placed it proudly on the newly built mantel over the fireplace. This clock was so special that Granddad would allow no one to touch it ... let alone wind, or set it. So you can imagine how proud he felt as he stood there in their new cabin, with the family all around, admiring the clock and the hard work of their hands. Supper was now over and my grandparents, dad, uncle and aunt enjoyed a few minutes of quiet relaxation before going to bed. Which didn't last long as all were very tired and were soon
sleeping peacefully in their beds. My Dad and his brother were in one homemade bed, my aunt in another and my Grandparents in their bed. The treasured mantel clock was ticking rhythm on its perch over the fireplace. Finally midnight rolled around and the clock began to toll the hour-one......two.....three....
four....five....six....seven...eight....nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, then, Granddad reared up in bed and yelled, "Myrtle Myrtle get up quick it's later than it's ever been before!"
the end....... ....written by R.V. Jahns
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