[00:02.37]Our vicar is always raising money for one cause or another, but he has never managed to get enough money to have the church clock repaired.
[00:28.80]The big clock which used to strike the hours day and night was damaged many years ago and has been silent ever since.
[00:38.45]One night, however, our vicar work up with a start: the clock was striking the hours!
[00:46.50]Looking at his watch, he saw that it was one o'clock, but the bell struck thirteen times before it stopped.
[00:55.82]Armed with a torch, the vicar went up into the clock tower to see what was going on.
[01:02.96]In the torchlight, he caught sight of a figure whom he immediately recognized as Bill Wilkins, our local grocer.
[01:12.45]'Whatever are you doing up here Bill?' asked the vicar in surprise.
[01:17.62]'I'm trying to repair the bell,' answered Bill. 'I've been coming up here night after night for weeks now. You see, I was hoping to give you a surprise.'
[01:29.29]'You certainly did give me a surprise!' said the vicar. 'You've probably woken up everyone in the village as well. Still, I'm glad the bell is working again.'
[01:41.54]That's the trouble, vicar,' answered Bill. 'It's working all right, but I'm afraid that at one o'clock it will strike thirteen times and there's nothing I can do about it."
[01:53.86]We'll get used to that, Bill,' said the vicar. "Thirteen is not as good as one, but it's better than nothing. Now let's go downstairs and have a cup of tea.'