Long ago, in a kingdom far away there was a king with a beautiful daughter. He announced that a competition would be held to select a husband for his daughter, the princess. The man who did the most incredible thing would marry his daughter and also be given half the kingdom.
Men of all ages began to come to the palace to show the incredible things they could do. Some even showed that they could eat and drink enormous quantities till they got sick!
Finally, the judges selected the most incredible thing. It was a clock where every hour was marked by figures that move.
One o’ clock brought a figure of Moses on the platform outside the clock. He was carrying a large stone tablet on which was written, ‘There is only one true God!’ At two, Adam and Eve came and walked about. Then at three, three kings came on camels bearing gifts for the new-born infant Jesus at three.
Four o’ clock brought four characters showing the four seasons. Spring was a boy holding a branch with a cuckoo on it; summer was a girl holding ripe corn; autumn was a woman carrying a basket of berries and winter was Santa Claus surrounded by elves making toys! Five showed the five senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. When the clock struck six, two children threw a dice that showed a six.
The seven dwarfs came out with shovels and lanterns and bags of gold at seven. Eight o’ clock showed an octopus with eight tentacles.
Nine muses came next to show the nine branches of knowledge like music, poetry, science, history and others. Moses showed the Ten Commandments at ten and eleven children danced at eleven. Twelve was said to be the witching hour, so twelve witches flew around on their broomsticks in the dead of night.
The judges were very happy to announce the clock-maker the winner. Everyone was happy, for the clock-maker was a handsome young man, who was also good and kind. However, when the judges were going to announce his name as the winner, a tall, harsh-looking man came with an axe.
“I have something even more incredible to show you,” he shouted and smashed the clock with the axe, “See! His work is destroyed by my work! I deserve to win!”
“Yes,” said the helpless judges, “It is really incredible that he has destroyed such a beautiful thing.” They had to declare him the winner and the King had to keep his promise. The Princess got ready for the wedding, feeling miserable, for she had liked the clock-maker better.
But before the wedding could take place, a strange thing happened. All the characters from the clock drifted into the palace like ghosts. They attacked the bridegroom. He howled for help, but the witches grabbed his hair and dragged him off to punish him for breaking their clock!
Everyone was relieved to see the man being carried off. The judges happily announced the clock-maker as the winner and he married the Princess. This was really an incredible event!
