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Then the beadle proceeds to keep back the crowd, who standwith open mouths and upturned faces watching the minute-hand move slowly on,—the fathers with the children perchedon their Shoulder, and the mothers telling the little thingswhat to look at first, and crying " Now watch well," themoment that the hand is on the stroke of twelve.

The words are no sooner uttered, than—clink-clank ! goesthe little gilt angel at the side of the dial which marks the"mean time," as he is seen to strike the bell he holds, whilethe other turns the hour-glass in his hand; and immediatelyafterwards the little skeleton figure of Time up above isobserved to sound the remaining quarters—tink-tink !—bystriking with his hone against the bell: whereupon a whirrof wheels is heard, and the old man that typifies the passinghour glides from his place in front of the skeleton, and thelittle child that indicates the nevv-born one advances to thespot the other has left.

Then, as the huge cathedral bell is heard to thunder forththe hour without, one of the puppet Apostles moves past thefigure of the Saviour, and as each different stroke boomsthrough the aisles, Christ turns towards the passing figure,and places his hand upon his head. While this is going on,the great cock, surmounting the turret at the side, flaps hiswings thrice, raises his head, and crows so lustily that thetransept rings again with the sound.

And when the crowing has been thrice repeated, the beadleknocks with his staff on the stones, after the fashion of the oldLiverpool policemen, and the crowd immediately disperse; forthe marvellous bit of clock-work has performed its chiefwonder for the day.

There is but one other sight in Strasburg worth the men-tioning: and that, though disfigured by faults that serve to

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