The Caliph Cupid and the Clock AUDIOBOOK Short Story by O. Henry Learn English Through Story

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the caliph

cupid

and the clock

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prince michael evalia luna sat in the

park on the seat he liked best

in the coolness of the night he felt

full of life

the other seats were not filled

cool weather sends most people home

the moon was rising over the houses on

the east side of the park

children laughed and played

music came softly from one of the

nearest streets

around the little park cabs rolled by

the trains that traveled high above the

street rushed past

these cabs and trains with their wild

noises

seemed like animals outside the park

but they could not enter

the park was safe

and quiet

and above the trees

was the great round shining face

of a lighted clock in a tall old

building

prince michael’s shoes were old and

broken

no shoemaker could ever make them like

new again

his clothes were very torn

the hair of his face had been growing

for two weeks

it was all colors gray and brown and red

and

green yellow

his hat was older and more torn than his

shoes and his other clothes

prince michael sat on the seat he liked

best

and he smiled

it was a happy thought to him that

he had enough money to buy every house

he could see near the park if he wished

he had as much gold as any rich man in

this proud city of new york

he had as many jewels and houses and

land

he could have sat at table with kings

and queens

all the best things in the world could

be his

art pleasure beautiful women honor

all the sweeter things in life were

waiting for prince michael of alia luna

whenever he might choose to take them

but instead

he was choosing to sit in torn clothes

on a seat

in a park

for he had tasted the fruit of the tree

of life

he had not liked the taste

here in this park

he felt near to the beating heart of the

world

he hoped it would help him to forget

that taste

these thoughts moved like a dream

through the mind of prince michael

there was

a smile across his face

with its many colored hair

sitting like this in torn clothes

he loved to study other men

he loved to do good things for others

giving was more pleasant to him than

owning all his riches

it was

his chief pleasure to help people

who were in trouble

he liked to give to people who needed

help

he liked to surprise them with princely

gifts

but

he always gave wisely

after careful thought

and now

as he looked at the shining face of the

great clock

his smile changed

the prince always thought big thoughts

when he thought of time he always felt

a touch of sadness

time controlled the world

people had to do what time

commanded their comings and goings were

always controlled

by a clock

they were always in a hurry and always

afraid

because of time

it made him sad

after a little while

a young man in evening clothes came and

sat upon a seat near the prince

for half an hour he sat there nervously

then

he began to watch the face of the

lighted clock above the trees

the prince could see that the young man

had a trouble

he could also see that

somehow

the clock was part of the trouble

the prince rose and went to the young

man’s seat

i am a stranger and i shouldn’t speak to

you he said

but i can see that you are troubled

i am prince michael of value luna

i do not want people to know who i am

that is why i wear these torn clothes

it is a small pleasure of mine to help

those who need help

first i must feel sure they are worth

helping

i think you are

and perhaps your trouble may be ended

if you and i together decide what to do

about it

the young man looked up brightly at the

prince

brightly

but

he was still troubled

he laughed then

but still the look of trouble remained

but he accepted this chance to talk to

someone

i’m glad to meet you prince

he said pleasantly

yes i can see you don’t want to be known

that’s easy to see

thanks for your offer to help but

i don’t see what you can do

it’s my own problem but thanks

prince michael sat down at the young

man’s side

people often said no to him but they

always said it pleasantly

clocks

said the prince

are tied to the feet of all men and

women

i have seen you watching that clock

that face commands us to act

whether or not we wish to act

let me tell you not to trust the numbers

on that face

they will destroy you if they can

stop looking at that clock what does it

know about living men and women

i usually don’t look at that clock said

the young man

i carry a watch

except when i wear evening clothes

i know men and women as i know the trees

and the flowers said the prince warmly

and proudly

i have studied many years

and i am very rich

there are few troubles that i cannot

help

i have read what is in your face

i have found honor and goodness there

and

trouble

please accept my help

i can see that you are wise

show how wise you are do not judge me by

my torn clothes

i am sure i can help you

the young man looked at the clock again

and his face grew darker

then he looked at a house beside the

park

lights could be seen in many rooms

ten minutes before nine

ten minutes before nine

said the young man

he raised his hands and then let them

fall as if hope had gone

he stood up

and took a quick step or two away

remain commanded prince michael

his voice was so powerful

that the young man turned quickly

he laughed a little

ah wait ten minutes and then i’ll go he

said in a low voice as if only to

himself

then to the prince he said i’ll join you

we’ll destroy all the clocks and women

too

sit down said the prince

softly i do not accept that

i do not include women women are enemies

of clocks

they are born that way therefore they

are friends of those who wish to destroy

clocks

if you can trust me tell me your story

the young man sat down again and laughed

loudly

[Laughter]

ah prince i will he said

he did not believe that prince michael

was really a prince

his manner of speaking proved that

you see that house prince

that house with lights and three windows

on the third floor

at six tonight i was in that house with

the young lady i’m going to

was

going to marry

i’d been doing wrong my dear prince

and she heard about it

i was sorry

i wanted her to forget it

we’re always asking women to forget

things like that aren’t we prince

i want time to think she said

i will either forget it forever

or never see your face again

at half past eight she said

watch the middle window on the third

floor of this house

if i decide to forget

i will hang out a long white cloth

you will know then that everything is as

it was before

and you may come to me

if you see nothing hanging from the

window

you will know that everything between us

is finished forever

that

said the young man is why i’ve been

watching that clock

the time was passed 23 minutes ago do

you see why i’m a little troubled by

torn prince

let me tell you again

said prince michael in his soft voice

that women are the born enemies of

clocks

clocks are bad

women are good

the white cloth may yet appear

never said the young man hopelessly yeah

you don’t know marion

she is always on time to the minute

that was the first thing i liked about

her

at 8 31 i should have known that

everything was finished

i’m gonna go west i’ll get on the train

tonight

i’ll find some way to forget her

good night

prince

prince michael smiled his gentle

understanding smile

he caught the other’s arm

the bright light in the prince’s eyes

was softening

it was dreamlike

clouded

wait he said till the clock tells the

hour

i have riches and power and i’m wiser

than most men

but when i hear the clock till the hour

i’m afraid

stay with me till then

this woman shall be yours

you have the promise of the prince of

valya luna

on the day you are married i will give

you one hundred thousand dollars and a

great house beside the hudson river

but there must be no clocks in that

house

do you agree to that

sure

said the young man

i don’t like clocks

he looked again at the clock above the

trees

it was three minutes before nine

i think

said prince michael

and i will sleep a little

it has been

a long day

he lay down on the seat

as if he had often done it before

you’ll find me on this park

on any evening when the weather is good

said the prince

come to me when you know the day you’ll

be married

i’ll give you the money

thanks prince

said the young man

that day isn’t gonna come

but thanks

prince michael fell into a deep sleep

his heart rolled on the ground

the young man lifted it

placed it over the prince’s face

and moved one of the prince’s legs into

an easier position

poor fellow he said

he pulled the torn coat together over

the prince’s body

it was nine

loud and surprising came the voice of

the clock

telling the hour

the young man took a deep breath

and turned for one more look at the

house

and he gave a shout of joy

from the middle window on the third

floor

a snow white wonderful cloth was hanging

through the park a man came hurrying

home

will you tell me the time please ask the

young man

the other man took out his watch

29 and a half minutes after eight

and then he looked up at the clock but

that clock is wrong the man said

the first time in 10 years my watch is

always but he was talking to no one

he turned and saw the young man running

toward the house with three lighted

windows on the third floor

and in the morning two cops walked

through the park

there was only one person to be seen

a man asleep

on a long park seat

they stopped to look at him

it’s michael a dreamer said one he’s

been sleeping like this in the park for

20 years

he won’t live much longer i guess

the other cop looked at something in the

sleeper’s hand

look at this he said

fifty dollars

i wish i could have a dream like that

and then they gave prince michael of

value luna a hard shake

and brought him out of his dreams

and into real life

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