The Caliph Cupid and the Clock AUDIOBOOK Short Story by O. Henry Learn English Through Story
[Music]
the caliph
cupid
and the clock
[Music]
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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you