KELLOSEPPÄ
by Zacharias Topelius · from Lukemisia lapsille 7
Adapted Version
Once there was a clock. It went tick-tock all day.
Listen to the clock. Tick-tock, tick-tock. It sounded like a happy, busy bird. It never stopped.
The clock told all when to play. It told them when to work. It told them when to eat. It told grown-ups when to work.
It helped a child wake for school. It helped a child go see a friend. It helped all get ready on time.
Rain or shine, the clock kept going. Snow or sun, it kept ticking. It was always there. It was a good friend.
It is good to be on time. The clock helps us know. It helps us every day.
An old clock man looked after the clock. He was kind and wise. He had gray hair and a gentle smile.
He set the clock's hands with care. He made sure each second was right. He smiled as he worked. He was very careful.
He was like a great helper. He cared for it day and night. He was always there for the clock.
Tick-tock, tick-tock. The clock kept talking. Time was always moving. The sound was soft and steady.
The clock keeps ticking. The old clock man helps always. He takes good care of time. He is a good man.
The clock shows us that time moves. A wise clock man cares for it all. The clock keeps ticking, telling happy times.
Original Story
KELLOSEPPÄ.
Tikitak, tikitak
Minun kelloni käy,
Ilolintuseni,
Surun päivää ei näy.
Sulla kiire on ain,
Sull' on puuhat ja työs',
Sinä aika oot vain,
Elo rientävä myös.
Kaikki päivät ja yöt
Aina työssä sä oot,
Kaikki leikit ja työt
Sua seurakohot.
Huone siistinä on,
Kello kahdeksan lyö;
Kello kakstoista alkavi
Keisarin työ.
Antti läksyjen luo
Kello kuus herättää,
Sohvi naapuriin suo
Kello viis lähettää!
Joudu, riennä nyt vaan
Pekan kanss' tätilään,
Täti matkustamaan
Johda määrällään.
Sade, pakkanen ois,
Sota, rauhakin viel',
Tai jos posti on pois,
Sinä esillä siell'. —
Sanat katkerimmat
Katumus mitkä tuo:
Liian myöhään, saat
Kuulla surkeat nuo.
Mutta mestaris on
Ukko harmaja pää,
Luja, muuttumaton,
Tarkka veitikka tää.
Pienet sekunnit hän,
Joill' on väärähän tie
Heti meisselillään
Oikopoluille vie.
Ja hän hymyssä suin
Sua asettelee,
Ja ihmisten riennot
Näin määräelee.
On toimensa hällä
Vaan Ijäisen työtä,
Mi hallitsee maata
Ja päivää ja yötä.
Tikitak, tikitak,
Seppä napsuta vaan!
Kuva liikkehes on
Elon riennosta maan.
Miltä näyttävi maa
Kun et sä enää käy? —
Aika lopun kun saa
Kelloseppää ei näy.
Story DNA
Moral
Time is a relentless and impartial force that governs all aspects of life, and its ultimate master is a higher power.
Plot Summary
This poetic tale personifies a clock as a tireless, joyful entity that dictates the rhythm of all human life, from daily chores to imperial duties, unwavering through all circumstances. It introduces an old, precise watchmaker who meticulously maintains the clock, revealing him as a metaphor for an Eternal being who governs the entire world. The story concludes by reflecting on the clock's symbolic representation of life's fleeting nature and pondering the ultimate cessation of time when the divine Watchmaker is no longer visible.
Themes
Emotional Arc
contemplation to understanding
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Zacharias Topelius was a prominent Finnish-Swedish author, poet, and journalist, known for his children's literature and patriotic writings. His works often contained moral or religious undertones, reflecting the values of his time.
Plot Beats (10)
- The poem opens with the sound of a clock, personified as a busy, joyful bird, always in motion.
- The clock's constant work is described, dictating the timing of all human activities, from play to work, and even imperial duties.
- Specific examples are given: the clock wakes Antti for lessons, sends Sohvi to a neighbor, and urges travel.
- The clock's steadfastness is emphasized; it continues regardless of weather, war, peace, or postal service.
- The poem notes that the most bitter words of regret are often 'too late,' highlighting the clock's unforgiving nature.
- An old, gray-haired watchmaker, the clock's master, is introduced as firm and precise, correcting any errant seconds.
- This master is depicted smilingly setting the clock and thus governing human endeavors.
- The watchmaker's work is equated with the work of an Eternal being who rules the earth, day, and night.
- The poem returns to the ticking sound, affirming the clock as a symbol of life's swift passage.
- It ends with a contemplation of what the world would be like if the clock stopped, and when time itself ends, the ultimate Watchmaker will no longer be visible.
Characters
The Clockmaker
A sturdy, compact man of advanced age, with a slightly hunched but firm posture from years of meticulous work. His hands are likely gnarled and calloused, but precise, with keen eyesight despite his age.
Attire: He wears practical, durable clothing typical of a Finnish craftsman in the 19th century: a dark, heavy wool waistcoat over a simple linen shirt, perhaps with sleeves rolled up. His trousers are likely dark, sturdy wool or homespun fabric, and he might wear a leather apron over his clothes to protect them from dust and oil. His shoes would be practical, well-worn leather boots.
Wants: To maintain the order of time and ensure that all 'seconds' (people) are on their correct path, reflecting a deeper philosophical understanding of life's flow.
Flaw: Perhaps a tendency to be overly focused on the minute details, potentially missing broader emotional nuances, though the story implies a benevolent oversight.
He is presented as a constant, unchanging figure, a master who embodies the eternal nature of time itself. His arc is one of enduring wisdom rather than personal change.
Meticulous, patient, wise, firm, and content. He is dedicated to his craft and finds joy in the order and precision of time.
The Clock
A robust, well-maintained grandfather clock, likely made of polished dark wood like birch or pine, with a tall, elegant case. It has a clear glass face revealing intricate brass gears and a swinging pendulum. Its chimes are distinct and resonant.
Attire: Not applicable, as it is an object. Its 'attire' is its polished wooden case and gleaming brass mechanisms.
Wants: To keep perfect time, as set by its master, and to regulate the daily lives of those around it.
Flaw: It is dependent on its master for maintenance and correction; without the Clockmaker, it would eventually falter.
It is a static character, a symbol of time's relentless march and the order it brings.
Constant, reliable, diligent, and impartial. It marks time without judgment, serving as a silent, ever-present guide.
Locations
The Watchmaker's Workshop
A clean, orderly room, likely within a traditional Finnish wooden house, where the old watchmaker meticulously works. The air is filled with the rhythmic 'tikitak' of many clocks. Sunlight might filter through a simple window, illuminating dust motes and the intricate gears of timepieces.
Mood: Orderly, precise, diligent, with an underlying sense of timelessness and quiet wisdom.
This is the central setting where the watchmaker, a metaphor for the Eternal, maintains and corrects the flow of time, represented by the clocks.