he Day the Chimes Stopped

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

One morning, at 8 o'clock, the Baron was looking of the Lilliland Castle balcony toward the town square. All was very quiet; in fact it was too quiet. The Baron noticed that the chimes from the clock in the square had not rung. The Baron quickly summoned the castle security officers to find out why the chimes had not rung eight times for eight o'clock in the morning. In fact, why the chimes had not rung at all, that he could remember, during the night. Was the clock being repaired?

An hour later the security officers reported to the Baron that the bell's hammer was missing. Someone had taken it during the night. In its place was left a soccer ball with the name of a nearby university printed on it.

Lilliland was located just a few miles from two universities that were currently getting ready for a major soccer tournament. The students from both universities wanted the people of Lilliland to cheer for their side. The Baron said that since there were an equal number of alumni from both universities among the citizens of Lilliland that the people should be able to choose who they wised to cheer for in the tournament.

After the Baron consulted with his chief advisor Professor Hamblin and the security officers, he decided to do nothing until the Professor visited both universities. The Professor would speak to the deans about the missing bell hammer.

It was discovered that four students from one of the universities had taken the hammer as a prank. The four students were identified and taken to the dean's office for discipline. The dean said that they must return the hammer in proper in proper working order and report to the Baron for additional discipline or they would be expelled from the university. The four young men returned the hammer the day after the soccer tournament. They reported to Lilliland Castle with a note from the dean and were prepared to face the Baron's discipline. The Baron held a meeting with Professor Hamblin and the decision was to give the four students a proper task that would help all of Lilliland.

The four young men were assigned to redecorate the dining room of the Lilliland Orphanage. The decorations would have banners and displays from the two university soccer teams and many students from both universities offered to help. This raised the spirits of the children and staff in the orphanage and everyone in Lilliland was pleased with the results.