4_th_ _April_, 1840.
Master Humphrey earnestly hopes, (and is almost tempted to believe,) that
all degrees of readers, young or old, rich or poor, sad or merry, easy of
amusement or difficult to entertain, may find something agreeable in the
face of his old clock. That, when they have made its acquaintance, its
voice may sound cheerfully in their ears, and be suggestive of none but
pleasant thoughts. That they may come to have favourite and familiar
associations connected with its name, and to look for it as for a welcome
friend.
From week to week, then, Master Humphrey will set his clock, trusting
that while it counts the hours, it will sometimes cheat them of their
heaviness, and that while it marks the thread of Time, it will scatter a
few slight flowers in the Old Mower’s path.
Until the specified period arrives, and he can enter freely upon that
confidence with his readers which he is impatient to maintain, he may
only bid them a short farewell, and look forward to their next meeting.