If you ever want to buy an antique clock then the best place to visit would be the town of Nimish where a whole lineage of the Ebons have lived and created the best grandfather clocks. Read the fascinating story of the Ebons, the grandfather clock makers, in A Time for Ebby by Poile Sengupta (Karadi tales) for middle grade readers.
The present eighth generation Father Ebon was a sad and unhappy man. The reason? His only child was a girl. Father Ebon loved his fifteen- year- old Ebby but all the past Ebons had been sons. As soon as they grew old enough, they were inculcated in the family business of making the skilful grandfather clocks. What set these clocks apart from the other clocks was a signature verse on time that was inscribed in a secret place inside the clock. Only the sons in the family could know about it.
Hence father Ebon was in a quandary as to who would run the business after him?
One day while walking around the huge family estate Ebby notices an old hut. There she makes an exciting discovery, a discovery even unknown to Father Ebon. This brings a glimmer of hope for Father Ebon. All is not lost. What does Ebby find in the hut? Could his Ebby also join the family business and learn the art of clock making?
Poile Sengupta has crafted a beautiful story of the Ebons in A Time for Ebby by weaving a story revolving around the art of making grandfather clocks of an old era.
