Joseph in the Snow and the Clockmaker Vol. II by Berthold Auerbach

It was quite an event in the valley when the news was circulated that the large, handsome clock -- the "Magic Flute," as it was called, made by Lenz of the Morgenhalde -- was to be sent off in the course of a few days to its destination in Russia. It attracted a perfect pilgrimage to Lenz's house -- every one wished to admire the fine instrument before it left the country for ever. Franzl had a great deal to do in welcoming all the people, and shaking hands with them -- first wiping her hands carefully on her apron -- and then escorting them a little way. There were not chairs enough in the house, for all the people who came to sit down at the same time.

Even uncle Petrowitsch condescended to come, and he not only brought Bueble with him -- for that was a matter of course -- but Ibrahim, Petrowitsch's companion at cards -- of whom people said that, during his fifty years' absence from home, he had become a Turk. The two old men said little; Ibrahim sat still and smoked his long Turkish pipe, and moved his eyebrows up and down; Petrowitsch fidgeted round him, just as Bueble fidgeted round Petrowitsch. For Ibrahim was the only man who had a certain influence over Petrowitsch, which he only retained because he rarely exercised it. He would listen to no man who applied to him to obtain any favour from Petrowitsch. They played cards together for whole evenings, each paying his losses on the spot; and the restless, lively disposition of Ibrahim made Petrowitsch more polite and complaisant; and here, in the old family house, Petrowitsch seemed, in some degree, inclined to assist his nephew in doing the honours.