âIt was the custom that when a clockmakerâs apprentice finished his period of service, he made a new figure for the great clock of Glockenheim. âSo weâre to have a new piece of clockwork in the tower! Well, I look forward to seeing it tomorrow.â âI remember when my apprenticeship came to an endâ, said Herr Ringelmann, âI couldnât sleep for thinking about what would happen when my figure come out of the clock. Supposing, I hadnât counted the cogs properly? Supposing the spring was too stiff?â â