The Heavy-Duty Pendulum

I slipped past the front porch and marched straight along the brick path to the garden gate. Rigged to the cedar post was a small iron pulley, holding a thick chain and a dangling cast-iron counterweight ball. An undeniable mechanical pendulum! I hopped onto the lower crossbeam and caught the cold metal sphere with both gloved hands. One resolute shove! The heavy ball swung outward in a grand, sweeping arc, hoisting the chain through the grooved wheel with a rhythmic clink-clank. I braced my boots against the post, keeping time as the iron pendulum swayed back and forth across the morning gravel. A marvelous, heavy-duty rhythm!