New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-10-01
THE THORSDALE TELEGRAPHS.

When first arrived at Thorsdale was
nineteen, having just graduated from q
Western college, with msgnlncent olplo'
ma, and, if it had not been for knowledge
of tele graphing and machine sewing.
would have been assisting widowed sister
of mine, keeping school, in q town in the
western portion OF the State. Thorsdale
had then rather Typographical! than to-
biographical existence. While Twoboysbo-
70 and Smoilersville enjoyed the distinction
Thorsdaie had 10 be satisfied vita the
smallest type. Thorsdale was simply The
int rsecting poirt Of two railroads, which
formed an Y at that point, and for build
ings had dIlapid ated freight depot. a few
struggling houses. and . telegraph station,
in which tor q certain time l was an en-
plOye. Thorsdale Office had great deal to
do with railroad business, and although the
two roads were at daggers dra wn. aud were
continually quarreling on the sui cot of
time tables and schedules, messages relat-
ing to the safety and business of the trains
were always being received at and tor
wal ded from the Thorsdale station.
It was an oppr-sAively sultry August Of
ternoon when l first presented myself Ut
the Office, and became acquainted with Mr.
Thor, it's occupant. Apparently Mr. Thor
did not much heed the words of salutation
gave him, though he rose from his work
and gave me . dilapidAted Office stool.
Somewhat tired. perhaps rather confused
by his manner, which, though not uncourte-
Gus, was in the highest degree Indifferent
and hardly calculated to inspire self-reli.
Ance, | sat rather uncOmtortably on the
high chair tor some minutes, wondering
whether l would like Q position in the
Th0rsdsle effiCe, and coming pretty rapidly
to the conclusion that with Mr.. Thor % :
fellOwtelegraph clerk should not relish it.
/ excused his not talking to me just then
b. cause he seemed quite busy with his in
strument, studying at the same time rail.
road time .able,s which vac pasted ON the
wall before him. Suddenly he turned
turned toward me and said, Miss Brown O.
"Yes. SIR replied.
IN. Brown. Is N for Miranda, Mirabel
or MsdelineW ea :
NJ, M No., si'; nv name is Mary. Yours is
Eyes, Jann,' and he-epelt it out for me on
the machine. "J-a-h.n--so, and not john
Are YOU u quick 0perat0r!"
mot very, cir; though have had fair
practical experience"
"Sol Rather easily fiustered,r he in
CURED, moving towards another machine,
which commenced working, and over which
he was row bending somewhat attentively.
Ibid you understand that last messagt ~
mo, sir" L answered, II was not listen.
ing; l could have understood ithad chosen
to-"
THE you are not curious?"
Yes, am" responded, by no means |
relishing his interrogations.
Here there v as quite pause in the con. |
versation: two of the machines going at |
0nc,, to both of whom Mr. Thor paid atten-
ton, sending back replies. Presently hs
said. not at all quickly-,here was even Q
slight drawl in bis manner of speaking
"Here. Mise Brown, Miss Mary Brown, be
good enough TO send this message: l will
call it of for you. Ready! Thor to Smou:
Certain COLI ion on or about ninety.three
mile post: Keep the up-train at station, if
there is time"
30 ueen rather lietlees go far; in fact,
my mind was thousand miles from where
was seated on the high stool, but now-up-
setting the stool with Q crash, my hair rib
bon getting entangled somehow in one of
The machines, which ribbon tore from my
head, my hair tuMbling down. tran.mit-
Jed In an instant the message great deal
faster, think, than l ever did anything
before in my life.
Correct! Miss Brown will do for an emer-
yency. Excuse my tOrgettuiness in not off-r-
ing You glass OF WAGER. The day lie quite
,oured ma out glassful IT water 1 took
{, and looked him in the face His cOun-
enance was imperturbable. Suddenly it
lashed across my mind that it was some
tupid hoax on his part, and that hs was
lazing q new -c0mer in the Cffice felt en-
aged at this method Of procedure, and in
family resented it.
"This is ecandslous," said, moving f. ON
he telegraph table. ~ do not wish your
,laes of water. To have imposed upon me
With message of this kind is sin gularly
mt of place. 1t il eome stupid Joke The
vires were Disconnected, or led to nowhere,
r you have told the receiver of the mes
age that it amounted to nothing. l have
10 respect for
trumenu. | tooling you! God forbid ,
KEEL silent and sten.'' !
He said this very quietly, his face not ex- ,
lblt1Dg particle ut resentment, or even =
There was lapse OF a minute,
Vhen Oft went the machine, and licked ouI:
just in time. Tram stopped. Church tx !,
urtion. Might have been narrowing. All +
lght. Mamma on board. Somebody in :
Dxicated ="
will you have SEINE water now? Tbors .
ale water is the sweetest, coolest in the
'Orld, !" he said. l felt thoroughly ashamed
myself, as turned my head aside and 8
uIped down the water / was about a
lauking him when, seeing my confusion. +
Q offered me bis hand, and led me to \
tile partition on one side of the office. :
Your bower" he said. l peeped into D
ind of closet some six by eight, and ven y
lred in, when he shut the door softly alter y
e. 1t was the merest bin Of q place, 7
,ughly put together, though there had "
Sen apparently quite u determined effort to .
lake IL look comtOrIa able. There was y stone
itcher, tin bat iD, lockiDg-glass and q .
retty bunch OF flowers in an ale bottle.
n the walls we're pasted variety of pic +
l
wedeD, taken FROM the illustrate papers,
I'D occupying whole eide was Q carefully q
rawn map of city, with it's broad streets "
I'D lanes, its public buildings and churches, q
18th parks and fountains and buulevarde: II
I'd over that again, surmounting it, was y 81
rongly c"lored wOOd-cut, evidently taken
IDLY If m circus poster, of uondescrlpt 10
imal, half horse, half fish. NJ
- You can use the brush and comb with al
!punity," said Mr. Thor, from the otiic-; q!
hey are immaculate, bought for the coca. OF
N Win the c0mpanys M pney, and may
found in the inventory under the head OF
Office furniture; likewise the looking la
.ss l mention this simply cause it OF
IL be one OF your duties to keep the ac to
ants of the Office. AS l didn't know ex- OF
tly how tall you might be, probably TOO g.,
ID or too low. You will arrange every NJ
Dg to suit your. The key to the closet OF
q will fiad in the soap dish. Ii is brown VI
'p. Thorsdaie, though bountiful in soap. III
Understanding, sapOnaceously, l am br
aid; and Ann even forc-d to admit ttag fir
all brush fitted for lady has been be- eh
ID our powers. The key, too, is dread re
" larn6, thcugh mediaeval in style. I III
Joined lock ana key from ono Of the de III
doors. but NO am0unt of fiiirg the w
Dis would get the creak from it. Oh. lik
t not forget TO tell You that You will TO-
sc give the door kick when you want
mt it," III
relieRamy fse.isgs, Isusedi the brush J w