Litchfield enquirer., 1876-10-19
From the Atlantic Monthly.l THE TH0RSDALE TELEGRAPH.

When first arrived at Thorsdale I was nineteen, having just graduated from a Western college, with magnificent diplo- ma, and, if it had not been for knowl- edge of telegraphing and machine sewing, would have been assisting widowed sis- ter of mine, in keeping school, Tn town in the western portion of the State Thors- dale had then rather a typographical than a typographical existence. While Twoboysboro and Smoilersville enjoyed the distinction of capital letters in. the railroad guide, Thorsdale had to be satisfied with the smallest type. Thors- dale was simply the intersecting point of two railroads, which formed the X at that point, and for buildings had dilapidated freight depot, few struggling houses, and telegraph station, in which for a certain time was an employee. Thors. dale office had great deal to do with railroad business. and although the two roads were at daggers drawn, and contin- ually quarreling on the subject of time tables and schedules, messages relating to the safety and business of the trains were always being received at and for warded from the Thorsdale station.
 It was an progressively sultry August afternoon when first presented myself at the office, and became acquainted with MT. Thor, its occupant. Apparently MT. Thor did not much heed the few 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 uncourteous, was in the high est degree indifferent and hardly calcula- ted to inspire self-reliance. I sat rather uncomfortably on the high chair for some minutes. wondering whether would like position in the Thorsdale office, and coming pretty rapidly to the conclusion that with MT. Thor as fellow telegraph clelk l should not relish it, excused his not talking to me inst then because he seemed quite busy with his instrument, studying at the same time railroad time table, which was pasted on the wall before him. Suddenly he turned towards me, and said Miss Brown?"
 ''Yes, sir," replied,
 'M. Brown. Is NJ. for Miranda, Mira bel, Or Madeline?"
 ''No, sir, my name is Mary. Yours is Mir. Thor. presume"
 "Yes. Jahn, ," and he spelled it out for me on the machine. 'J-a-h- -n-so, and not John. Are you a quick operator?"
 
 fair practical experience . ...
 ''So? Rather easily fustered?" he in- quired, moving towards another machine, which had commenced working, and over which he was now bending somewhat at tentively. Did you understand that last message?"
 No, sir, answered. ''I was not lis- tening; could have understood 1t had chosen to-"
 ''Then you are not curious?'
 "Yes l am, responded, by no means relishing his interrogations.
 Here there was quite a pause in the conversation, two of the machines going at once, to both of which MT. Thor paid attention, sending back replies. Present ly he said not at all quickly, ,-there was even slight drawl in his manner of peaklng,-'tHere, Miss Brown, Miss Mary Brown, be good enough to send this message; I will call 1t off for you Thor to Smoil. Certain collision on or about ninety-three mile post. Keep the mp train at station, if there is time.'''
 had been rather llstless so far; in fact. my mind was thousand miles from where sat on the high stool but now-upset- ting the stool with a crash, my hair rib bon getting entangled somehow in one the machines, which ribbon I tore from my head, my hair tumbling down-I transmitted in an instant the message, a great deal faster, think, than I ever did anything before in my life.
 Correct! Miss Brown will do for an emergency, Excuse my forgetfulness in not offering you glass of water. The day is quite oppressive and likely to storm" He poured me out glassful of water. Hooked him in the face. His countenance was impurtable. Suddenly 1t flashed across my mind that it was some stupid hoax on his part, and that he was hazing new comer in the office. felt enraged at this method of proceed ure, and instantly resented it.
 ''This IS scandalous," I said moving away from the telegraph table 'I do not wish your glass of water. To have imposed upon me with message of this kind is singularly out of place. It is some stupid joke. The wires are disconnect- ed, or lead to nowhere, or you have told the receiver of the message that 1t amoun- ted to nothing. have no respect for'-
 "Stop, Miss Brown. and VI latch your in- strument I fooling you. God forbid Keep silent, and llsten.'
 He said this very quietly. his face not