The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-12-07
More Wonderful than the Tele-
graph.

OuOS. OuS udy dlIeI SCuoOl, IueSe DOyS
went into their fathers warehouse, which
was just opposite the telegraph Office, and
asked him if he would be so kind as to
take them to see this wonderful inven-
ton. Their father was not so occupied
as to prevent his granting their request;
and the next moment they were by the
side of the agent, looking at the perform
ance of the little instrument that noted
down intelligence like living thing.
The boys entreated their father to send
a message to their uncle in Washington.
This he consented to do; but the little
machine was so busy that the agent had
no opportunity to crafty them.
"Tic, tic, tic, dot, dot, click, click,
click, went the little pointer By and
by, it ceased for an instant; but Just as
the agent was going to put in his claim,
it began again. After while their turn
came. The agent hurried to put in w
for Washington, and Aye, aye" was the
reply, to let him know that his wish was
attended to, and the message was sent.
In the evening the boys could talk of
nothing but the wonders of the magnetic
telegraph. Is it not the most wonder
full thing you ever heard of, father?" said
Thomas.
mo-" replied his father: ct have
heard of things more wonderful"
" But father" said George, "you never
heard of any message being sent so quick
ly as by this means, have you? ?"
a" Yes, have, my son.
And you receiving an answer as
quickly ?" added George.
Yes, much sooner, replied his father.
Are you in earnest, father?" said
Thomas, drawing his chair close to his
father, and looking eagerly into his face
/" Is it possible you know of more won
derful way of communication than by tel
egraph?"
"I never was in more earnest, nv
son, than l am when I say yes to your
question"
"Well, father" said George, do tell
me what it is, and in what respect it is
better than the telegraph"
In the first place." said his father,
"you do not have to wait to send your
message while others are attended to for
your message can go with thousands of
others, without any interruption or him
drance,"
80 that is an improvement" said
George; 4" for we had to wait long time,
you know
And in the next place" continued his
father, there is no need of wires or
electricity, or any machinery, to aid the
mode of communication of which 1 speak
and what is more wonderful than all is
the fact that you need not even express
the nature of your communication as, be-
fore you do so, your answer may be re-
turned, though it is necessary that you
truly and sincerely desire a favorable
reception for your request.
Besides all this, the plan of commu-
nication of which speak is superior to
all others from the fact that you need not
resort to any particular place to send
your request. In the lonely desert, on
the trackless ocean, in the crowded city
on the mountain-top, by night or by day,
in sickness and health, and especially in
trouble and affection, the way of commu-
nication is open to all and the applicants
can never be so numerous that the sim
plest desire of the feeblest child, properly
presented, shall not meet immediate at
tention.
Is there any account published of
this wonderful manner of communicating
your wishes?" inquired Thomas
Yes, there is, my son; and hope
your interest will not be diminished when
l tell you it is to be found in the Bible.
SIN the Bible" exclaimed both boys.
p. " Certainly, my sons; and, if you will
both get your Bibles, I will tell you
where to find the passages confirming
what have said"
The children opened their Bibles, and
found, as their father directed them, the
twenty-fourth verse of the sixty-ffth
chapter of Isaiah, which Thomas read as
follows: "And it shall come to pass, that,
before they call, I will answer, and while
they are yet speaking, I will hear"
Next, George found and read the sixth
verse of the ffty-eighth chapter of Isaiah:
" Then shalt thou CALL and the Lord shall
answer thou shalt cry, and he shall say:
Here I am"
:" Now turn" said their father, "to
Daniel, ninth chapter, twentieth, twenty
first, twenty-second, and twenty-third
verses.
And while was speaking, and pray
ing, and confessing my sin and the sin of
my people Israel, and presenting my sup
plication before the Lord my God X