Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-07-31
A TELEPHONE STORY.

the door bell rang just at the close Of our
breakfast. one day last week. The day
had opened very inauspiciously to me,
for / had severe toothache, and Bridget
had been summoned at early dawn to the
bedside of sick brother. and this was
my husbands birthday and he had in
vited four college friends to tea, and
there was extra work to be done. My
young wifely pride was aroused to get a
nice supper and now there was no re-
course but to do everything myself, so |
was just clearing the table as my hus-
band returned and said, 1t is Mrs.
Hays, and she has come to spend the
day."
"Tell her I've gone to Boston" said | +,
with reckless disregard Of the facts in the
case.
ats too late. She is in the library
now. really couldn't help it, Annie.
She walked right in and before realized
what she was going to do, | said you
were at home"
"Well,' said /, with a desperate
promptness, "you 60 right back to her,
and tell her that I am sick in bed with
every symptom of having the small pox,
and tell her | was exposed to it two
weeks ago."
'Twon't do, for / told her you were
out in the kitchen at work" answered
Gerge, humbly, bu, rallying, he added
more cheerfully, 81 suppose could go
in and shoot her if you say so. but hush
she is coming out here Good bye" he
said, rushing out the back door, and as
l turned l heard my unwelcome visitor
saying, How do you do, my dear Mrs.
Vance,"
Well the upshot of the matter was that
| had to invite Mrs. Hays, the most in-
quisitive woman ever knew, to pass the
day with me- You see she had lived a
neighbor to us for two years, and consid-
cred that she had thus acquired a right
to torment me with day. visit when
ever she chose to come in town from her
country home, and this day, as had to
be employed IL, the kitchen, had no
other recourse bu. to ask her to stay near
by me, in the dining room. She had just
got comfortably seated and was inquir-
ing the news when my telephone bell
sounded.
"0ne-two-three - four - not my
number" said l.
"Whose number is it :" she asked.
"Dr. Waite's," replied.
"Oh, | wish | knew who is sick" she
said.
Glad Of one minutes quiet, I said,
thoughtlessly, "Well, you can hear ii
you can take down the hand telephone
and listen"
In an instant she had acted upon my
and was holding the telephone
to her ear. Presently she laid 1t down
again saying she didn't quite catch the
name of the woman who spoke. but she
said her baby was better and that she
thought there was no need of the doctor
coming to see it to-day. "Isn't it nice
to be able to hear all about the sick peo-
pie without disturbing any one by asking
at his door," continued Mrs. Hays, in a
tone, as if she had just done
some pious deed, and tempted by the
to obtain respite from
her talk-said, Yes, it is; if you hear
the doctor called again, you can listen
again"
"What is your number inquired
she.
1.-TWO Is my number"
"How many numbers are there on the
line ;" she asked.
Eight" said l, but only five Of
them are tap bells. The other three are
are new kind of bell, and they sound
Just alike"
"How do these folks know when tn ey
are wanted"
"Oh, they only hear their own bell
ring, but ours is the old kind and rings,
rings. rings all day. get tired of the
noise but / can't make up my mind to
have it taken away. / am trying to per-
suade George to have one Of the new bells
put in our house.
do you know whose the other num-
bers are =" went on my tormenter.
"Yes. Mrs. Greene's boarding house
is number one, mine is two, and the Rus
sells have three. DR.. Waite is four, and
Rev. Mr.. Burns is five and the other
three are at Mrs. Esty's the dressmakers.
and at George and William Carter's
houses. ...
"Oh, / know every one of them, said
Mrs. Hays, delighted with the idea. "Do
let me listen when they are called. 1t
will be as good as a call on them and
save me lots Of time;" and /, thinking