The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-09-19


when-"Hark"' some one would say, and
''ting -ting-ting- ting ting ting ting" would
go the bell. '.Ting-ting, pause, and the
same thing repeated; silence for awhile;
conversation resumed then, with a sud
denness which made us jump, one sharp
stroke.
''Ah, the line is clear" said Missy with
an air of superior wisdom, and Lulu laugh
ed. We sat zap late, but the little bell
kept up its rapid strokes, and the last
sound we heard as we went laughing and
chattering up to bed was the single stroke
which denoted the close of long CONVEX
sation ''23'' had been holding with some
one.
We afterward found out that ''23'' was
Dyke House. That night we could hardly
sleep for thinking of our new inmate; it
seemed like sort of friendly live thing,
and we almost regretted having to leave it
alone down stairs in the dark. Indeed,
auntie suggested leaving the staircase lamp
burning, but when mother rather sharply
asked her "What for?" she did not an
swer. But we knew, and shared her feel
ing, Jane and l, though Lulu went into
fit of laughter which necessitated her sit
ting down on the second step from the
top, where We left her in the dark. She
thought she would stay, she said to keep
the telephone company. She was queer
child. Jane and lay awake a long time,
talking about the telephone and the Won
ders of science, until, becoming possessed
with the idea that we heard the telephone
bell, we got out of bed and went tiptoeing
to the top of the stairs. At the foot we
saw another light and another eager face
aunty's. ''Oh, my dears," she said, I'll
thought heard the telephone call
Next morning came the important mo-
ment Mother had decided to do the mar
keting by telephone. Missy came down,
and with a reflection of mothers stateli-
ness took her place at the transmitter.
Jane, Nan, and | crowded around open
mouthed. Auntie lowered nervously in the
background to her the thing had some
thing uncanny. Her feelings had under
gone change since the previous night.
Not for worlds would she have been
alone with it in the dark.
''Call the Central Office" said mother.
(She could never be induced to say, ring
up Central Office.'') Missy rang twice and
listened, the receiver at her ear. Pres
emily her face frightened; she heard some
thing: ''Hellor' she said. SIS that Cen
trail Office? This is Mccartney of Dame
mora" She listened again. what ?"
she said, with a puzzled face. Il don't
hear" A pause. Hello" said Missy.
Pause again; the bell rang furiously.
''Hello-o-o," said Missy.
Ring again. said mother.
This went on for ten minutes, mother
directing, Missy ringing, helloing, getting
red in the face, and losing her dignity, with
no result. At last the hammer flew back,
the line was blocked, and wondering and
impatient, we sat down to our work, list
ening for the single tap. When it came,
we all started up, but Missy requested to
corpse-and we sat down again. Then en-
sued fifteen minutes more of ringing and
helloing, with no success. do let me
try" ventured Nan, the boldest of us, ex-
cept Lulu. and Missy gave place to her I'M
willingly. Ten minutes of unavailng eff
forts on Mans part resulted in disgust and
Impotence. Jane tried-in vain. Mother
grew angry, and put on her bonnet to go
to market. Auntie was alarmed, and re-
tired to her room, where she faltered, half
in and half out of the door, anxious to hear
vet afraid to be too close. 1T might ex-
plode," we heard her murmur. Then
tried. l thought l was cooler than the
others, who were red and excited, and be-
ginning to accuse each other of not doing
it right. So l advanced with easy conf
dence, rang twice, and listened. There
was sound as of the distant sea, and pres
emily smothered ''tap-tap-tap-tap," which
came OH my very ear drum, and made me
jump.
''Now what's the matter? said Missy
GROSSLY.
Nothing" said |, Indignantly.
''Hello.' said a voice in my ear at the
same instant
''Eh? Oh, hello." cried to the trans
mitter.
''Nothing?" said the voice again. Good
by"
The roaring recommended. | rang
again, despairingly, and heard faint
hello. But it was no use. AS began to
talk again, Mrs. Orme's unmistakable
shrill tones informed me family that ''Mr.
Orme had gone to m-m-m-m-' The line
was occupied. gave up in despair; was
met by sneers; recriminations ensued; tears
followed; Missy tiounced; aunty gently
closed her door.
Just then Lulu entered, rosy and radiant
from a walk ON the cliff in the sharp Octo-
Der wind. For a wonder she did not laugh
at us, but spoke in unusually gentle tones.
what! going up to town, mother?
Why don't you use the telephone?'
mo one seems to know how" said
mother very stiffiy.
''Let me try" said Lulu, blushing a lit
tie. | used to try it up at Rates last sum-