The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-02

The following dialogue over the tele-
phone between an APPEAL reporter and
silver-voiced telephone operator tells a
story which will doubtless interest the
readers Of The ArPEAE
Hello, Exchanged"
"IIello!"
"Maj. Petit been there today2"
"That's whatever"
anybody with him."
"Y~s. great big body"
"Who was III"
"Old Peter Tracy"
"What was he doing therep"
'IIe helped tote the money!"
"What money!"
"Tho money Clipped in by the kind
hearted subscribers who thought we all
ougbtto be treated alike. God bless them"
"IIow much did you get?'
~ got S2L50, same as the other girls
who hadn't got anything"
Flows that"
well. you Zee, Maj. Petit collected
S23i.50 from fifty or more gentlemen. and
he figured out that there would be $2l. 80
for each one Of the girls. including the
amounts already received. Those who
had received S. got $3.50, and those who
had received nothing got the full S2l.50."
"Were the young ladies pleased?'
PLEASED! They were tickled to death.
They didn't say much, but their glisten-
ing eyes and quivering lips told what they
felt.
"what did Maj. Petit dor
'1ie blushed."
"What else?'
"And made speech, telling us not to
lose our tempers and always answer calls
politely, no matter II the man Mt the other
ei,d does act like n bear and says mean
things when his phone don't work just TO
suit him."
"Did anybody talk back to Mai. PetttP"
eyes; Miss Addie Chalk, the chief
operator"
"what did she say?'
''She thanked Mai. Petit and through
him the generous-hearted gentlemen he
represented for their thoughtful considera-
ton OF us poor operators who were dis
eliminated against by Santa Claus In open
violation OF the interstate commerce law.
Dut It's all right; those S2l.50 came just
in time"
"What are you going TO do with yours2"
III you see very happy looking young
lady going home at u 30 o'clock this even
ing with her arms full Of bundles and the
light oil great JOY 10 come shining out OF
her eyes, you'll know that's Inc and that
Santa Claus will make a protracted visit 10
my house before morning Say, you better
ring oil, the manager (Huine) is looking at
me-"
"what'sthc matter with Manager Hume,
anyhow"
ooh, he's all right"
Just then n shrill voice broke in, and in
accents stern warblcd: 'Say, Exchange,
II you are at leisure any time between now
and shutdown connect me with a porter
house steak, OF with Butcher Blank, so
that can order II myself"
This rude interruption broke up the dia-
logue, or more properly the hcllo.logue.
From another source the APPEAL re.
porter learned that ~ Mai. Pettit's giant
form disappeared through the doorway one
OF the young ladies was heard 10 exclaim
BLESS his old heart; he's better looking
than Santa Claus, anyway. and as soon M
women are allowed 10 vote I'm going 10
boom him for president Of the Taxing Dis
trict."
Maj. Pcttit's thoughts must have taken
pleasant turn last night NJ he sat before
his own coy frs and in spirit followed
some deserving telephone young lady
to her home. Perhaps he saw her
trudging merrily through the muddy
streets for once not tired with the days
latiguing labon. The faded look is gone;
in lis siond, like sunshine ON a ripping
stream, Ounces the CLINT of ha.i .sup.
pressed Joy. lie secs her greeted at the
door Of her modest homo by n widowed
mother, lac can almost see the quick
sign Of secrecy that passes between
them. lie watches them with ionder In
tcrcst n they stealthiiy conceal the treas
urcs 10 be distributed by past.duc Santa
Claus lie follows them into the next
little sitting room and feels his throat rising
Mt the spectacle Of n half dozen little ONES
fighting for the fst chance 10 "Kiss
sister," Then he sits with them nj the
family meal and wonders with thechildrcn
where that fruit cake came from. aud that
delicious Jelly. And then after supper
he gathers with them round the iircside
and hears 'sislcr" tell tho wondrous story
that news had just been received by
means OF tho suns eclipse that Santa
Claus was coming back TO attend
TO few particular cases which ia
tho rush Of business he had inadycrt-
emily neglected on Christmas Eve. lie
secs them with n mighty shout hustling
out Of their clothes nj an alarming rate, in
order 10 be first up with their stockings on
the maniel piece, ~ II priority was virtue
highly priced by santa Claus. And then,
when ail Is still aud dark and Santa Claus
has come and gone, he sees mother AMI
daughter locked IN each others arms,
weeping NJ " their hearts would break.
Some such picture must have stared al
Mai. Petit last night from tho glowing
Goals Of his own hearth. aud II In gazing
nj Il his own ewes brimmod oyor-why,
We like him all the better for II. A Hap.
~ New Year and many returns to him
and bis.