Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-05-23
WAITING TO SERVE.


boy, and like many a northern lad, he
was ambitious. Like many north
ern lad, too, his parents were poor
and unable to do for their son as they
could have wished. But they sent
Him to school until he was IA years
old, and then, at Rods earnest re-
quest, they sent him to a school of
telegraphy for year, where Rodney
learned to send and receive messages
over the wonderful and mysterious
wires
For Rod was by no means content
with the humdrum life on the twenty
acre lot in Mississippi which his father
called the farm. 1t was well enough,
he always said to himself and his
chums, for ''old folks" who were sat
isfied to raise corn and tobacco, and
know nothing of the great world
around them, save what they read in
the weekly paper. But that wouldn't
suit Rod Shipton-''not much it
wouldn't" 49,.
No, Rodney was anxious to start,
bright and early, into the thick OF the
fight-into the front ranks of those
who are taking part in life's great
battles. '
But Rodney Shipton soon discov-
cred that even those who are willing
to do brave and arduous work are
not the ones always selected for the
most important duties. He had to
learn, as so many Of us will have to,
that, as a great poet once wrote:
They also serve who only stand and wait.
He found very speedily that the
great telegraph companies and news
papers were not in need of expert
enced lads of fifteen to place in. n.charge
of their offices in large cities and
other centers OF life and activity
First, he applied for a position in
Washington, and did not so much as
get an answer to his application.
Then he tried New York, and the
manager Of the concern wrote back
and kindly told the lad that he had
better try nearer home"
At last, much discouraged, Rod did
try nearer home. 1t went much
against the grain for him to think
that telegraph operator should be
compelled to remain in such rusty
old State as Mississippi. But he braced
up, and one fine spring morning he
started out on a tramp of more than
thirty miles to Jackson. Most of the
way he trudged along the railroad
track, though he did mot mind that.
Rod Shipton was used to long tramps
and his father had not so many dollars
that he could afford to give up two
Of them for railroad fare.
The lads shoes were pretty dusty
when early on the second morning
he presented himself to the superin
tendent of telegraph of the Jackson
and Richmond railway and asked for
job.
well, my son, said the superin-
tendent, you're not very old and
you've had no experience, but il you
are in dead earnest and want to show
us what kind of stuff you're made Of,
I'll offer you a job. We've got an
office up at Snowflake City, seventy
miles from here, and we find it pretty
hard to keep any one there. It's a
lonely sort of spot, on one side Of
the track is swamp and on the
other side a scrubby forest, with
sawmill and a store. You'll have very
few neighbors, and those that are
there are about as rough as they
make 'em There's very little work
and consequently very little pay.
Now, then, if you'll go down and try
your hand as operator at Snowflake
City, I'll engage you at a salary of
twenty dollars a month. What do
you say?''
Well, it wasn't very bright pic
ture which the superintendent pre-.
sented to our young friend, and SO
Rodney Shipton thought. He stam-
mered somewhat as he replied
You see, sir, thought some OF a.
job in the city; and then, sir, the pay
its awful small; father pays that
for a hired man when he, wants one
on the farIn, but-but-yes, sir, i
guess I'll take the job in Snowflake
City" C,rr-t, ryg
Look here, my iad,n said the su-
perintendent laying his hand with
much kindly feeling upon Rods
shoulder. Il know just how you feel
about it, was boy myself once,
just about your size, and with as
much of desire to do something big
as you have. But l started in clear
at the bottom; yes, lower than you
will have to do, and / stuck TO it, and
think did my duty. You do the
same, and We expect no more of the
best paid man on the road
And the next day Rodney Shipton,
instead of tramping back to his faith
er's farm, took the train for Snow
flake City. Nt ~rf t-
The friendly words of the official
who was now his chief had en-
couraged him greatly, and he resolved
to stick it OUT at Snowflake City,
no matter what might happen, until
his ability should be recognized by
his employers.
II the picture Of Snowflake City,
which Superintendent Stebbins had
outlined, was dark one, the reality
was still more black and unattractive
To Rodney. The neiyhborhood itself