South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-09-11
rHEINTELLlGENCER
FRIDAY. SEPT. IL. 1891.
WAITING TO SERVE.


Rodney Shipton was q stubborn
boy, and like many . northern lad. he
was ambitious. Like many . north.
ern lad. too. his parents we're poor
and unable to do for their son 40 they
Guild have wished. But they sent
him to school until he was IA years
old. Aud then, At Rods earnest 70.
quest. they sent him TO q school Of
tel graphy for q year. where Rodney
learned to send aud receive messages
over tue wonderful end mysterious
wires.
For Rod WAS by no means content
With the humdrum life on the twenty
sore lot in Mississippi which his father
called the farm. 1t vas we'll enoug b
he al-ays said to himself and his
chuDs, for odd folks who were sat.
isded TO raise corn and tobacco, and
know nothing Of the grea, world
around ,hem, save what they read 10
the weekly paper. Bnt that wouldn't
suit Rod Ship:on-not much it
wouldn't.
/ No, Rodney vas anxious to start,
bright AID early, into the thick Of the
h2ht-into the from. ranks of those
Who Ire ticking part in LIES great
battles.
Blu Rodney Ship'eu 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 80 many of Us will have TO,
that, as a great poet once wrote:
They also serve who only stand and wait.
lie found very speedily that the
graf telegraph companies and news
papers were M, in need OF expert.
enced lads If fifteen to place in charge
Of their offices in large cities and
other centres Of life and activity.
First. he applied for position in
Washington. and did not so much as
GO. IN answer TO the application.
Then be tried New York, and the
manager Of The concern wrole back
and kindly told the lad that he bad
better Try nearer home
At last much discouraged, Rod did
try nearer home. 1t went much
sq~inst the grim for him TO think
that telegraph operator should be
compelled to remain in such rusty
old State A. Mississippi. Bnt be
braced mp, and one fine spring morn.
ing be started out on a tramp OF more
than thirty miles to Jackson. Most
of the way he trudged along the rail.
road trsck, though be did not mind
that. Rod Shipton was used 20 long
iramps and his father had not so MAJ
ny dollars that he could afford to
give up two OF them for railroad fare.
The lads shoes wero pretty dusty
when early on the second morning
he presented himself TO the superin'
'endent OF telegraph Of the Jackson
and Richmond railway and asked for
jnb.
Well, my con, sail the superin-
tendeut. you're not very old and
you've bad no experience, but IL you
are IN del al earnest and want TO show
US what KIM Of stuff you're made OF,
III offer you q job. We've got an
office up q, Snowflake City, seventy
miles from here. and We find it pretty
hard to keep any one there. It's a
lonely sort Of q spot, on one side OF
he track is swamp and on the
other side . scrubby forest, with
sswmill aud a store. You'll have ve-
~ few neighbors, and those that are
there are about IS rough a. they
make 'em. There's very little work
and consequently very little pay.
N w, then, il you'll go down and try
your hind as operator at Snowflake
City, I'll engage you at O salary OF
twenty dollars o month. What do
you sayp
Well, Is wasn't very bright pics
ture which the superintendent pre-
sen'ed TO our young friend, and so
K 'dney Shipton thought. He STAN.
mrred somewhat as he replied;
You see, sir, though; some Of q
/ job 10 The city; and then. sir, the pay
its awful small; faih T pays that
for q hired man when be wants one
on the farm. but-but-yes, sir,
guess I'll take the JOB in Snowflake
I Ciy.
Look here my lat, said the SUI
periutendent, laying his hand With
much kindly feeling upon Rods
shoulder. ! know just how you feel
about il. was boy myself once
just ABOUT your size, and with as
much OF desire 10 do something big
as you have. But / started IN clear
at the bottom; yes. lover than you
will have TO do, aud | stuck TO il, and
thlDk / did my duty. You do the
came, AID NC expect no more OF the
beet paid man 90 the road.
And the next day ROGbey Shipt1D,
instead Of irsmpiDg back 10 his faith
er's farm, took the train for SNOW.
fake City.
Tue friendly words OF the Official
who was now his Chief bad en-.
couraged him greatly. aud be resolved
to stick it OUT ~ Snowflake City /,
no matter what might happen. uatil
bis ability should DO recognized by
bis employers.
IL The picture Of Snowflake City,
which superintendent Stebbins bat
ouliiaod, was q dark one, the reality
was still more black and unattfactive
TO Rodney. The neiqhborhoOd itself