The morning call., 1894-07-01


Such was the advertisement which ap-
peared In the local columns OF the Ken
nelsville Weekly Inteligencer and greet
ed the quick eye of Bennie Grant as he
read his mothers copy of the paper on
his way home from the postnffice.
II don't know whether Pm bright boy
or not" he said to himself, but it strikes
me can deliver messages in Kennelsville
for small wages pretty nearly as well as
any one."
He thought the matter over very care
fully. Vacation had just begun. and the
idea had just begun to dawn upon him
that il was high time he began to do
something to aid his m other in her brave
attempt 20 provide for her little family.
Benne was only fourteen, but there
were two sisters younger than he, and
one sturdy little six-year-old brother.
Five years before, when the sturdy little
siX-vear-old was but a mite OF baby,
Richard Grant, Ben1ie's father, had sud-
denly disappeared. There was no sus-
picion of foul play. and there was no
mystery about it at all. Clever, hard
working, genial Dick" Grant had fallen
into evil ways. From good husband and
father, who provided plentifully for his
| family, from a man whom every one re-
spected. he had sunk. through the inf1u-
ences of wild companions, TO the level OF
the worst Of them. Those were hard
| times for Mrs. Grant, but she loved her
husband, and even when the days seemed
darkest she always had faith that some
| time he would be made tn see the error or
| his ways and be himself again.
| Then came the burglary of the local
bank. There was always doubt whether
Richa ard Grant really took part in the rob-
horu hn that ta W. in yun "
implicated in it was reasonably certain.
Anyway, he disappeared and nothing had
since been heard of him. No particular
effort was ever made by the officers TO fol-
low him up, as the other burglars were
captured with most of the stolen money.
and they denied that Grant was in any way
i'm IMPLICATED. When Bennie entered Mrs.
Grant had just finished arranging the
table for the simple evening meal. with
the little high chair close beside her own.
Bennie's place at the end and the
chairs of the two sisters on the
other side of the table. There was
one place, with the armchair, al
ways left vacant. as If the father
might come back at any moment. Bennie
came into the house rather more silently
and slowly than usual The thought Of
actually beginning the struggle of life IN
earnest gave him peculiar feellng OF
dignity He kissed his mother, but did
not say u WOIus l1h pub popCL oOWu
upon the table and silently pointed to the
advertisement. Mrs. G ant set the plate
of bread down carefully 10 balance the
butter plate on the other end OF the table,
drew her glasses from above her forehead,
and with her arm fondly about her boy
read the notice. She pressed kiss on
the top of the curly little head. while
proud look came into her eyes.
would you like 10 try it, Bennie, boy?"
she asked.
"Honestly. mother. would" he replied.
eagerly. "It's vacation time now. anyway.
aud Pve always thought that would like
to learn to telegraph. l might as we'll be
doing that and earning something as fool
ing the whole summer away.
"God bless you, my little man." said the
mother. fondly, aud so it was settled.
There wasn't any particular reason why
Bennie should have risen the next morn
ing at hali-past 4. for the notice in the
paper said distinctly ''after s A. NJ" But
he did. Perhaps youmay have been stimu-
lated to early rising by some such important
event yourself some time. 1t was rather
excited little boy that bade his mother
good-by an hour previous to ''9 A. NJ" on
Saturday, and that hour Of waiting until
it should be time to present himself was
the longest one in Benn,e's history. He
felt rather nervous, also as ne thought OF
he ordeal of facing Mrs. Hardness, whom
he had always looked upon as very mys-
terious lady indeed holding, as she
seemed to, the lightning In her grasp He
walked by the door several times before
he mustered up courage to go in. after the
hands of the town clock pointed to SOL,
and when he did he found six other lads
of about his own age waiting to Interview
the lady manager.
One by one they were called into the
mysterious Office behind the rail and
talked to. Bennie's turn came last of all.
Whether Mrs. Hardness was pleased by
his manner, or whether it was because he
came last and the others had tired her out.
Bennie never knew. But after very few
questions he was engaged at a weekly
salary Of So 50 aud the privilege of learn
ing telegraphy during odd moments.
Never was messenger more faithful.
Never was there more marked exception
to the proverbial slOwness of the class,
and never was there student of the art
more apt than the youtn tnal tnlS lille
tale is all about.
The "learning telegraphy" part of Mrs.
Harkness' bargains had been found by
former messengers to be more oriess of a
delusion and snare, but for once at least
she took an actual interest in Student"
In less than two months, under her care
ful guidance. Bennle had transmitted his
first message, and it wasn't long after that,
being left alone for time in the Office,
that he answered the repeated calls of
"Ku," and actually received message all
alone, "breakiug" only three times. 1t was
exciting work, though. From that time
his progress was rapid. Mrs. Hardness
found that she was able to go away quite
frequently for several hours and leave
Bennie in sole charge. and he obtained
quite reputation up and down the
line as the youngest operator on the
circuit 1t is easy to believe that Mrs.
Grant was proud of her son. But when
school opened again in the autumn it took
Benne long time to convince her that it
was much better for him 10 keep on con-
tributing for the support of the family (his
family he mad come to call ~, and gather
his education in actual service. than it was
to waste time over books. He finally did
convince her, no owever, much TO the delight
of Mrs. HarKness
One afternoon while Bennie-they
called him "Bn" on the wire-was finish
ing up the regular evening grist Of mes
sages, Mrs. Hdrkness, who was working
on another wire, came over to his table
and laid this message before him:
DIsPATcHER's OFFICE,
RoCHESPORT, q P. NJ. I
Mrs. Hardness, Mgr "Kn.": A number OF
our regular operators are sick, and my extra
men are all on duty need a man at Folvile
tonight. Can your "Bn" go? If so wire me
quick, and send hun up on train No. IL. This
mo save will DaSs him. A. r LANE