The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-06-12
The JOneSeS' Telephone.
BY ANNIE HOwELLs FREoHBTTB,

Now, we won't be selfish with our
telephone, will we dear? We will let q |
few friends use IL occasionally. II will .
be such pleasure aud q convenience,
and Mrs. Jones stood off and looked ad'
miringly at the new telephone.
by all means. 1t is here, and 1t may
A. well DO doing some one n service as
TO stand idle, and | like to feel that
friend isn't afraid to ask favor OF me
now and then Yes, / suppose that telo
phone will save us many q car fare dur
ing the year. You can use it to do your
marketing instead of firing yourself out
and waiting half a day three or four
times a week, and days when l forget
things think how easy it will be to tele.
phone and remind me. Why, 1t will
entirely do away with the need for
strings to tie around my fingers. "
"Of course it will. I'm sure that
what we'll save on strings and car fare
will pay the rent of the instrument, "
joyously responded Mrs. Jones, who had
no great head for figures.
Thus hope and kindly intentions pre-
sided at the inauguration Of the Jonescs'
telephone.
Three months passed, and the great
invention had carried much information
useful and otherwise-not only to its
owners. but to the entire neighborhood
There were even days When the Joneses
questioned whether they were not run
ming a public telephone, so often did
the bell ring 1t is true 1t had not quite
paid for itself in the anticipated saving
of car fares and finger strings. Still 1t
had certainly been great comfort. and
"Well, we'll just face the music and
call it luxury" said Jones rs he put
away the receipt for his first quarter s
rent, Especially for our friends, he
added, with Just touch of bitterness.
Scarce "a hours after this philosoph-
ical stand was taken Mrs. Jones, who
was rather light sleeper, was aroused
! by violent and prolonged ringing. 1t
was 6 O'Clock and Sunday morning, a
/ day and hour usually dedicated to undis-
turbed slumber. After q brief debate in
| her own mind as to whether the house
was on fire or the milkman was ring
! ing she realized that it was the tele'
phone bell She hastily donned slippers
and gown and ran down stairs. In reply
to her interrogative "Yes?" Mrs. Jones
could new, hiring herself to say Hell
lor') came the following in measured
and clerical tones:
ut is Mr.. Brown-Rev. Mr.. Brown
speaking "
ooh, yes?' instinctively covering hel
half clad feet in the folds of her gown
II believe you live near the Rev. Mr.
Smith and are member of his church"
"Y0s ~
"Will you be good enough to send Il
him and ask if he can spare his curat'
to take Mr. Browns early service TO
him, as he is called away. would b
glad if you would send Immediately, a
| must have his answer within 10 min
utes. Thank you. Please call up 1901,
and snap went the telephone.
Mrs. Jones looked at her raiment ant
mass and would not be back for al
hour She went slowly up stairs.
. "Tom, Tom, dear, wake up "
"What is it?"
1.-THE Rev. Brown has telephoned t
know whether the Rev. Smith can sen
his curate to take his early service.
"Well, what in the world have l &C
to do with the peddling out of earl
-. services?" snapped Jones as he turne
and shook up his pillows.
HE has to have an answer to b
message within 10 minutes !"
"Well, let Susan take it," settlin
back comfortably.
!. But Susan has gone to mass ="
"And l suppose that means that / n
to be turned out of my bed at daybref
and canter half milel" cried Jones
q high and excited voice as he bounc,
from his bed and began to grope sleepi
for his clothes. His toilet was ma
% amid grumblings of "Confound the
early services, why can't they stay
bed like Christians instead Of prowlil
about and sending men out in the chill
morning airy" etc.
Jones' temper was soured for the da
and that night, as he was winding Il
watch, he said severely: "Jane, I'm G
ing to draw the line at delivering me
sages. Tom, Dick and Harry can con
here and below into the telephone uni
they are hoarse, but I'll be switched
I'll be messenger boy any longer.
But messages continued to come III
go, increasing rather than decreasing
frequency. People in the neighborho'
fell into the habit of saying to friends
distant parts of the city when leavil
q question open: "Just telephone Il