Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-11-18
LIMITS HERSELF TO THE TEN WORDS
Mrs. Blodgett Sends Her Husband Tele-
gram With Great Results.

Mrs Bl0dgett Sends Her Husband Tele
/ gram With Great Results.
Mr.. Blodgett twirled the slip of vel
low paper thoughtfully around be
tween his thumb and forefinger ant
when he looked up Mrs. Blodgett saw
that he was about to communicat,
something of considerable Importance
Caroline" he said, ut ism often
that l find fault with you because Of
your expenditures. l like to see you
dress we'll and keep the house up in
good style, and never begrudge you
the necessary funds. Now, do II"
And Mrs. Blodgett admitted that he
never did.
But there's one thing do kick
about" went on Mr.. Blodgett, "and
that is the literal throwing away OF
money. Listen to this last telegram
you sent me and tell me what YOU
think of it, viewing it in the light of
common sense:"
Dear Robert: Come directly up to
the house from the depot. have in.
vited some friends for Z CLOCK dinner.
joey had a tooth extracted yesterday.
Your loving wife. CAROLINE
"Of course was glad 10 see our
friends at dinner, and it was all right
about Joey's tooth, but should have
appreciated it just as much if you
hadn't wasted 80 much money in tell
ing me about it, l don't mind the
money so much, but do hate to give
1t to the telegraph company. Here.
after, Caroline. when you find it neces-
sary to send telegram limit your
message to ten words, It's o very easy
matter to express yourself with that
number of words if you only think so. -
Then Mr.. Blodgett went to st. Louis
ON business. He had been there three
days and had pushed his schemes 80
energetically that meeting with sew.
eral gentlemen at the Planters Hotel
on the evening of the fourth day
would, in all probability, bring the
deal to successful issue. Several
hours before the time of his appoint.
ment he received telegram from Mrs.
Blodgett. 1t read
Fire Sam frightened Joey badly
hurt no one escaped uninjured."
MIR. Blodgett pored over the un-
punctuated message for several min
utes. 1t was a decided puzzle. At
last his anxious mind evolved this ont
of the chaos:
Fire Sam frightened. Joey badly
nurt' No one escaped uninjured.
Then his fatherly heart was troubled
at the thought of his little boys lying
at deaths door and the wife of his
passing into eternity without
his being there. He hastily scribbled
notes of explanation to his business
associates and took the first train for
Chicago.
His pulse throbbed wildly and tears |
,oursed down his cheeksi as he ueared
MS home, and when he saw that the
1ouse, at least externally was not
iamaged prayer Of Thanksgiving as
'ended on high and he hoped things
we're not quite so bad as represented.
de quietly let himself in and hurried
Upstairs. His wife was In her room.
de clasped her in his arms and wept
aloud.
THANK heaven you are not hurt
1e cried, Where are the children?"
Out in the yard playing" she said.
why, what on earth ails your"
out playing SO soon2" he said.
Then what did you mean by this?n
md he gave her the telegram.
why, just what it says" she re-
'lied. Fire. Sam frightened joey
'adly. Hurt no one. Escaped unin.
ured.' If l hadn t wished to confine
myself to ten words should have said
hat the fire was around the corner,
hat Sam frightened Joey with a new
alse face, and that all escaped unin.
ared, but had to leave out words
ere and there. 1 thought you'd un-
erstand it all right. Chicago Trib.
ne.