The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-10-04
BILLY AfASON'S !
"FOOLISHNESS" !
By Eben z. Rexford. I
6u Eben z. Rexford.


be telegraph operator. and he asked
his father to Guy him the necessary
outfit, so that he might learn the bust
ness at home.
"All fooIishness," answered Mr.. Ma
von. YOU'D get tired of it in less than
a week. Better 20 in for something
that you'd get some good out Of"
81 wouldn't get tired of it," asserted
Billy. Il promise you that if you'll
buy me an outfit I'll stick to it till get
so [ can send messages just as real
That settled the matter, so far as Mr..
Mason was concerned. But Billy die
not give up his pan.
When the new railroad came to
Brownsville of course a telegraph line
came with it, and Billy lost no time in
making the acquaintance of the opera
tor, who was a pleasant. gooG-natured
fellow. and quite willing to show Billy
how to use the instrument.
In less than a week from the time he
began to practice on the operators
slender" he had learned the alphabet.
and it was not long before he could
begin to pick up short and easy words
as they came to the operator, over the
line.
"Iou'd earn the business in NO time
ifyou had chance the operator said.
'You ought TO have an instrument at
home. If you had we'd string a wire
between your place and the station.
and we could practice goo6 deal at
odd spells
One day he operator at the station
told him that he had found where a
secondhand outfit could be bought for
a song almost
"If vou-l buv that tn furnish tbe
wire" he said. .Than we'll have line
of orr own and vii, ask no favors of
the main line
Rirv determined that sncb . cbanca
nc This sbo,,d ,,o4 be los, and ha wont
"a work +b,4 d,,, 70 a,rr +bo r,oro,.
LA, ,,Lsot =, h,.. 49,, a,,.et
On errands He XIX al l,inGs of 90
iobs that would hrfru i, = mann, Rv
and hr saaing how intent bo was ~
the ni,rcb,sa of tho in.tr,nart HE
mo+be,. faI+ sorr,, for hin, ord ooro
him enougb 70 make Nm the nrice of il
when added to what ne had earned.
And Bif-v bouph+ the outfit
A hammer hoy, +bar p;l,,. Ntoso, ,,,,s
when The ,yira was. str,,ra, ard tho Inc
y,as rsad,. for. ,,sa = ,,,o,7'6 ba bo,d ~
find
# was ,o+ Lowe, heforo I,o ,,.os ,(1a 20
stake" the r,a.s,oas tla s+,tior ,,,ar
sent him over +bai,. inc and in a IittIe
while he becara ori+a nrofc;opt a.
"sendingr T,hav il,ad h,ol.op1 for+l,
between the farm and station. and
Billy began TO fee, Quite like a full-
fedoed nnerstor whom be uos obIe IN
"caH up the man at the other end of
the line. and ask him a question whose
mearing ala NOT b,ya r. be cuesso6 81
One day Mr. Mason announced his in
tention to take the family and 90 over
to his sisters at Three Lakes on
visit.
"WeW go Saturday and come back
Monday" he said. But I guess you'll
have to sta. at home"-to RilIy-'.to
see to things. II wouldn't DO TO shut
up the house and leave it alone"
Mr. Mason and the family started off
on Saturday afternoon on the long
MANNED often-da1aved visit and pill
was left 10 look out for himself which
he felt quite able 70 do
The nioht closed in darl, and throat
ening storm. The wind blew ferce1v
about the house and made a roaring
sound in the chimney of the freplace.
Billy did not feel at All frigbtened at
being alone. but h. could NOT helm feel
inc lonesome.
Ha won, VIM 70 bic roor about o;oh
o'c,ocl and concluded ba nonId nn r.
he'd
~ wonder if Stewart is in tbe office
stilI?" he thouobt ..T'u cali him and
see"
He went 70 the instrument and made
his call"
Click. click. click" came back the
answer. presently.
Didn't know but that you'd zone
home" telegraphad Billy.
Busy making out NV monthly re-
port" came back the answer. "Sbal1
not be able to get away very early TO-
night. Good pight."