[Illustration: 1864. ON ENTERING THE NAVY.]
[Illustration: Thomas B. Reed, Portland Me, 17 July 1893]
[Illustration: MISS WILLARD AT THE PRESENT DAY.]
[Illustration: "BILL NYE" AT THE PRESENT DAY.]
[Illustration: "BILL NYE" AT THE PRESENT DAY.]
[Illustration: 1874. FIRST SKETCHES OF CREOLE LIFE.]
[Illustration: AGE 40. 1884. "BONAVENTURE."]
"Now, we won't be selfish with our telephone, will we, dear? We will let a few friends use it occasionally--it will be such a pleasure and a convenience," and Mrs. Jones stood off and looked admiringly at the new telephone.
"By all means. It is here and it may as well be doing some one a service as to stand idle--and I like to feel that a friend isn't afraid to ask a favor of me now and then. Yes, I suppose that telephone will save us many a car-fare during the year. You can use it to do your marketing, instead of tiring yourself out and wasting half a day three or four times a week; and days when I forget things, think how easy it will be to telephone and remind me. Why, it 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 presided at the inauguration of the Joneses' 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 as well. There were even days when the Joneses questioned whether they were not running a public telephone, so often did the bell ring. It is true, it had not quite paid for itself in the anticipated saving of car-fares and finger strings; still, it had certainly been a great comfort, and "Well, we'll just face the music and call it a luxury," said Jones, as he put away the receipt for his first quarter's rent; "especially for our friends," he added, with just a touch of bitterness.
Scarce twenty-four hours after this philosophical stand was taken, Mrs. Jones, who was rather a light sleeper, was aroused by a violent and prolonged ringing. It was six o'clock and Sunday morning--a day and hour usually dedicated to undisturbed slumber. After a brief debate in her own mind as to whether the house was on fire or the milkman was ringing, she realized that it was the telephone bell. She hastily donned slippers and gown and ran down-stairs. In reply to her interrogative "Yes?" (Mrs. Jones could never bring herself to say "Hello!") came the following, in measured and clerical tones: