“The telephone.”
He threw back the covers, and rising, stumbled to the 'phone.
“Hello.”
The voice of a little boy came to his half-awakened ear.
“Say, Pa, I can't sell these papers an' git through in time fer school.”
“Yes, you can!” roared a voice. “You jist want to fool around.” The doctor went back to bed.
“Wasn't the message for you?” inquired his wife. “What a shame to rouse you from your sleep for nothing.”
The doctor told her what the message was and was back in slumberland in an incredibly short space of time. Not so his wife. She was too thoroughly awake at last and dawn was beginning to peep around the edges of the window shades. She would not court slumber now but would lie awake with her own thoughts which were very pleasant thoughts this morning. By and by she rose softly, dressed and went out onto the veranda and looked long into the reddening eastern sky. Ever since she could remember she had felt this keen delight at the aspect of the sky in the very early morning. She stood for awhile, drinking in the beauty and the peacefulness of it all. Then she went in to her awakening household, glad that the little boy had 'phoned his “Pa” and by some means had got her too.
One midsummer night a tiny ringing came faintly and pleasantly into Mary's dreams. Not till it came the second or third time did she awaken to what it was. Then she sat up in bed calling her husband, who had just awakened too and sprung out of bed. Dazed, he stumbled about and could not find his way. With Mary's help he got his bearings and the next minute his thunderous “Hello” greeted her ears.