It was then the practice for us to receive the messages on a running slip of paper, from which the operator read to a copyist, but rumors had reached us that a man in the West had learned to read by sound and could really take a message by ear.

This led me to practice the new method.

One of the operators in the office, Mr.Maclean, became expert at it, and encouraged me by his success.

I was surprised at the ease with which I learned the new language.

One day, desiring to take a message in the absence of the operator, the old gentleman who acted as copyist resented my presumption and refused to "copy" for a messenger boy.