--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mr St. John entered the little telegraph…" description: "\"“Mr St. John entered the little telegraph office, gave in his message, and was exchanging a few words with the clerk, when a female voice was heard spe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/ellen-wood-78400_female-voice_mr-st-john-entered-the-little-telegraph_2749189.jpg" --- # Mr St. John entered the little telegraph office, gave in… ![“Mr St. John entered the little telegraph office, gave in his message, and was exchanging a few words with the clerk, when a female voice was heard speaking in hurried accents. Frederick at the moment was behind the partition unseen by the newcomer. 'Young man, can I send a telegram off at once?…” quote by Ellen Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/ellen-wood-78400_female-voice_mr-st-john-entered-the-little-telegraph_2749189.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/ellen-wood-78400_female-voice_mr-st-john-entered-the-little-telegraph_2749189.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/ellen-wood-78400_female-voice_mr-st-john-entered-the-little-telegraph_2749189.jpg) > ““Mr St. John entered the little telegraph office, gave in his message, and was exchanging a few words with the clerk, when a female voice was heard speaking in hurried accents. Frederick at the moment was behind the partition unseen by the newcomer. 'Young man, can I send a telegram off at once? It's in a hurry?' 'You can send a telegram,' responded the clerk. 'Where's it to?' 'Paris.' 'What's the message?' 'I've written it down, so that there may be no mistake. It's quite private, and must be kept so: a little matter that concerns nobody. And be particular, for it's from Castle Wafer. Will it reach Paris tonight?' 'Yes,' said the clerk, confidentially, as he counted the words. 'How much to pay?' 'Twelve-and-sixpence.' 'Twelve-and-sixpence! What a swindle.' 'You needn't pay it if you don't like.' 'But then the telegram would not go?' 'Of course it wouldn't.' The sound of silver dashed down on the counter was heard. 'I can't stop to argue the charge, so I must pay it,' grumbled the voice. 'But it's a shame, young man.' 'The charges ain't of my fixing,' responded the young man. 'Good afternoon, ma'am.' She bustled out again as hurriedly as she had come in, not having suspected that the wooden partition had any one behind it.”” [Ellen Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-wood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A deceptive scheme uses a hidden voice to exploit a clerk’s trust, highlighting manipulation in everyday transactions. **In simple terms:** Hidden motives can corrupt simple exchanges. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant and verify before complying. Themes deception trust communication Mood cautious inquisitive Type warning literary When to use this quote - shopping - online transactions - customer service - legal advice Key Concepts social engineering economic exploitation human behavior Questions to Reflect On - How do you spot hidden agendas? - What steps protect you from scams? A Different Perspective The clerk’s compliance may stem from fear of conflict, not just naivety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clerk Confidentially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clerk-confidentially-3086270/) [Female voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-voice/) [Good afternoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-afternoon/) [Telegram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telegram/) [Telegram Hurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telegram-hurry-3086271/) [Telegram Responded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telegram-responded-3086268/) [Telegraph Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telegraph-office-3086269/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/) ## Related quotes > [“...your father is in town trying the telegraph office, though I assured him that'll be as profitable as trying to pick feathers out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/your-father-is-in-town-trying-the-telegraph-office-though-i-assured/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [I grew up in a household of women, they ran the show, they kept it all together. 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Adam ended up parking illegally—live on the edge—and hurrying toward the school. The side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/there-were-no-free-spaces-in-the-school-s-parking-lot-adam-ended-up/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [I actually prefer female voices to listen to, mostly, but among the male singers whose voices I like are Jeff Buckley, Art Garfunkel, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-actually-prefer-female-voices-to-listen-to-mostly-but-among-the/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“Static cackled from the cafeteria speaker. A bored female voice come on. “Victoria Brennan, please report to the headmaster's office. 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Most of the stories that come to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/when-i-was-growing-up-my-mom-told-me-every-story-that-was-happening/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [“around his waist. The feel of his skin against her nipples sent messages firing to her brain. The first message being that she really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-craig/around-his-waist-the-feel-of-his-skin-against-her-nipples-sent/) [Christie Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-craig/) > [The dumber half of the audience - whether they're male or female, and a lot of them are male - for some reason responds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-black/the-dumber-half-of-the-audience-whether-they-re-male-or-female-and-a/) [Frank Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-black/) > [A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/a-woman-with-a-voice-is-by-definition-a-strong-woman-but-the-search/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) ## More by Ellen Wood > [We are truly indefatigable in providing for the needs of the body, but we starve the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-wood/we-are-truly-indefatigable-in-providing-for-the-needs-of-the-body-but/) [Ellen Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-wood/) > [“A second marriage, a new mistress suddenly brought to an established home, rarely gives pleasure to its inmates. 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Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“For years he had watched her skate and grow into her potential.  She was a natural and had won several world and national championships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-webb/for-years-he-had-watched-her-skate-and-grow-into-her-potential-she/) [Eleanor Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-webb/) > [“Static cackled from the cafeteria speaker. A bored female voice come on. “Victoria Brennan, please report to the headmaster's office. Victoria Brennan to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-reichs/static-cackled-from-the-cafeteria-speaker-a-bored-female-voice-come/) [Kathy Reichs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-reichs/) > [I actually prefer female voices to listen to, mostly, but among the male singers whose voices I like are Jeff Buckley, Art Garfunkel, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-actually-prefer-female-voices-to-listen-to-mostly-but-among-the/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“There were no free spaces in the school’s parking lot. Adam ended up parking illegally—live on the edge—and hurrying toward the school. 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And the female voice is much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-boyd/men-have-a-lot-less-to-write-about-unless-you-re-somebody-like-tom/) [Brandon Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-boyd/) > [“Saving Lives and Protecting Rights in Translation It is said that life and death are under the power of language. —Hélène Cixous, French author…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nataly-kelly/saving-lives-and-protecting-rights-in-translation-it-is-said-that/) [Nataly Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nataly-kelly/) > [I grew up in a household of women, they ran the show, they kept it all together. I credit my ability to write in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/i-grew-up-in-a-household-of-women-they-ran-the-show-they-kept-it-all/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [When the female voice is repressed and stifled, the entire community can easily find themselves cut off from the sacred feminine, depriving themselves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/when-the-female-voice-is-repressed-and-stifled-the-entire-community/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) [Browse all 50 Female voice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-voice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Mr St. John entered the little telegraph office, gave in his message, and was exchanging a few words with the clerk, when a female voice was heard speaking in hurried accents. Frederick at the moment was behind the partition unseen by the newcomer. 'Young man, can I send a telegram off at once? It's in a hurry?' 'You can send a telegram,' responded the clerk. 'Where's it to?' 'Paris.' 'What's the message?' 'I've written it down, so that there may be no mistake. It's quite private, and must be kept so: a little matter that concerns nobody. And be particular, for it's from Castle Wafer. Will it reach Paris tonight?' 'Yes,' said the clerk, confidentially, as he counted the words. 'How much to pay?' 'Twelve-and-sixpence.' 'Twelve-and-sixpence! What a swindle.' 'You needn't pay it if you don't like.' 'But then the telegram would not go?' 'Of course it wouldn't.' The sound of silver dashed down on the counter was heard. 'I can't stop to argue the charge, so I must pay it,' grumbled the voice. 'But it's a shame, young man.' 'The charges ain't of my fixing,' responded the young man. 'Good afternoon, ma'am.' 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