The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-11-21
Lost His Place.
by T. 8. Arthur.

"I'm very sorry, Mrs. Allison, but we
can't take him bnck." The superintend.
ent spoke kindly bus firmly. "1f it
were his first oilense, we might let it
pass; but he has given us this trouble
too often, and we shall now put a quieter
man in his place"
"But it was the drink, Mr.. Grant
only the drink T. urged the poor woman.
"There isn't more peaccable or kind.
hearted man in all the shop than jim
my, when he lets drink alone. And you
will give him credit for being good
workman"
"No better workman in the establish.
ment, but the drink we can't stand any
longer. That spoils everything"
"You'll give him another trial? Say
yes, Mr.. Grant" pleaded the unhappy
wife.
But Mr.. Grant said: "No, Mrs. ALI.
son; I'm very sorry, but this thing is
settled. Your husband must get work
somewhere else. We can't have him
here any longer"
ooh, Mr.. Grant" cried the wretched
woman, her voice rising to n passionate
appeal, "just think of his poor old
mother 1t will break her heart"
"IIe should have thought of his poor
old mother, Mrs. Allison, returned Mr..
Grant, with coldness in his manner
that he did not feel. owe cannot take
these things into account"
II was all in vain. Mrs. Allison could
not move the superintendent, and she
left bis office, weeping bitterly.
at is n hard case" said Grant, speak.
ing to his book-kceper in n troubled
voice. "But we can't have Jimmy ALI
son in the shop any longer. He will
take his glass, and when he gets too
much, he grows quarrelsome. There's
no better workman, and no better man
to be found, if he'd leave off tippling.
But for drink he'd be our foreman to-
lay, instead of n cast.off. His example
is bad, and we must remove it. He
leads others astray."
"He'll go to ruin, I'm afraid" said
the book-kcepor.
"Perhops not. When pay him off,
I shall talk to him, kindly and seriously.
And / shall do more"
"What"
"Give him six months probation.
"Where and how p
I'm thinking it out. Can't see it
clear, but it will come to me. Where
there's a will there's way. His poor
old mother. That touches ME. All, the
poor old mothers If young men would
but think of them as they should, there
would he fewer heartaches at old age"
Mr.. Grant had harder trial still. In
her sorrow and despair old Mrs. Allison
came to the Office to plead for her son.
He was very kind to her, and tried to
make her see that her sons loss of his
place might really he the best thing that
ever happened to him. But this was
She saw nothing but evil
in his going away.
Poor old lady At seventy, instead
of comfort in her latest born, best he
loved and only surviving child-her boy,
she yet called him fondly, though he
was eight and twenty-she had heart.
aching wretchcdness.
"Oh, Jimmy! My poor boy, jim.
my |" walled the mother, on coming
back from the Office, where she had 50
vainly striven to change the superiptend-
ent's purpose; and, putting her arms
about the stalwart man, she sobbed and
moaned so piteously that he also was
moved to tears.
But there was no help for them. The
shops were close to Jimmy Allison, and
q week afterward he left home to seek
for work in town fifty miles away,
where he had an acquaintance in roll
ing mill. Upon the sorrow and grieI
that fell like shadow on the hearts o.
his wife and mother at the moment OF
parting streamed in ray of hope.
"I've taken my last glass, mother
My last glass, JENNY! And it will al
come out right. I'll be sure to get work
in s. and then I'll send for you and
well be happy again."
Mr.. Grant was standingat the window
Of his Office looking out.
"There goes Jimmy Allison to the sta
tion," he said, turning to the book
keeper. "Poor fellow! hope the les
son will be good for him. But I'm
afraid"
While Mr.. Grant was speaking, he
sow Allison stop and stand irresoIute for
some moments, and then turn and walk
quickly toward the Office.
"We are to have parting word--a
curse or blessing" added MIR: Grant,
in changed voice. And the office door
opened, and Jimmy Allison came H.
He did not speak at first, but drew a
paper from his pocket, which he opened
and handed to the superintendent.
ooh pledge! !' said Mr.. Grant IN a
tone of surprise.
"Yes, sir; and what is more, I'm 60
ing to keep it," replied Allison, In a firm
but subdued voice. -,
"Stick to that, my man, and all will
he well, said the superintendent And
let me sny this to you i'll parting: il yon
had let beer and whisky alone, you might
have had q foreman's place here long
ago. Nothing has kept you back but
drink. For your own sake, and especial
ly for your wife's and good old mothers
.