Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-06-09
jim MY ALLISON.
BY r. \. ARTHUR.

| it were his first Offense, we might lei II
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 p urged the poor woman.
"There ism more peaceable or kinder,
hearted man in all the shop than Jimmy,
when he lets drink alone. And you II
give him credit for being good work
man.
"No better workman in the e>tab'
lishment, hut it's the drink that we
cant stand any longer. That spoils
Everything
you'll give him another trial? Say
yes, Mr.. Grant - pleaded the unhappy
wife"
But Mr.. Grant said, ono, Mrs. ALI
son; Pm very sorry, but this thing l.
settled. Your husband must get work
somewhere else. We cant nave nm
here any longer.
son, Mr.. Grant" cried the wretched
woman, her voice rising to "A passionate
appeal, "just think of his poor old
mother II will break her heart.
"He should have Thought of his
poor old mother, Mrs. Allison re
turned Mr.. Grant, with a GOODNESS III
his manner that he did not feel. We
cannot take these things into account.
1t was all In vain. Mrs. Allison could
not move the superintendent, anu she
left his Office weeping bitterly.
cit is a hard case said Mr.. drant,
speaking to his book keeper in troubled
voice. But we can't have Jimmy
Allison 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 OH
tipping But for drink, he'd be our
foreman to-day, instead OF a CASTOR.
His example is bad, and we must re-
move it. He leads others astray.'
"He'll 60 to ruin, I'm afraid, said
the book keeper.
Perhaps not. When pay him off,
shall talk to him kindly and seriously.
And | shall do more.
WHAT"
"Give him six months probation. ="
"Where, and how
"I'm thinking it out Can't see 1t
clear, but it will come to me. Where
there's Il will there's a way. His poor
old mother. That touched me. All, the
poor old mothers If young men
would but think Of them as they should,
Their. would be fewer heart-aches in 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 be the best
thing that had ever happened to him.
But this was impossible. She saw
nothing but evil in his going away.
Poor old lady At seventy, instead of
comfort in her latest born, hest beloved
and only surviving child-her boy, as
she yet called him fondly, though he
was eight and twenty-she had heart
aching wretchedness.
"Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy. My poor boy,
Jimmy ~ walled themother, on coming
back from the Office, where she had so
vainly striven to change the superin-
tendent's purpose and putting her
arms about the stal wart man, she sobbed
and moaned 80 piteously that he, also,
was moved to tears.
But there was no help for them. The
shops were closed to Jimmy Allison,
land week afterwards he LETT home 20
seek for work in town fifty miles
away, where he had all acquaintance in
a rolling mill. Upon the sorrow and
grief that fell like a shadow on the
hearts of his wife and mother at the
moment of parting streamed in a ray OF
hope.
"Ive takeo my last glass, mother
My last glass, Jenny. And it will all
come out right. III be sure to get work
in s., and then I'll send for you, and
we'll be happy again.
Mr.. Grant was standing at the win
dow of his office looking ont.
"Th-re goes Jimmy Allison to the
station" he said, turning to the book
keeper. "Poor fellow | hope the
lesson will be good for him. But I'm
afraid"
While Mr.. Grant was speaking, he
saw Allison stop and stand irresolute
| for some moments, and then turn and
walk quickly toward the office.
owe are to have parting word-a
curse or a blessing" added Mr.. Grant,
in a changed voice. And the office
door opened, and Jimmy Allison came
in. He did not speak at first, but drew
Il paper from his pocket, which he
opened and handed to the superin-
| tendent.
"On a PLEDGE" said Mr. Grant, in
a tone of surprise.
eyes, sir; and what is more, I'm
going to keep it, replied Allison, in a
firm but subdued voice
"Stick to that, my man, and all will be
we'll" said the superintendent. And
let me say this to youth parting; if YOU
had let beer and whisky lone, YOU
might have had forelnan's place here
long ago. Nothing has kept you back
but drink, For your own sake, and
!, specially for your wif4's and good old
mothers sake, let it alone.
"I'll do it, sir. You may count on
that Goodbye, Mr.. Grant, and the
man held out his hand, his fare working
with the struggle of feelings he could
not repress.
"Good-bye, jimmy returned the
Superintendent "a he sook the mans
hand "Think Of me as your friend.
1t goes hard with me as well as with
Won. But you left us no alternative.
Good bye! And if all goes right let me
hear from you
. Jimmy Allison had no voice to reply.
Turning away in silence, he left the
office.
"a don't see how you can have the
= heart to do it," SAID the book keeper as
the man had gone. He's taken the
pledge, and it's my opinion he'll keer
it. Why not give him chance?
= can get the poor, old, sorrowful face OF
, his mother out Of my thoughts for a
moment; it haunts me like ghost
Mr.. Grant did not reply, and the
book keeper turned to his desk and re-
. sumed his work A little while after
! unrI the whistle of the coming trail