The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1883-09-22

a changed voice And the Office door
opened, and Jimmy Allison eamein. He
did no, speak AZ FIRST, but drew . paper
from his pocket, which he opened and
handed 10 the superintendent.
'Oh. pledge said Mr.. Grant in \
tone Of surprise.
Yes, sir; and VIA, is more, I'm GO
ing to keep it, replied Allison, in a firm
but subdued voice.
:" Stick to that, my man, and all viii be
well, said the superintendent. And
lei me say this to you in parting; if you
had let beer and whisky alone, you might
have had foreman's place here long
ago. Nothing has kept you back but
drink. For your own sake. and especially
for your wife's and good old mothers
sake, let i, alone
:" I'll do il. sir. You may coun, on that
Goodbye, Mr.. Grant," and the man held
out his hand, his face working with the
struggle Of feelings he could not repress.
Goodbye. Jimmy," returned the
superintendent as he took the mans
hand. @Think Of me as friend. lteces
hard with me As we'll - with you. Bu,
you lef, as no alternative. Goodbye. .
And if all goes RICH, le, me hear from
YOU"
Jimmy Allison had no voice 10 reply.
Turning away in silence, he left the Office
Il don't see how you can have the
heart 10 do it, said the book-keerer as
the man had gone. Hes taken the
pledge, and its my opinion he'll keep Il.
Why not give him chance. can't ge,
the poor, old, sorrowful face ofhis mother
gu, of my thoughts for moment /,
haun,s me like ghost
Mr.. Grant did not reply, and the book
keeper turned to his desk and resumed
his work. A little while afterwards. the
whistle Of the coming train was heard a
few minutes later, and Jimmy Allison was
borne away from home, wife and mother,
on the kwift wings Of steam, szcder and
wiser man.
The day had worn on drearily to the
miserable wife and mother Of Allison. the
pleasant Iune sunshine unfelt until the
sun had reached the tops of the western
mountains. for the shadow Of great trouble
rested on the litile household. Suddenly
the Wild scream of the locomotive cut the
air, and went echoing among the hills :
and soon after the down coming train
dropped n few passengers At the station.
and then wen, laundering on its impe,a-
Gus course.
Mrs. Allison, said boywho rushed
into the room where the two women sa,
III their helpless, half despair. here IS
letter from Mr.. Grant. and he says re@t
i, righ, away
The startled wife opened. with hands
that shook neuously, the folded paper
and read: We've ,elegraphed Jimmy
10 come oaek-look gu, for HIM BY The
down uaiI."
\ wild cry Of ,oy broke from the lips OF
lenny Allison: oh. mother. mother .
they've sent for him TO come back. and
there he is now
Springing up and bounding through
the door half orazed with Joy, she ran
through The little garden, ana flung her
self, laughing and crying, all a, once.
into the arms of her husband.
We've had a narrow escape. Jimmy,
my son. said old Mrs. Allison, after they
we're all quoted down. II, hurt me
away down here, my son and she laid
her hand over her breast" hurt me more,
may be. than you will ever know
Oh. don, say that mother. bat you
shall never be hur, again. answered
Jimmy, catching his breath with some
thing like a sob. e Never, never, never
I've taken the pledge, you know, and
when Jimmy Allison puts his name to
anything, its go, to stand. The Allison's
dom, go back on their word OF honor
IN trus, you my boy" was the
mothers confident reply as the sunshine
OF gladness fell over her aged face.
All this happened Just one year ago.
And has Jimmy Allison KEEP, true 20 his
pledge? More than true; tor besides
holding tue to his own integrity, he has
induced dozen other workmet 10 follow
his example, and is now organizing a
temperance society in the shop, where he
already holds the position of foieman.-
EXCHANGE