The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-06-20
JIMMY ALLISON.
BY T. s. ARTHUR.

But IL was the drink, Mr.. Grant
only the drink" urged the poor
woman. There isn't a more peacea-
ble or kinder-hearted man in all the
shop than Jimmy, when he lets
drink alone. And you'll give him
credit for being a good work.
man 2"
NO better workman in the estab-
lishment. but it's the drink that we
can't stand any longer. That spoils
everything"
You'll give him another trial?
Saw YES. Mr.. Grant," pleaded the
unhappy wife. :, 49, ~,
But Mr.. Grant said, "No, Mrs.
Allison; I'm very sorry, but this
thing is settled. Your husband must
get work somewhere else. We can't
have him here any longer"
oh. Mr.. Grant, cried the wretch
ed woman, her voice rising to a pas
sionate appeal, lust think OF his
poer old mother 1t will break her
hearth
1Ue should have thought of his
moor old mother, Mrs. Allison, re-
turned Mr.. Grant, with a coldness
in his manner that he didnot feel.
we cannot take these things into
account
1t was all in vain. Mrs. Allison
could not move the superintendent,
and she left his office weeping
bitterly.
1t is a hard case, said Mr.. Grant,
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
ouarrelsome. There's no better
workman and no better man to be
found. if he'd leave off tipping.
But for drink, he'd be our foreman
to-day. instead of a cast-off. His
example is bad, and we must
remove it. He leads others
astray.'
Hell go 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 howY
I'm thinking it out. Can't see 1t
clear, but it will come to me. Where
there's 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, there would be fewer
heartaches in old age
Mr.. Grant had a 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 re-
ally be the best thing that ever hap
pened to him. But this was impos-
sible. She saw nothing but evil in
his going away.
Poor old lady At seventy, instead
of comfort in her latest born, best
beloved and only surviving child,
her boy, as she yet called him fond
ly, though he was eight and twenty,
she had heartaching wretched-
ness.
'Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy My poor
boy, Jimmy ? walled the mother on
coming back from the office, where
she had so vainly striven to change
the superintendent's purpose I; 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 closed to Jimmy
Allison, and week afterward he
left home to seek for work in town
fifty miles away, where he had an
acquaintancein 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.
I've taken my last glass, mother
My last glass, Jennie And it will
ali come out right. I'll 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
window of his office looking out.
There 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 in the direction OF
the office.
we are to have a parting word
a curse or a blessing, added Mr..
Grant, in changed voice. And the
office door opened, and Jimmy Ali.
son came in. He did not speak at
first, but drew paper from his
pocket, which he opened and hand
ed to the superintendent.
Oh pledger p said Mr.. Grant, in
a tone of surprise.
Yes, sir, and what is more I'm
going to keep it. replied Allison, in
a firm but subGued voice.
Stick to that, my man, and all
will be well,' said the superintend-
ent And let me say this to you
in parting if you had let beer and
whisky alone, you might have had a
foreman's place here long ago,
Nothing has kept you back but
drink. For your own sake, and es-
pecially for your wife's and good old
mothers sake, let it alone
IN do it, sir. You may count
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
the superintendent as he took the
mans hand. Think of me as your
friend. 1t goes hard with me, as
well as with you. But you left us
no. alternative. Good-byel And il