The Somerset reporter., 1885-01-07
The Brdkemdn's No.

A fine young fellow WAS Tom Jeifreys,
strong, pleasant and good 10 king. H..
.as but eighteen when he first began rail-
/ 1adiOg,' nut he copld sci brake with tte
b ST. Nhtn his clear, deep voice an.
| bounced The statiois, people listened and
made 10 rnistake. Old ladies' caught the
sieam of his plrasaut eye, apd let bin h.Ip
| them IF aud on With grateful surprise
| Mothers with more children than they
could manage, tife1 women bundle lad. o
and old fhcu rccp9niLe1 friend and ms de
1se Of him. N1r were the railroad offici = =
9lind 70 the Young mans belpfulncss aud
| popularity, aud, although Tom did not
Iream u n, his was one on a list of parncy
tnat meant promotion.
Tue young brakeman's easy-going good
nature, however, was a drawback iD ole
direction. He disliked to say no. VIII, n
1 train reached Boston he always had two
nour- . spare. In that time some one Of
the boys Yis sure to say, Jone, Tom,
lets 90 to the barber's"
Now this sounded very innocent, but In
the BARRIERS back room WAS green door
which opened on a stairway leading down
INTO drinking saloon. Here the men used
20 gather d lew at a time, aud take little
something.
Tom usually said bis good humored no,
that meant a reluctant yes, aud ended oy
takiBg hi. beer. He would not have gone
for it slone. Over and over again he ac-
KNOW wledged u himself that it was the
laughter Of his chums that took bis cour-
age away, and 80 things went on. A year
slipped by end tear had become almost an
every day drink with him when ore after
noon be was summoned from the barber,
shop" 10 the Office.
~ frey" said the superintendent, when
ne eutered. II have been very much
pleased with the way IN which your duties
nave been performed on the road in the
past, snc find We need another coDduo-
tor The gentleman suddenly stopped
and the pleasant smile was gone. Mr..
Jehreys. your breath tells me you have
been drinkini."
'Only little beer. sir" said poor Tom
flushing crimson.
II am very sorry" replied the superin-
ieDdeut, but that viii DC All to-day; you
may GO
TIE young man left the Office downcast,
iisheartened. What he had been wishing
for. what he had so nearly gained, had be,
iost through his own misconduct. Asie
| thought OF it the good natured lips took
~ iImer curve. The next day one OF
the boys said: "CUmin' over to the bal
oer's:"
No" replied Tom.
''Oh, com- on, what's struck yerf''
''Ih nat barber Das shaved me ali ne ever
Will, " was the answer.
Although Toms no seemed very deter
mined in its souud there was yet SOME
thing wanting in it. He felt il, anu 2ster u
few days when the real longing for glass
| of liquor began to maze Itself felt, it
seemed as If tue no would be Yes, in spite
| of himself.
NO use 10 lockin' the door now" said
| his cnum: ''tLe hoss is stole, tie super
! knows you've taken smile now and ther,
aud ae'i IL never forget il. b .tter DC young,
| while you can
| Tom still said no, but the little negative
grew weaker and weaker; the next thing
| 1t would be yes. When this was almost
accomplished spurred by his danger, and
remembering his early training in the right
| he went into an empty car, aud kneeliDg on
he bare floor, prayed for strength to re-
sist.
| And them" he said, l learned to saw a
no thar all the men on the road Gould rot
| turn into a yes.'