The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-07-15
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
A NEGATIVE NO.
How . Railroader's Success Was Hindered
by Drink.

Now . RailrOader's Success Was Hindered
by Drink.
A fine young fellow was Tom JEFF
freys. strong, pleasant and cookbook
ing He was but eighteen when he first
began ''railroading," but he could set
brake with the best When his clear
deep voice announced the stations, peo-
pie listened and made no mistake. Old
ladies caught the CLEAN of his pleasant
eye, and let him help them on and off
with grateful surprise. Mothers with
more children than they could manage,
tired women bundle-laden and old men
recognized friend and made use of
him. Nor were the railroad officials
blind to the young mans helpfulness
and popularity, and although Tom did
not dream of it, he was one on a list of
names that meant promotion.
The young brakeman's easy-going
good however, was a drawback
in one direction. He disliked to say no.
When the train reached Boston he al
ways had two hours to spare. In that
time some one of the boys was sure to
say: Come, Tom, let's go to the bar
ber's."
Now, this sounded very innocent, but
in the BARRIERS back room was a green
door which opened on a stairway lead
ing down into drinking saloon. Here
the men used to gather, few at a
time, to take "a little something"
Tom usually said his good-humored
no, that meant reluctant yes, and
ended by going. He never felt wholly
at ease when taking his beer. He
would not have gone for it alone. Over
and over again he acknowledged to
himself that it was the laughter of his
chums that took his courage away, and
so things went on. A year slipped by,
and beer had become almost an every
day drink with him, when one after
noon he was summoned from the bar
ber's shop" to the office.
"Jeffreys," said the superintendent
when he entered, II have been very
much pleased with the way in which
your duties have been performed on the
road in the past, and l find we need
another conductor" The gentleman
suddenly stopped and then the pleasant
smile was gone. MIR Jeffreys, your
breath tells me that you have been
drinking"
''Only little beer, SIR" said poor
Tom. flushing crimson.
Il am very sorry" replied the super
intendent, but that will be all to-day;
you may 60"
The young man left the office down
cast, disheartened. What he had been
wishing for, what he had SO nearly
gained, had been lost through his own
misconduct. As he thought of it the
good-natured lips took on a firmer
curve. The next day one of the boys
said Comm over to the barber's?"
NO" replied Tom.
so come on, what's struck yer?"
THAT barber has shaved me all he
ever will" was the answer.
Although Toms no" seemed very
! determined in its sound, there was vet
something wanting in it. He felt it,
and when, after few days, the real
longing for glass of liquor began to
make itself felt, it seemed as il the
mo" would be yes" in spite of himself.
mo use in loclSin' the barn door
now" said his chum; "the boss is stole;
the super knows you've taken smile
now and then. and he'll never forget it.
Better be young while you can"
Tom still said no" but the little
negative grew weaker and weaker; the
next thing it 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 and, kneeling on the bare
floor, prayed for strength to resist
And them" he said, Il learned to
speak no that all the men on the
road couldn't turn into 'yes."-Henry
C. Pearson, in Christian at Work.