The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-09-25

no THAT MEANT NO.
A fine young fellow was "rom" Jcfrreys.
strong, pleasant and good looking. He was
but eighteen when he first began railroad
ing" but he could set brake with the best .
When his clear, deep voice announced tho
stations people listened and made no mis-
take. Old ladies caught the CLEAN OF his
pleasant eye, aud let him help thcm on anl
of with grateful surprise. Mothers with
more children than they could manage, tired
women bundle-laden, and old men, recog-
nized a friend and made use OF him. Nor
were the railroad on ,lals blind to the young
mans helpfulness and popularity. and
although Tom did not dream It, he was on a
list that meant promotion,
The young brakeman's easy going good
nature, however, was drawback in one
direction. fle dlsliked to say "no.' When
the train reached A. he always had
two hours to spare In that time somo OF
the boys were sure TO say; "Come, Tom, let's
go to the barber's."
Now, this sounded very innocent, but in
the BARRIERS back room was % green door
which opened on a stairway leading into u
drinking bar Here the men used to gather,
few at the time, to have "a little some
thing"
Tom usually said his good-natured "no," "
that meant a reluctant Eyes, and ended 10y
going. He never felt wholly at ease when
for II alone. Over and over again he
acknowledged to himself that II 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 everyday
drink with him, when one afternoon he was
summoned from the "barber's shop" TO the
office.
"Jeffreys," said the superintendent, when
he entered, al have been very much pleased
with the way in which your duties have been
performed on the road In the past and find
we need another conductor" The gentle,
man stopped, and the pleasant smile was
gone. "Mr. JeTreys, your breath tells me
that you have been drinking"
''Only Il little beer, sir. said poor Tom,
flushing crimson.
~ am very sorry" replied the superin.
tendent. "but that will be all to-day. You
may CO."
The young man left tho Office down-cast,
dlsheartened. What no had been Wishing
for, what he had so nearly gained, had been
lost through his own misconduct. As hd
thought OF It his good-natured lips took a
frmer curve.
The next day one Of the boys said. Comm
over to the barher's?"
"No!" replied Tom.
"Oh, come on, what's struck you?"
''That barber has shaved me all no ever
will!' was the answer
Although Toms mo" seemed very de.
termined in its sound, there was something
wanting in II. He felt 1t, aud when after a
few days. the real longing for glass OF
liquor began to make itself felt, 1t seemed as
If the mo" would be Eyes" In spite OF him
self.
''No use in lockin' the barn door, now, 4"
said his chum; "the horse Is stole; the
super knows you've taken smile now
and then, and he'll never forget IL. Better
be young while you ear"
Tom still said mo, but the little negative
grew weaker and weaker the next thing it
would be ''yes" When this was almost ac-
complished, spurred by his danger and re-
memberng his early training In the right, he
said an earnest prayer for strength.
And them" he SAID, "I learned to speak n
mo- that all the men on the road couldn't
turn into a yes"