The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1911-03-02
IHARRY'S
PROMISE


Come, lads. I'll tell you what we'll
do; we'll drop into the Reindeer and
order hot punch and cigars. What do
you say? All infavor sing out aye!'
AYE! aye!" shouted half a dozen
youthful voices; but Harry Hilton
stood silent.
His comrades turned upon him 81.
multaneously.
What's up, old fellow? Why don't
you speak out? You've made two dol.
lars clear Of your wages: you're not
too misery to have a glass of punch.
and q social smoke. are youf"
mot I; I'm no more misery than
the rest of you, / take it." answered
the young man, stoutly.
Then, why do you hold back? l
say, comrades, come on; the evenings
chill, and we've had a hard days
work, and a glass Of hot punch won't
go bad. Here we go. all Of u.s.. to q
mani"
mo, we don't" responded Harry.
He was a tall. handsome young fell
low, a head and shoulders above the
tallest of his fellow workmen, and
foreman in the iron mandatory Of
Messrs. Kirby & Keith, where the
whole party found employment. -.
They gathered about him in the
chill twilight.
whats got into the chap?" they
cried. Il say, Harry, what's come
over you? Why don't you come on?
We're in for a %carouse. and maybe a
dance to wind up with. Amt you go
ing along?"
mol"
Then give US your reason. Are
you going to turn parson all of a sud
den, or do you hate to spend your e
ira earnings? Come on, lads, Wen
club together and let him drink free"
$50 we WILL" answered half a dozen
voices.
Harry's swarthy cheek began to
flush.
"You know me too we'll to talk like
that, lads" he said. I'm not close
listed with my money. as you shall
see, If you'll mention anything else
but the public house and drink;
can't agree to that"
And your reasons; let's have EN-.
Are you turning parson"
mo, but I've made a promise to my
mother, and she's a widow, and l her
only son-I've given her my word
never to drink In a public house, and
l shan't break it. That's my reason.
lads. and goodnight to you!"
And the worst of them was not bad
enough to advise the breaking of such
q promise as that.
A year went by and a dozen of the
picked hands were up for promotion,
Messrs. Kirby & Keith had a posi-.
ton of great responsibility to award.
and one that brought excellent pay.
When the minor promotions were all
made just five young men were left,
and to one of these the lucrative po-
sition was to 60. Stalwart, honest,
upright young fellows. the whole five
of them.
The senior partner Of the Arm
pushed up his %spectacles. and looked
about him in some indecision.
Really, my good fellows" he said.
I'm sorely puzzled how to proceed.
I've only the one position to bestow.
and here your are, five in number,
and equal in deserving merit. How
am l to decide?"
Cast lots. boss suggested one.
The boss smiled, and seemed for a
minute or two to favor the idea, then
all Of a sudden his eye sparkled.
"A better thought than that has
struck me-" he said. "see here, my
lads, which one of you now can say
he never took a dram in a public
house? Ali here's a test for you!
Speak out, now, like men,"
II can say it. SIR" spoke out Harry
Hilton, in his ringing voice; II never
took a drink in a public house in my
life"
Come, Mr.. Hilton, honor bright;
you're sure of what you say?" asked
Kirby.
I'm sure, sir. or I should not have
said So" replied the young man.
proudly.
aye, boss, and we can back him
In what he says" chimed in his com
rades. We've no to say: the
place is his"
And so 1t was.
Harry Hilton was appointed to this
trustworthy situation; and it trans.
pired that in a few years more he was
taken into the firm as a partner: and
he won and welded for his wife pref.
ty Lizzie, the only child and heiress OF
Mr.. Kirby. And all this great. good
fortune came of his keeping his prom.
Use.