Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-11-29
A SUDDEN CONVERSION.


lived young man, Daniel Bryan, lawyer by
profession. No one possessed the confidence
Of his friends more than he did, and no one
was better calculated to secnre the good will
and friendship Of all with whom he came in
contact business poured in upon him, and he
failed not to give the utmost satisfaction.
AZ the age Of twoniy-seyen, Bryan took 10
himself a wife from among the most favored
ones Of the country. Mary FELTON, experienced
a strange pride when she gave her hand to the
young lawyer, and II none enved her, many at
least prayed that they might be equally lorlu
nale..
But ere long cloud came over the scene.
Convivialiiy ran high among the members Of the
bar, and Bryan possessed one of those peculiar
tcmperamen,s which at length gave the whole
body and soul up To the demon. For three
years he followed the social custom Of the
times without neglecting much Of his business,
but finally he sunk into the lowest pit Of deg
radiation. When at the age Of five and thirty
he had become confirmed drunkard He
now neglected his clients altogether, for he
could not remain sober long enough at any
time TO carry any case through court. The
ouly business he now had on his hands was the
collection Of some debts.
On the evening Of his thiriy-ffih birth day
he joined the Washingionians. and once more
his bright genius shone out upon the world.
But il could not last long enough amid the ex-
ampes Of those who we're his constant com-
panons he sank as rapidly as he had risen
In one short year from that time he was mis-
erably degraded thing. People who had left
notes and accounts with him to collect called al
his house, and upon inquiring of his wife where
he could he found, she would tell them he was
away Poor woman, they could not bear to
dispute her, and they knew full well that the
remains Of Daniel Bryan Nere prosirate upon
his bedroom floor
One day Mr.. Vinson went to SEQ him.
Yinson had leit notes and accounts to the amount
Of several thousand dollars with Bryan 10 COL
lcct, and he was anxious about them. His
poor wife answered him as usual-ihat her
husband had gone away
"My dear madam" returned Mr.. Vinson,
81 know your misfortune, and | appreciate
your feelings. bui | must see your husband.
| II can see him for one minute ! can learn all
| wish to know"
| Mary Bryan spoke not a word, but with a
fearful eye turned away and Mr. Ninson ful-
lowed her. He found Bryan in a back room,
stretched at full length upon the 0oor with a
| Jug Of Medlord rum by his side. With much
effort Vlnson aroused the poor inebraie TO a
state Of semi consciousness, and asked him il
he had done anything about the noies and ae-
counts which he had left with him' " Yes,
answered tie lawyer in weak, hiecoughing
voice, I've had the money for you over a
month. I've deducted the percentage and you
Will fnd the rest in that truak. Mary's sol
the key"
Mary Bryan was called in, the key was pro
duced, and Mr.. Vinson found his money-foul
thousand and some odd hundreds of dullars-
all right and safe.
In his wors, moments Bryan never used fol
himself single penny held in trust. Hun
dreds iherSwere who worked hard to reclaim
the wanderOr but without effect Years wen
by and he sank lower and lower, yet his wifi
left him not. Her brother, a young lawyer
named Moses FELTON,, often urged her to forsak'
her husband, at the same time Offering her a
comfortable home beneath his OWE roof but sh'
would not listen.
At length all hope was given up. Week al
ter week would the fallen man he drank on ih'
floor, and not day of real sobrleiy marked h'
course. doubt II such another case wa
known. lie was too low for convivality, 70
those with whom he would have associated
would not drink with him.
All alone IN ms oihce ana chamber he Sill
continued 20 drink, ana even MS very ll'e seem
4 II. n . -.
cd the offspring oil ms jug.
In early spring Moses feIioa had eau u
60 TO ONO Before he set out he visited HI
sisler'-he offered to take her with him. ou
she would moi go.
But why stay you here - urged the broth
er. why should you live win such brute !
Hush Moses speak not,' answered th
wife, keeping back the tears " ! VIII no
leave him now, but he VIII soon leave me
lie cannot live much longer.
AT that moment Daniel entered the apart
ment. lie looked like wanderer from III