Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-12-31


money-four thousand and some odd
hundred dollars-all right and safe.
In his worst moments Bryan never
used for himself a single penny held in
trust. Hundreds there were who worked
hard to reclaim the wanderer. but with
out effect. Years went by. and he sank
lower and lower-yet his vile left him
not. Her brother. young lawyer,
named Moses FELTON,, often urged her to
forsake her husband, at the same time
Offering her comfortable home beneath
his own roof, but she would not listen.
AT length all hope was given up
Week after week would the fallen man
be drunk on the floor, and not day of
real sobriety marked lis course. Idoubt
If such another case was ever known
He was 100 low for convivalily, for those
with whom he would have associated
would not drink with him
All alone in his own Office and cham
Der he still continued TO drink. and even
his very life seemed the offspring of his
jug.
In early spring. Moses FELTON, had a
cali TO go to Ohio. Before he set out,
he visited his sister. He offered TO take
her with him. but she would not go.
But why stay here ?" urged the
brother. "You are fading away. and
disease is upon you. Why should you
live with such a brute ?" '.Hush Noses.
Speak not. answered the wife. keeping
back The tears. Il will not leave him
now. But he will soon leave me. He
cannot live much longer
AT that moment Daniel entered the
apartment. He looked like wanderer
from the tomb. He had his hat on, and
his jug was in his hand.
"Ah-Moses-how are ye ?" he
gssped. for lie could not speak plainly
The speaker looked at him for few
mons nts in silence. Then, as his lea
lures assumed cold, stern expression.
he said in strongly emphasized tone:
Daniel Bryan. l have been your nex'
best friend but one. My sister is an an
gel-but mated with a demon. / have
loved you Daniel as l never loved man
before you were noble, generous and
kind. but | hate you now, for you are a
perfect devil incarnate. Look at the wo
man. She is my sister-she might now
live with me in comfort, only she will not
while you live; yet when you die she will
come to me. Thus do l pray God viii
soon give her joys to my keeping Now,
Daniel. l do sincerely hope that the first
intelligence which reaches me from my
native place, after l shall have reached
my new home may be-rHAr YOU ARE
DEAD %
Bryan gazed upon the speaker some
moments without speaking. Moses. 4"
be at length said. you are not in earn
est"
''As true as Heaven. Daniel, l am
When know that yoa are dead, shall
be happy; and moi until then-so go on.
Fill your jug, and
''Stop. stop Moses. l can reform" :
You cannot 1t is beyond your
power. You have had inducements
enough 10 have reformed half the sinners
of creation, and yet you are now lower
than ever before Go and die, sir, as
soon as you can; for the moment that
sees You dead shall rot see me among
The mourners
Bryans eye flashed, and he drew
himself proudly up. Co." he said,
with a lone of the old, powerful sarcasm
that he had so often electrified jury +;
''go to Ohio. AID I'll send you news
Go. sir. and watch the post"
With these words Daniel Bryan, hurI
ed his jug into the fire place, and while
yet thousand pieces were flying over
the floor, he strobe from the room. Mary
sunk fainting on the floor. Moses bore
her to the bed, and then, having called
in neighbor, he hurried away, for the
stage was waiting.
For month Daniel Bryan hovered on
the brink of the grave, but he did not
die.
Zone gill.of brandy will save you. "
said the doctor, who saw that the abrup,
removal of all stimulants from system
that had for years subsisted on almost
nothing else, was nearly sure to prove
fatal. You can surely take gill and
not take more"
AYE" gasped the poor man stake
a gill and break my oath. Moses Felteu
shall never leaIn that brandy or rum
ever killed me. If the want of it can
kill me, then let me die I'll live Till
Moses FELTON, shall eat his words"
He did live! An iron will conquered
the messenger of death had sent, and
Daniel Bryan lived. For one month be
could not even walk without help. But
be had help-joyful, prayerful help
Mary helped him.
A year passed away. and Moses Eel,
ton returned to Vermont. He entered
- So .s.-l.