Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1856-09-18
A SUD EN- CONVERSION.

I ot oihfdNLS tVhbt dks
The simple story am about to relate, possess
| much interest to those who were ever acquaintt
win ihe parties concerned and others its in tel
sst mi not only be in its truth, but also in the pc
culiar soul touch it develupes.
40 one OF the northern towns Of Vermont lived
young man whom shall call Daniel Bryan. ii
was lawyer profession, and one Of the most inte
.ectual men IN that section OF the country. No on
possessed the confidence of his friends more tina
dld and no one be tier calculated TO secure th
good viii and friendship Of all with whom he cam,
10 contact Business poured in upon him, and h
iaiiea not to give tho utmost satisfaction.
AZ the age OF twenty-seyen, Byram took to himsel
wife from among the NEST favored ones of thi
country. Mary FELTON, experienced strange prid,
wnen she gave her hand to tho young lawyer, ant
y none enyied her, many at least prayed that they
might be as fortunote.
Bat ere long cloud came over the scene Con,
VITALITY ran high among thv-nsa5ers Of the bar and
young Byram possessed enc OF those peculiar tenn
peraments Thieh at length give the Rhole body and
soul up to the demon Of appetite For three years be
mad followed the social custom of the times without
neglecting much OF hia business, but finally, he
sank to the lowest pit of degradation when at the
age Of five and thirty, he had become a confirmed
afunkard He now neglected his clients altogether
Ter ne could not remain sober long enough at any
one time TO carry any suit through court The only
business he had now on hands was the collecting OF
some feT small debts
On the evening of hIs thiTty-ifth birthday ho
VIZ HdsHlHBluulanHg ana once more ulS
bright genius shone out upon the world But il
could not last long and amid the examples Of those
who were his constant companion he went back to
MS CUP and down he sank us rapidly as he had ris-
en- IN one short year from that time he was a
miserable degraded thing People who bad left
neies and accounts with him called at his house
and upon inquiring of his wife where he was, she
would tell them he was away, Poor woman they
oonld not bear to dispute with her and they would
go their way, though they knew lail we'll that there
MAINS Sda ol Daniel Byram were prqstrate upon hi
Uds day a S.F. yInson called 70 sec him Vinson
had ieit notes and accounts to the amount OF
thousand dollars with Byram to collect and he was
anxious about them UispoOr wife answered him
as usual that her husband had gone away.
My dear madam returned Mr.. Vinson, Il know
your misfortune, and appreciate your feeling,
but must see your husband. If can see him
even but one minute, can learn all I wish to
know
Mary Byram spoke not a word, but with a fearful
eye she turned away and Mr.. Vinson followed her.
He found Byram in back room stretched at full
length upon the floor, with jug Of Medford rum by
his side With much effort ViLson aroused tie
poor to consciousness. and asked il he had done
anything about the notes and accounts he had left
with him.
'Yes, returned lawyer, in a weak husky, hiecough.
ing voice. I've had tho money for you over a
month. I've deducted my percentage, and you
find the rest in that trunk. Mary's got the key
Mrs. Byrnm was called in, the key was produced,
and Mr.. Vinson found his money-four thousand
aad some odd dollurs-all right and safe.
In his worst moments, Byram mover used for hims
self single penny he held in trust. Hundreds
there were who labored hard TO reclaim the wander
err but without effect. Year after year went by,
and he sank lower and lower Yet his wife left him
not. Her brother young lawyer named Moses Eel.
ton often urged her to forsake her husband, at the
same time offering comfortable home beneath his
own roef, but she would not listen.
At length all hope was given up. Week after
week would the fallen man lie down on the hoor and
4 .,nr~ al onI.n niafu Lad hfa n
doubt il such case was ever known. He was too
low for oonyiyiality for these with whom he would
have associated would not drink with him. All, all
alone 10 his own office and chamber, he drank the
accursed poison, and even his very life seemed the
Ia early spring, Moses Eelton had q call to 60 to
Ohio. Before he set out 20 visited his sister. lie
offered to take her with him but she would not 60
But why stay hers! urged the brother 'Ysu nre
all iaded away, and disease is upon you Why
should you live with such brute 2
sHush, Moses. Speak not so, ansu cred the wife,
keeping back the tears Il will not leave him
now. But he will soon leave me; he cannot last
much longer
At that moment Daniel Byram entered the apart.
ment. Even Moses FELTON, was startled by his ap-
pearance. de looked like wanderer from the
tomb. He had his hat on and his jug was in his
hand. <
'Ah-Moses-how are ye2 he gaspod, for he could
not speak plainly.
The visitor locked at him few moments in ST.
lenco Ihon as ms lehturef hssumeI hcold, stern
expression, he said in calm, but strongly empha.
sized tone:
Daniel Byram, have been your next best friend
but one. My sister an is angel-but mated with de-
mon. have loved you, Daniel, as never loved
man before, for you were noble, generous and kind
but hate you now, for you are devil inoarnate.
Look at that woman She % my sister-the only
sister @ 6od ever gave me wish her to live with
me, but she will not while you live yet when you
die she will come to me. Thus do I pray
that Ged will soon give her joys to my keeping -
Now, Daniel 1 do sincerely pray that the first in
telligence that reaches from my native place af-
ter reach my new home-may be--that--you-aye
deadn
nyram gu1ed upon the speaker some moments
without speaking.
Moses at length he said you arc not in ear-
nest.'
AS true as heaven, Daniel, I am When 1 know
that yen are dead. shall be happy, aud not until
then-so go on. Fill your jug. and
stop, stop, Moses. can REFORM
you cannot. II is beyond your power, You
have had Inducements enough-enough to have res
formed half the sinners in creati0n-and yet you are
now lower than ever before, Go, and die, sir, as
soon as you like, for the moment that you thus
will set mournels free.
Byram's eyes flashed, and he drew himself proud>
ly up.
Co. said, he with tings of that old powerful
sarcasm that had so often electrified jury, go to
Ohio and I'll send you news. Go, sir, and watch
the post
with these words, Daniel Byram hurled the jug
into the fire place. and while yet its thousand pieces
were flying over the foor-he strobe from the house
Mary sank faintng to the hoor-Moses bore hor 10
the bed, and then having called in a neighbor he
hurried away, for the stage wns waiting.
For moment Daniel Byram lowered over the
brink of the grave, but he did not die.
'tlne gill of brandy will save you, said the doctor
who saw that the abrupt removal OF all sttmulants