Volcano weekly ledger., 1857-01-03
A Sudden Conversion.


lived young man, Daniel Bryan, lawyer
by profession. No one possessed the conf
dence of his friends more than he did, and no
one was better calculated to secure 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 satisfac-
ton.
At the age of twenty-seven, Bryan took
to himself a wife from among the most favor
ed ones of the country. Mary FELTON, ex-
perienced a strange pride when she gave her
hand to the young lawyer, and if none envi-
ed her, many at least prayed that they might
be equally fortunate.
But ere long cloud came over the scene.
Conviyiality ran high among the members of
the bar, aud Bryan possessed one of those
peculiar temperaments 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 degradation When at the age of
five and thirty, he had become confirmed
drunkard. He now neglected his clients al
together, for he could not remain sober long
enough at any time to carry any case thro'
court The only business he now had on
his hands was the collection of some hard
debts.
On the evening of his thirty-ffth birthday
he joined the Washingtonians, and once more
his bright genius shone out upon the world.
But it could not last long enough amid the
examples of those who were his constant
companions; he sank as rapidly as he had
risen. In one short year from that time he
was a miserable degraded thing. People
who had left notes and accounts with him to
collect called at his house, and upon inquiring
of his wife where he could be 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 were PROSTATE upon his bedroom
floor
One day Mr. Vinson went to see him
Vinson had left notes and accounts to the
amount of several thousand dollars with Bry-
an to collect and he was anxious about them.
His poor wife answered him as usual-that
her husband had gone away.
" My dear madam" returned Mr.. Vinson,
81 know your misfortune, and | appreciate
your feelings, but | must see your husband.
If 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.. Vinson fol-
lowed her. He found Bryan in back room
stretched on the floor with rum jug by his
side With much effort Vinson aroused the
poor inebriate to a state of semi-conscious-
ness, and asked him if he had done anything
about the notes and accounts which he had
left with him? eyes," answered the lawyer
in weak, hiccoughing voice. 'I've had the
money for you over month. I've deducted
the per centage, and you will find the rest in
that trunk. Mary's got the key"
Mary was called in, the key was produced
and Mr.. Vinson found his money--four thou
sand and some odd hundred Of dollars-all
right and safe.
la his worst moments Bryan never used
for himself single penny held in trust. Hun
dreds there were who worked TO reclaim the
wanderer but without effect Years went
by and he sank lower and lower, yet his wife
left him not Her brother, young lawyer
named Moses FELTON,, often urged her to for
sake her husband at the same time Offering
her comfortable home beneath his 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; not day Of real sobriety marked
his course. | doubt if such another case was
known. He was too low for conyiyiality, for
those with whom he would have associated
would not drink with him.
All alone in his Office and chamber he still
continued to drink, and even his very life
seemed the offspring OF bis jug.
In early spring Moses FELTON, had a call to
60 to Ohio. Before he set out, he visited
his sister He offered TO take her with him,
but she would not 30.