American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-02-14

wnere ne cOulu De 1OunQ, she would tell
them he was away. Poor woman, they
could not bear todispute her, and they
would 60 theirsway, though they knew
full well that the remains of Daniel
BryaneJwere Frustrated upon his bed
room hoor.d 9qa4 5g bgd ~
One day Mr.. Vinson went ;. to soc
him. 'Vinson had left accounts and
notes to the amount of several thousand
dollars with Bryan and he was anxious
to see him. His poor wife answered
him as usual--that her husband had
gone away sass a hra.sati,,aI
"My dear madam" returned Mr..
Vinson,"I 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 word, but
with. fearful eye turned away, and Mr..
Ninson followed her, He found Bryan
in u back room stretched at full length
upon the floor, with a'jug of Medford
rum at, his side! With much effort
Vinson aroused the poor inebriate to a
state of semi-consciousness, and asked
him if he had done any thing about the
notes and accounts which he had left
him. YES" answered the lawyer, in
a weak hiccoughing voice. "I'ye had
the money for you over a month. I've
deducted my per centage, and you will
find the rest in that trunk. Mary's
got the key" sal ogpa3 b,pa5sa
Mrs. Bryan was called in, the key
was produced, and Yinson found his
money four thousand and some hun
dred dollars--all right and safe. GTo -
In his worst moments Bryan never
used for himself single penny heldin
trust. Hundreds there were who wor-
ked hard to reclaim the wanderer, but
without effect. Years went by, and he
sank lower and lowerL-yet his wife
left him not. Her brother, q young
lawyer named Moses FELTON,, often ur-
ged her to forsake her husband, offer
ling her at the same tine, a comfortable
home beneath his own roof, but she
would not listen. ......3
At length all hope was given up.-
Week after week would the fallen man
be drunk on the floor, and not day of
Ireal sobriety marked his course.
Idoubt if such another case was known.
He was too low for conviviality, for
those with whom he would have associ-
ated would not drink with him.
! All alone in his Office and chamber,
he still continued to drink, and even
Z his very life seemed the offspring of his
jug.
In early spring Moses FELTON, had a
call to go to Ohio. Before he set out
he visited his sister. He offered to
tako her with him, but she would not
go.
! ''But why stay here?" urged the bro
ther. "You are all faded away, and
disease is upon you. Why stay with
such brutc?" I
/ "IIush, Moses, speak not thus" an
swered the wife, keeping back her tears
! 81 will not leave him now, he will soon
leave me. lie cannot live much lon
ger" 5ar a.a m ap j
i AT that moment Daniel entered the
apartment. lie looked like wander
1 er from the tomb. He had mis- hat on
and his jug in his hand. ~ ie#
H"Ah, Moses, how are ye?" he gasp
cd, for he could not speak plainly.
/ The visiter looked at him few mo-
ments in silence. Then as his. features
assumed cold, stern expression, he
said, in q strong, emphacized tone: s
] "Daniel Bryan, [ have been your
best friend but one. My sister is an
angel, but mated with demon. /
have loved you Daniel, as 1 never low
cd man before; you were noble, gener-
Gus and kind, but / hate you now, for
you are apcrfect devil incarnate. Look
at that woman. She is my sister,
she might nowlive in comfort, only she
will not doait while you are alive; yet
when you die she will come to me-
Thus do pray, God will soon give her
joys to my keeping. Now, Daniel, |
do sincerely hope that the first intelli-
gence which reaches rue from my ma
tive place after | shall have reached
my new home, may be rnAr-YoU-ARE
| DEAD" a
Bryan gazed upon the speaker some
moments in silence. "Moses," he at
length said, "you are not in earnest."b
! GAS true as heaven, Daniel, | am
When j know that you are dead, i
shall be happy, and not until then-so
| go on. Fill your jug and"
4 "Stop Moses, | can reform" s
i "You cannot. 1t is beyond your
4 power. You have had inducements
Iououob lo bayo roforroo od half tho sin.