Squatter sovereign., 1857-09-05
A SUDDEN CONVERSION.

lived young man, Daniel BRYAN, lawye
: by profession. No one possessed the con
fidence of his friends more than he did
and no one was better calculated to secur,
!. the good will and friendship of all witt
waon he came in contact. Business pour
] ed in upon him, and he failed not to Civ.
the utmost satisfaction.
AT the age of twenty-seven Bryan took
to himself u wife frem among the mos, ia.
fored ones of the country. Mary FELTON,
experienced a strange pride when she gave
her Land to the young lawyer. and if none
lenyied her, many at least prayed iha, they
linight be equally fortunate.
But ere long cloud came over the scene
Convivialiiy ran high among the members
OF the bar. and Bryan possessed one OF
those peculiar riemperaments which at length
give the iody and soul up to the demon.-
For three years he followed the social cus-
tom OF the times without neglecing much
of his business, but finally he sank into the
lowest pit Of degradation. When at the
age of five and thirty, he became con-
firrned drunkard. He now neglected his
| clients altogether. for he could not remain
iiso6er long eno,sgi1 atsa6F time 10 carry ii
case through court. The only business he
had on his hands was the collection of some
Jebts..
On the evening of his thirty-fifih birth.
day he joined the Washinetonaps. and
once more his bright genius shone out upon
the world. Blu. It could not last iono
among the examples OF those who were
his companions, and lie sank as rapidly as
he had risen. In one short year he was
miserable degraded being. People who
had left notes and accounts with him to col.
lect, called at his house, and upon inauir-
ing 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 would go their wav, though they
knew full well that Daniel Bryan Law pros
trate upon his bedroom floor.
One day a Mr.. Vinson went to ses him.
Vinson had left notes and accounts to the
amount OF seven Thousand dollars in The
hands of Bryan to collect. and was anx.
ious about them. His poor wife answered
him as usual. that her husl and had gone
away.
MY dear madame" returned Mr.. Vim.
son, 81 know your misfortune, md appre-
;iaie your feelings, but must see your
husband. If can See him for one min. |
ute can learn all wish to know"
Mary Bryan spoke not word, but with |
a fearful eye turned away, and Mr.. Vim
son followed her. He found BRYAN in |
back room. stretched at full length upon |
the floor. with jug of Medford rum by
his side. With much effort Vinson reused |
The poor inebriate to state of semi.con-
csiousness, and asked him if he had done
anything about the notes and accounts
which he had left with him. ..Yes,'' an.
swered the lawyer, In weak hiccoughing
voice, "Ive had the money for you over a
month, I've deducted the percentage. and
you will find the rest in that trunk Mary
las got ihe-key."
Mrs. Bryan was called in. the kew was
Produced, and Mr.. Vinson found his mon.
y, -four thousand and some odd hundreds
If dollars all right and safe.
In his worst moments. Bryan never used
or himself single penny held in trust
hundreds there were who labored ha rd to
eelaim the wanderer. but without feet. /;
fears went by, and he sank lower and !
ower-yet his wife left him not. Her !.
,rother, young lawyer, named Moses !
elton, often urged her to forsake her hus- :
and, at the same time Offering her | !,
omlortabie home beneath his own roof. 9
ut she would not listen. ::
AT length all hope was given up. Week =
tier week would the fallen man he drunk :.
q the floor, and not day of real sobriety :
iarked his course. doubt ii such ano,h- =
case was known. He was too low for !.
'nvivlality, for those with whom he would ;,
ave associated would not drink with him. /
All alone, in his Office and chamber, he =
NIL contineed to drink-indeed, his life \
semed the very offspring of his Judgment. :
In early spring Moses FELTON, had a call {
go TO Ohio. Before he set out he again =
sited his sister. He offered to take her
ith him. but she would not go.
$ But why stay here 2" urged the brother. a
You are all faded away and disease is up o
J you. Why should You i've with such a Q
,ute e. :.