Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-06-27
A Sudden Conversion.
A THRILLING STORY.

mont lived young man, Daniel Bry.
an, lawyer by profession No ons
possessed the conf ience of their friend
m re than he did, and no one was bet
ter calculated to secure the good wi
and friendship of all with whom h.
camr in contact. Business poured III
npon him and he fail not to give the
utmost satisfaction.
A the aye of twenty-seven Bryan
took to himself a wife from amo est
the most f,vored ones in the ,unirg
Nary Folton experienced strange
pIide VIII n she gave her hand to the
young lawyer. and if none envi-d her.
MANY at least prayed that they might
be equ lly frtunate.
But err long c'oud came over the
&C ne. c nviviality ran high among
the m mbers of the bar, and Bfyan
pes essed one OF those peculiar tenn
peraments which at length gave the
whole body and ul to the demon
For three years he followed the social
custom Of tn. times without negl Ct
ing much of his business, but finally he
sunk into the lowest pit of degred dation,
when at the aye Of thirty five, he be-
came confirmed drpnkard. He now
neglected his clients altogether, he
could not remain sober long enough at
any one time to carry case through
court. The only business he now had
on hand was the collecting of some
debts,
On the evening Of his thirty fifth
birth day, he joined the Washingtoni-
ans, once more his bright genius shone
out upon the world. But it could not
last long amid the examples of those
who were his constant companions,
and he sank as rapidly rs he had risen.
In one short year from that time he
was a miserable and degraded thing.
People who had left notes and accounts
with him to cnllsct, called at his house
and on inquiry where h could be found
his wife would tell them he was away.
Poor woman they could not bear to
dispute with her, and would go their
way, though they knew full well that
she remains of Daniel Bryan were
PROSTATE on his bed room floor
One day Mr. Vinson went to see him.
FinssR left accounts to the amount of
sverai thousand dollars, with Mr.. Bry-
an, and he was anxious to see him
His poor wife answered him as usual
that he was away my dear madam
returned Mr. Vinson, 4 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 eyes turned away, and Mr.
Vinson followed her. He found Brv-
an in back room stretched at full
length upon the floor with a )ur OF
Medford rum at his side. With much
effort Vinson aroused the poor inebri-
ate to semiconsciousness, and asked
him if he had done anything with the
notes aad accounts he had left with
him. yes answered the lawyer in
a weak, hiccuping voice, 1--WE had the
money for you over month I've de
dueted my per centage. and you will
find the rest in that trunk. Mary's got
the key
Mrs. Bryan was called in, the key
produced, and Virson found his mon~y
-four thousa and and some hund ed
dollars, all right and safe.
In his worst moments BRYAN never
used for m,tlf single penny held in
trust. Hundreds there were who work
ed hard to reclaim the wanderer, but
withat effect. Years went by, and h.
SINK low war, yet his wife lelt hun no .
Her bro her, Young lawyer named
Moses FELTON,, often urged her 20 for
sake her husband. eff .srng at the same
time, IA comfortable h.me beneath hi
own roof, but she would not list n.
At length all hope was given up
Week after week would Ihc ial en- nan
be drunk nn the floor, and not even a
day of real sobriety IN rk his course.
doubt if such another case was known.
He was too low for conviviali,y, for
those with whom be woul have as sci
ated, would not drink with him.
All alone in his Office and chambar
he coninufd to drink, and even his
very life seemed the offspring of his
jug.
In early spring Moses FELTON, had a
call to go to Ohio. Before be SIT out
he visited his sister. He offered t.
take her with him, but she would not
60.
But why stay here ? urged the bro
ther. You are all faded away, anc
disease is upon you. Why stay with
such brute p
Hush Moses, speak not thus an
swered the wife, keeping back her tears
L II not leave him now, he will sooi
leave me. He cannot live much long
err
At that'mopent Daniel entered tb'
apartment. He looked like wander
er from the tomb. He had bis hat OF
and his jug in his hand.
'Ah Moses how are yep he gasped
for he could aot speak plainly.
The visitor looked at him few mo
ments in silence. Then as his fea
lures assumed cold, stern expression
hn e,.I -. .k.a,~xl,r o,prb "a sfyad TON @