The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-03-03
A SUDDEN CONVERSION.

mont lived young man, daniel Bryan
a lawyer by profession. No one possess
ed the confidence of his friends NOR
than he did, and no one was better cal
culated to secure the good will ant
friendship of all with whom he came il
contact Business poured in upon him
and he failed not to give the utmost sat
isfaction.
At the age of twenty seven, Bryan
took to himself wife from among the
most favored ones of the country. Mary
FELTON, experienced strange pride wher
she gave her hand to the young lawyer
and if one envied her, many at least
prayed that they might be equally fortu,
nate.
But ere long a cloud came over the
scene. Conviviality ran high among the
members of the bar, and Bryan possess
ed one of those peculiar temperaments
which at length gave the whole body and
soul up to demon. For three years he
followed the social Gus tom of the times
without neglecling much of his business,
but finally he sank into the lowest pit OF
degradation, and at the age of five and
thirty, he had become confirmed durnk-
ard. He now neglected his clients alto
gether, for he could not remain sober at
any time TO carry any case through court.
The only business he now had on his
hands was the collection of some debts.
On the evening Of his thirty fifth birth
day, be joined the Washingtonans, and
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. He sank
as rapidly AS he had risen. In one short
year from that time he was a miserably
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 say he was away. Poor woman,
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
Bryan 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..
son, g know your misfortune, and | APP
preciate your feelings, but | must see
your husband. Ii can see him for one
minute, l can learn all | wish to know"
Mary Bryan spoke not word, but
with fearful eve turned away. and Mr..
Vinson followed ner. 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
aroused the poor inebriate TO a state OF
semi consciousness, and asked him if he
bad done anything about the notes and
accounts he had left with him ?
"Yes," answered the lawyer in weak
hiccoug hing voice. 1--we had the mon
ey for you over a month. I've deduct
ed the per centage, and you will find the
rest of it in the trunk. Mary has got the
key"
Mary Bryan was called in. the key
produced, and Mr. Vinson found his
money-four thousand and some odd
hundreds Of dollars-all right and safe.
In his worst moments Bryan never
used for himself a single penny held in
trust. Hundreds there were who had
worked hard 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
forsake her husband, at the same time
Offering her home beneath his own roof,
but she would not listen.
AT length, all hopes was gwen up.
Week after week would the fallen man
be drunk on the floor, and not day of
real sobriety marked his course.
doubt if such another case was ever
known. He was too low for conviviali-
ty, 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 his Jug.
In early spring Moses FELTON, had a
call to Ohio. Before he set out, he visi-
ted his sister. He offered to take her
with him. but she would not go.
But why stay here" urged the
brother. You are all faded away, aud
the disease is upon you. Why should