The mountain Democrat., 1864-12-31
Daniel Bryan's Oath.

day are weak and Hashy dilutions Of pre-.
ceding ones; 5Ut tie f0li0aMg ARS start.
ling strength and vigor. Daniel Bryan,
as appears by the context, had fallen,
through intoxication, to beggary and
dying condition. Bryan had married, in
better days. the sister Of Moses FELTON,.
At length all hopes were given up
Week after week the fallen man would lie
drunk on the floor, and not day Of real
sobriety marked his course. doubt if
such another case was known. He was
too low for conviviality; 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 carly spring Moses FELTON, had a call
to go to Ohio. Before he set out he WIS.,
tied his sister. lie offered to take her
with him, but she would not go.
But why stay hcrc?' urged the brother.
You are fading away and disease is IL 2on
you. Why should you live with such
brute p
Hush, Moses, speak not, answered the
wife, keeping back her tears. 4 will not
leave him now, but he will soon leave me.
He cannot live much longer
At that moment Daniel entered the
apartment. He looked like wandrrcr
from the tomb. lie lad his hat on and
his jug in his hand.
'-Ah, Moses, how are ye? he gasped for
he could not speak plainly.
The visitor looked at him few mo-
ments in silence. Then, as his features
assumed cold, stern expression, said in
strongly emphatic tone:
Daniel Bryan, have been your best
friend but one. My sister is an angel but
matched With a demon. have loved you,
Daniel, as never loved man before; you
were noble, generous and kind; but l hate
you now, for you are devil incarnate. -
Look at that woman. Sfe is my sister
she might now live with me in comfort,
only she will not DO it while you are alive;
yet when you die she will come to me. -
Thus do pray that God will soon give
her joys to my keeping. Now, Danil, /
do sincerely hope that the first intelligence
that reaches me from my native place, az
ter | Shall have reached my new home,
may bc-that you-are- dead
stop, Moses, | can reform
you cannot. 1t lis beyond your power
You haye had inducements enough to
have reformed half the sinners of creation,
and yet you are lower than ever before.
Go and die, sir, as soon as you can, for
the moment that sees YOU thus shall not
find ME among the mourncrs.
Bryan's eyes flashed, and proudly he
drew up. Co. he said, with tone Of
the Old powerful sarcasm, go TO Ohio, and
I'll send you news. Go, sir, and watch
the post. | will yet make you take back
your words
Never, Daniel Bryan, never!'
you shall; swear it y
With these words, Daniel Bryan hurled
his jug into the fire place, and while yet a
thousand fragments were flying over the
floor, he strode from the house.
Mary sank iainting on the floor. Moses
bore her to a bed, and then having called
in neghbor, he hurried away, for the
stage was waiting,
For q moath Daniel moved over the
brink Of the grave, but he did not die.
One gill of brandy will save you, said
the doctor, who saw that the abrupt re-
movai of stiinuants from a system that for
long Years had almost subssted on Moth
ing else was nearly sure to prove fatal. =
You can surely take a gill and not take
more
Aye gasped the poor man, take a gill
and break my oath. Moses FELTON, Shall
never hear that brandy and rum killed
me! If the want Of it can kill me, then
let me die. But won't die Iii live till
Moses Fenton shall cat his words
lie did live. An iron will conquered
the messenger Death sent-Daniel Bryan
lived. For one month he could not even
walk without help. But be had help
Mary helped him.
A year passed away, and Moses FELTON,
returned to Vermont. lie entered the
court house at Burlington, and Daniel
Bryan was on the floor, pleading for a
Young man who had been indicted for
forgery. FELTON, started with surprise
Never before had such torrents of elo.
quence poured from his lips. The case
was given TO the jury, and the youth was
acquitted. The successful counsel turned
from the court room and met Moses Eel
ton.
They shook hands but did not speak
When they reached a spot where none
others could hear them, Bryan stopped.
Moses, he said, do you remember the
words you spoke to me year ago.
Il do, Daniel
will you now take them back-unsay
them forever?'
yes, with all my heart
Then am in part repaid
and what must be the remainder Of
the paymcnt?' asked Moses.
Il must die an honest, unpurjured man!
The oath that has bound me thus far was
made for ife.'
That evening Mary Bryan was among
the happiest of the happy. No al!uSion
was made to the scene of one year before,
but Moses could read in both the counten-
ances Of his sister and her husband the
deep gratitude they did not speak.
And Daniel Bryan yet lives, one Of the
most honored men Of Vermont. Five
times has he sat in the State Legislature,
three in the Senate, and once in the Ma
tional Congress.
SEVEN RULES FOR INsCRING a SHORT
LIFE Il. Eat hot bread and fat meat dt
every meal.
2. Sleep in an alright bedroom.
8. Pinch and disGgure yourself at fash
ions command.
4. Take little physical exercise, and
that little as lazly as possible.
3. Shun cold water, both externally
and internally.
6. Parch your mouth with tobacco
smoke and moisten it with grog.
7. Fret continually about real or fan.
cied troubles.