The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1864-04-07

DANIEL BRYAN's OATH.
lMost Of tho temperance stories Of the
day are weak and wsshy dilutions Of
preceding ones but the following has q
startling strength and vigor. Daniel
Bryan, as appears by the context, had
been lawyer Of eminence, but had fal.
len, through intoxication, to beggary and
= dying condition, Bryan had married ,
in his better days, the sister of Moses
FELTON,
At length all hopes we're given up
Week after week would the fallen man
lie drunk on the floor. and not day Of
real sobriety marked his course. l doubt
ifsuch 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. ho
still continued to drink, and even his
very life seemed the offspring of his Jug.
In early spring Moses FELTON, had q
call to 60 to Ohio. Before be set out he
visited his sister. He offered to take
her with him, but she would not 60.
"But why stay here :" urged the
brother. "You are fading away and dis.
ease is upon you. Why should you live
with such brute :"
"Hush, Moses, speak not" answered
the wife, keeping back her tears. 81
will not leave him now, but be will soon
leave me. He cannot live much longer"
At that moment Daniel entered the
apartment He looked like a wspderer
from the tomb He had bis hat on and
his jug in bis hand. ..,..-...s.'
"Ah, Moses, how are ye 7" he gasped,
for he could not speak plainly 80.
The visitor looked at him for q few
moments in silence. Then, as his fea-
lures assumed cold, stern expression,
he said in strongly emphasized tone:
"Daniel Bryan, | have been your best
friend but one. Ny sister is 40 angel,
but matched with a demon. have low
cd you Daniel, as never loved man be.
fore; you were noble, generous and kind;
but hate you now, for you are perfect
devil incarnate. Look at that woman.
She is my si.ter-she might now live
With me in comfort, only she will not do
It while you are alive; when you die she
will come to me. Thus do l pray that
God will soon give her joys to my keep.
ing. Now, Daniel, I do sincerely hope
'bat the first intelligence that reaches
me from my native place, after shall
have reached my new home may be-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. !" ~'..4n
"Stop Moses l can reform"
"You cannot. 1t is beyond your pow.
er. You have had inducements enough
10 have reformed half the sinners of ere
alton, and you are lower now than ever
before. Go and die, sir, as soon as you
can, for the moment that sees you thus
'hall not find me among the mourncrs."
Bryan's eyes flashed, and he drew
himself proudly up. &C.," he said, in
! tone Of the old powerful sarcasm, ego
% Ohio, and I'll send you news. Go,
'ir, and watch the post. l will yet make
vou take back your words"
"Never, Daniel Bryan, never!" .
"You shall! Iswear it,
With these words Daniel Bryan hurled
lis jug into the fire place, and while yet
! Thousand fragmants were flying over
he Aoor, he strode from the house.
Mary sank fainting on tho floor. Mos.
IS bore her to bed, AMI then having
sailed in neghbor, he hurried away, for
The stage was waiting.
: For = mouth Daniel moved over the
brink Of the grave, but no did not die.
"One gill Of brandy will save you,"
,aid tho doctor, who saw that the abrupt
removal of stimulants from a system that
'or long years had almost subsisted on
,othing else, was nearly sure to prove
atal. "You can surely take a gill and
,ot take more"
AYE gaaped the poor man, stake a
,ill and break my oath. Moses FELTON,
hall never hear that brandy and rum
kil.ed me! If tho want of il can kill
ne, then let me die! But won't die;
III live till Moses FELTON, shall eat his
rords."
He did live. An iron will conquered
he messenger Death sent-Daniel Bryan
ived. For one month he could not even
valk without help. But he had help
oyful help. Mary helped him.
A year passed away and Moses FELTON,
'eturned to Vermont. He entered the
'ourt house at Burlington, and Daniel
Bryan was on tho floor pleading for a
'oung man who had been indicted for
orgery. FELTON, started with surprise.
Never before had such torrents of elo-
luencs poured from bis lips. The case
vas given to the jury, and tho youth was
lcquittsd. The successful counsel turn.
ID from the court room and met Moses
FELTON,. *@gt
They shook hands, but did not speak.
When they reached . spot whore none