Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-09-19
Daniel BrYans S Oath.

Daniel Bryan had been lawyer Of eminence
but had fallen through ntoxication, to begger,
and dying condition. Bryan had married 10 hi
better days the sister OF Moses FELTON,. At engti
all hopes were given up. Week after week woulC
the fallen man lie drunk on the floor, and not
day Of real sobriety marked his course | doub
il such another case was known. He was too loy
for conviviallty; for those whom he would hav
associated would not drink with him. All aon,
in his office and chamber, he still continued to
drink, and even his very life seemed the offspring
Of his jig.
In early spring Moses FELTON, had call to g,
to Ohio. Before he set out he visited bis sister
He offered to take her with him but she woull
not go.
"But why stay here ?" urged her brother
You are fading away and disease is upon you
Why should you live with such brute p
"llush, Moses, speak moi" answered the wife
keeping back her tears. 81 will not leave him
now, but he will soon leave me- He cannot live
much longer
AT that moment Daniel entered the apartment
lie looked like wanderer from the tomb. He
had his hat on and bis Jug in bis hand. "Ah
Moses, how are ye? ?" he gasped, for he could no.
speak plainly.
The visitor looked at him for few moment,
in silence. Then as bis features assumed cold
stern expression, be sadin strongly emphasized
tones
"Daniel Bryan, | have been your best friend but
one. My sister IS an angel, though matched with
ademon. have loved you, Daniel, as | neve
loved man before you are generous, noble an
kind, but hate you now, for you are perfect devil
lnearnate. Look at that woman. She is my sister
she might now live with me 10 comfort, only
she will not do it while you are alive when you
die shs will come to me- Thus do | pray that
God will soon give her Joys to my keeping. Now
Daniel, do sincerely hope that the first intelli-
gence that reaches me from my native place after
have reached my new home, may be that you
are dead"
"Stop, Moses, | can reform yet."
"lou cannot. 1t is beyond your power. You
have had inducements enough to have reformed
half the sinners OF creation, and you are lower now
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 mourners"
Byan's eyes flashed, and he drew himself
proudly up. "Go," he said, in tone of the OLD
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 i'll "
With these words Daniel Bryan hurled his Jug
into the Fireplace, and while yet thousand frag
ments were flying over the floor he strobe from
the house.
Mary sank fanting on the floor. Moses bore
her TO the bed, and having called in neighbor, be
hurried away, for the stage was waiting.
For month Daniel lowered over the brink of
the grave, but did not die.
Gone gill Of brandy will save YOU" said the
doctor, who saw that the abrupt removal OF stim.
uants from system that for long years had al
most subslsted on nothing else, was nearly sure to
prove fatal. "You can surely take gill and not
take any more"
Aye gasped the poor man, "take gill and
break my oathP Moses FELTON, shall never hear
that brandy and rum ever killed me Ii the want
Of il can kill me, then let me die. But | won't
die III live till Moses FELTON, shall eat bis words"
lie did live. An iron will conqured the mes
senger death sent-Daniel Bryan lived. For one
month he could not walk without help. But he
had help-joyful help. Mary helped him.
year pissed away, and Moses FELTON, returned
to Vermont He entered the court house at
Burlington, and Daniel Bryan was on the floor,
pleading for young man who had been indicted
for perjury. FELTON, started with surprise. Never
before had such torrents Of eloquencs poured
from bis lips. The case was given to the jury,
the youth was acquitted. The successful counsel
turned from. the court room and met Moses Felton,
They shook hands, but did not speak. When
they reached al spot where none others could hear
them, Bryan stopped.
Moses he said, Z" do you remember words
you spoke to me year ago
al do, Daniel"
"Wil you now take them back-unsay them,
now aud foreyer9"
Yes, with all my heart"
" Then am in part repaid"
/" And what must be the remainder OF the pay
ment?" asked Moses.
&" must die an honest, unperjured man ! The
oath that has bound me thus far was made for
life"
That evening Mary Bryan was among the hap
piest Of the happy.