The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-08-25
DANIEL BRYAN,s OATH.

days the sister OF Moses FeltOn.
At length all hopes were 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 if such another case was known.
He was too low for conviviallity, for
those whom he would have associated
with 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.
One early spring Moses FELTON, had
call to 90 to Ohio. Before he set out
he visited his sister He offered to take
her with him, but she would not go.
"But why stay here % urged the
brother. "You are fading away, and
disease is upon you. Why should you
live with such brute %
"Hush, Moses, speak not so," answer
ed the wife, keeping back her tears.
" l 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 wanderer
from the tomb. He had his hat on and
his Jug in his hand All, Moses, how
are you ?" He gasped, for he could not
speak plainly.
The visitor looked at him a few mo-
ments in silence. Then, as his features
assumed cold, stern expression, he
sad in strongly emphasized tone
" Daniel Bryan, 1 have been your best
friend but one. My sister is an angel
though matched with demon. l have
Ioyol D,niol I lnyaH
man before; you were generous, noble
and kind but l hate you now, for you
are perfect devil incarnate. Look ut
that woman. She is my sister-she
now might live with me in comfort, on
ly that she will not do it while you are
alive; when YOU die, she will come to
me. Thus dol pray that God will soon
give her joys to my keeping. Now,
Daniel, | do sincerely hope that the
first intelligence that reaches me from
my native place, after l shall have
reached my new home may be-THAT-
YOU-ARE DEAD ~
"Stop, Noses can reform yet"
You cannot. 1t is beyond your
power. You have had Inducements
enough to have reformed half the sin
ners of creation, and you are lower than
ever before Go and die, sir, as soon
as you can, for the moment that sees
you thus will not find me among the.
mourners."
Bryan's eyes flashed, and he drew
himself proudly up. "Go,' he said i'll
the tone of the old sarcasm, Go to
Ohio, and I'll send you news. Go, Sir,
and watch the post. 1 will yet make
you take back your words"
Never, Daniel Bryan, never"
You shall, swear it"
With these words Daniel Bryan
hurled tie jug into the fireplace,
and while yet a thousand fragments
were flying over the floor he strobe tiom
the house.
Mary sank fainting on the floor.
Moses bore her to the bed, and then,
having called in neighbor, he hurried
away, for the stage was waiting.
For month Daniel hovcred 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 alb
rupt removal of stimulants from the
system, that for long years had almost
subsistcd on nothing else, was nearly
sure to prove fatal You can surely
take a gill and no more.''
Aye" gasped the poor man, " take
a gill and break my oath. Moses Eel
ton 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
Pill live till Moses FELTON, shall eat
his words'
He did live. An iron will conquered
the messenger death sent-Daniel Bry-
an lived. For one month he could not
even walk without help. Mary helped
him.
A year passed away, and Moses Eel
ton returned to Vermont. He entered
the court house at Burlington, and Dan
iel Bryan was on the floor pleading for
young man, who had been indicted
for forgery FELTON, started in surprise.
Never before had such torrents OF clio
qnence poured from his lips. The
case was given to the jury, anil 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 spot where none
others could hear them Bryan stopped.
"Moses he said &C do you remem-
Der the words you spoke to me year
ago ?''
{" do, Daniel"
Will you now not take them back
unsay them now and forever?"
Yes, with all my heart
Then [ am in part repaid"
And what mnst be the remainder
of payment ?'' asked Moses.
J." must die an honest, unperjured
thus far was made for life.''
That evening Mary Bryan was
among the happiest of the happy
Christian Witness.
During the recent session of the
Teachers Institute in Rutland county,
while Professor Adams was endeayor-