National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-03-13

Daniel Akin had become a

Daniel Akin had become a CON-
mon drunkard. So fully had he
come under the dominion of his ap-
petite that he was perfectly misera-
BILE when he could not obtain the
means of gratifying his thirst. He
had neglected his family till his
wife's father had taken her and her
children to the parental roof. He
had spent all his substance for drink,
and was kept from the poorhOuse
only by performing menial services
for his food, and the kindness of
Thomas Edgarton, a member of the
society of friends, who had known
him from his youth, and had a
strong hope that in the course of
time he would see his folly and turn
again into theright path. The lead
ing merchant of the place had let
him have drink as long as his mon
ey lasted, but would trust him no
longer. He was lOafng about the
store one bright moonlight evening,
pleading with the merchant to trust
him for drink. His reply was,
''Not drop more, Daniel" He re-
mained a while longer and left. AS
the cool air of the evening fell upon
him, oe all at once began to give ut
terance to his feelings in the follow
ing strain:
Not drop more, Daniel. Am l
drunk or am sober? | am sober
Not drop more, Daniel. Did Has
kins think that a drop more would
hurt me9 No! but my money was
gone. He has got everything had.
He mas got the Bible my mother
gave me. He has got the shoes
which my wife bought for Jennie,
and paid for with her own earnings.
Not drop more, Daniel. Daniel
what say you to that! say so too.
| once had good clothes, and now
have nothing but rags. Not a drop
more, Daniel, till have others as
good as when Mary and were mar
ried. ! once had a good watch, but
that, too, is gone. Nota drop more,
Daniel, till another as good as the
one | pawned to Haskins for drink.
/ have seen the time when l had a
good horse and buggy, and could
ride in as good style as any man in
the place. Not a drop more, Daniel,
till | own another horse and buggy
as good as once had. | once had
cows which furnished my family
with butter and cheese, but Haskins
has got them. Not drop more,
Daniel, till those cows or others as
good as those are mine again. |
once had this wallet full Of bills, but
now there is not cent. Not a drop
more, Daniel, till this wallet is well
filed again."
BY this time he had reached the
place where he had formerly resided,
and he stood and leaned against the
fence, aud muscd for a long time in
silence. He viewed the desolate-
ness of the see ne by the light of the
moon; and his eye ranged over the
house and barn once his own, which
had become out of repair.
He then said once l owned this
house and farm. Here | was born.
Here my father and mother died.
| vas the pride of their hearts, but
drought down their gray hairs with
sorrow to the grave. Here i com
menced my married life, and all
that heart could wish was mine
Here Mary and l took comfort till
Haskins came here, and opened his
rum shop, and how he calls it his
In that south room my children
werc born; and there my Jennie
died. Oh, how sorrOwtul she look
ed when she saw me take her shoes
and pawn them for rum, while she
lay sick. And then how she beggeC
me before she died never to strike
her mother again. | can see hel
now, her pale face, her wasted form
but she cannot come to me again
And oh, my wife, how shameful,
have abused you! 1t was no
your D; mel that did it. No! it wa
that cuIsed rum that Haskins sol'
me. No wonder YOU were takel
from me by those who loved yol
and would not see you abused
They won't have me in the house
They will not let me live with you
Not a drop more, Daniel, till thi
, house is mine again. Not drOl
more till these broad acres are agai
in my possession, and that wife an
children that are living, are in yOr
der rooms, and we are happy fan
lily once more. Not a drop more
Daniel, so help me God, till all thes
things are accomplished. / than
you, Haskins, for these words.
5 shall not forget them.'
; He had become so much Occupie
I with his thoughts, and spoken in
tone SO loud, that he had not hear
the wagon which by this time ha
reached the road in which was sea
ed the kind-hearted Quaker who ha
been mentioned. He stopped h
horse and heard distinctly the lal
{ guage which Daniel used. As h
closed his soliloquy he turned ai.
/ saw Thomas Edgarton, who sal,
!, Daniel, does thee mean to keep tn
l vow y
|. He answered, Il do.'
! 'Thee has promised great man
!. times that thee would drink Il
IS more. What makes thee think the
will keep thy vowv
Il know, Friend Edgarton, l haN
often vowed to driuk no more, b'
now / feel different from what ! o