Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-03-13
Not a Drop More, Daniel.


der the dominion of his appetite thai
he was perfectly miserable when he
could not obtain the means of graft
flying his thirst. He had neglected
his family till his wife's father had ia
ken her and her children to the paren
tai roof. He had spent all his sub
stance for drink, and was kept from
the poor house only by performing
menial services for his food, and the
kindness of Thomas Edgerton, a mem
ber of the society of Friends, who
had known him from his youth, anG
had strong hope that in the course
of time he would see his folly anC
turn again INTO The right path. The
leading merchant of the place had lei
him have drink as long as his money
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 q
drink. His reply was, Not drop
more, Daniel" He remained while
longer and left. As the cool air of
the evening fell upon him, he all al
once began to give utterance to his
feelings in the following strain:
"Not a drop more, Daniel. Am
drunk or am | sober? ] am sober
Not drop more, Daniel. Did Has
kins think a drop more would hurt
me? No! but my money was gone
He has got everything l had. He has
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. Ionce had good clothes
and now have nothing but rags. Not
a drop more, Daniel, till | have others
as good as when Mary and l were
married. | once had a good watch
but that, too, is gone. Not drop
more, Daniel, till | have another as
good as the one | pawned to HaSkins
for drink. | have seen the time when
| had good horse and buggy, and
could ride in as good style as any man
IN the place. Not drop more, Dan
iel, 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 a drop more, Daniel,
till those cows or others as good as
those are mine again. Ionce had this
wallet full of bills, but now there is
not cent. Not a drop more, Daniel,
till this wallet is well filled again"
Dy tl.io Giniv hv nau rcaCneu Une
place where he had formerly resided,
and he stood and leaned against the
fence, and mused for a long time in ST.
lence. He viewed the desolateness
of the scene 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 | owned this
house and farm. Here | was BORN
Here my father and mother died.
was the pride of their hearts, but
brought down their gray hairs with
sorrow to the grave. Here | COM
menced my married life, and all that
heart could wish was mine. Here
Mary and took comfort till Haskins
came here and opened his rum shop,
and now he calls it his. In that south
room my children were born; and
there my Jennie died. Oh, how sor-
rowful she looked when she saw me
take her shoes and pawn them for
rum, while she lay sick. And then
how she begged me before she died
never to strike her mother again.
can see her now, her pale face, her
wasted form, but she cannot come to
me again. And oh, my wife, how
shametully have [ abused you! 1t was
not your Daniel that did it. No! it
was that cursed rum that Haskins
sold me. No wonder you were taken
from me by those who loved you and
would not see you abused. They
wont have me in the house. They
will not let me live with you. Not a
drop more, Daniel, till this house is
mine again. Not drop more till
these broad acres are again in my pos
session, and that wife and the children
that are living, are in yonder rooms,
and we are a happy family once more.
Not drop more, Daniel, so help me
God, till all these things are accom-
plished. thank you, Haskins, for
these words. shall not forget them"
He had become so much occupied
with his thoughts, and spoken in a
tone so loud, that he had not heard
the wagon which by this time had
reached the road in which was seated
the kind-hearted Quaker who has been
mentioned. He stopped his horse and
heard distinctly the language which
Daniel used. AS he closed his solilo-
guy he turned and saw Thomas Edg-
erton, who said:
"Daniel, does thee mean to keep
thy vow?"
He answered, n do"
"Thee has promised a great many
times that thee would drink no more.
What makes thee think thee will keep
thy vow?"
II know, Friend Edgerton, l have
often vowed to drink no more, but now
| feel different from what | ever did
before. My heart is broken, and ]
feel my weakness, and l believe God
will help me this time"
& NnH or,ox,A - L.