Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-02-20
Not "a Drop Wore Daniel.

the dominion OF hlsappCtltc that he was
perfectly miserable when he could not oh
tain the means of gratifying his thirst
lie had neglected his family till his witc's
father hal taken her and her children IL
the parental roof, He had spent all his
substance for drink, and was kept from
the poor house only bv performing msu-
ial services for his food aud the kindness
of Thomas Edgcrton, member OF the >n-
ciety of friends, who had kna..l, Aittt ftr-trt
his youth, and had strong hope that in
the course Of time he would see his fglly
and turn again into the right path. Tho
leading merchant Of the place had lot him
have drink rs long as his m-ucy lasted,
hut would trust him no longer. lie Wa,
loafing about the store one bright moon
light evening, pcading with the merchant
To trust him for drink His reply WAS.
Not drop more Daniel" lie remained
a while longer and left A. the cool air
Of the evening fcll upon him, H. an at
once began To give utteranee to his feel.
ings in the following strain:
mot drop more, Daniel Am drunk
or am | sober: am sober Not drop
more, Daniel Did Haskins think drop
more would hur, me No hut my
money was gone, lie IN, got everything
had. lie has got the Bible my mother
gave me lie has got the shoes which my
wife h4atelrt tor 5fUUUiiU, AMI TId Tor with
her own earnings. Not drop more, Dan
iel. Daniel what say yuu 10 that | ~.y
So too. once had good clothes and nov
have nothing but rags. Not a drop mar.,
Daniel, till | have other, "a, good as " hua
Mary and ! were married. once had o.
good watch, but that, too, i, gone. Not 81
drop more, Daniel, till have another SIS
good as the one pawnod to il0,biu, Tor
drink. | have seen the time when | had
a good horse and buggy, and could ride
in As good style as any man in the place
Not drop more, Daniel, till own ano'h'
or horse and buggy rs good as | uuce had
| once had cows which furnished my fam
lily with butter and cheese, but Haskn,
has got them, Not "A drop more, Daniel
till those cows or others a. good a. thosJ
are mine again. ! once had this wall,,
full of bills, but now there is not cent
Not a drop more, Daniel, till TINS wallet is
well filled again"
BY this time he had reached tie place
where he had formerly resided, and hr
stood and leaned against the fence, and
unused for long time in silence. lie
viewed the deSolatcness OF the scene by
the light of the moon and hiss 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 She pride
of their hearts, but | brought down their
gray hairs with sorrow to.the grave, Here
| commenced my married life, and all that
heart could wish was mine. Hero Mary
and took comfprtti,l iIaskin> eam" here
and opened his rum shop. aud now b. calls
1t his. In that south room my children
were born and there ms j,ali, died
Oh, how sorrowful 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 t.
strike her mother again. | can soo her
now, her pale face, her wa,j,Fd form. but
She cannot come to me again. And oh.
my wife, how skamcfully have | abused
You 1t was not your Daniel that aid it,
No il was that cstr,ed rum that Has
kins sold me. No wonder Won were taken
from me by those who loved You ana
would not see YOU abused. They won't
have me in the house. They viii not ict
me live with you. Not a drop more Dan
iel, till this house is mine again. Not a
drop more till these broad acres are again
in my possession, and that wife and thil-
drcn that are living, are in Wonder rooms,
and We are a happy family once more,
Not drop more, Daniel, 80 help me Cod.
till all these things are accomplished,
thank you, Haskins, for these words. /
shall not forget them
He had become so much occupied with
his thoughts, and spoken III tone loud,
that he had not heard the wagon which
by this time had reached the road in
which was seated The kind-heartad Quaker
who has been mentioned lie stopped his
horse and heard distinctly the language
which Daniel used A. he closed his
soliloquy he turned and saw Thomas Ely
erton, who said, Daniel, does thee mean
to keep thy vow I
He answered, do.
Thee has promised great many times
that thee would drink no more What
makes thee think thee will keep Thy
vow :"
Il know, Friend Elscrton, have often
vowed to drink no more, but now feel
different from what ever did before.
My heart is broken, and | feel my weak
ness, and believe God will help me this
time"
God gran, it may be 90 Daniel. get
in and take scat. Thee must BE- hungry
go home with me-
On the way the Quaher drew onto him
all that has been written; and he advised
him to go to California. lie told him To
20 to New York. and work his passage
around the Cape. He determined to do
so. The Quaker furnished him with
suitable apparel.
"Thee wants to see thy wife and
rem before thee goes
Yes, Friend Edgcrton, do. bat they
have become estrangod from me If |
went, perhaps they will not believe what
| say. 1t is better that should not see
them. Indeed, it is better that they
should not know were ] am. | want to
surprise them, as | hope to do, by coming
back sober man, and with money enough
to make them comfortable | prefer that
you and your wife should be the only
persons in the place who shall know where
| am and what | am doing
Thus while riding towards the quite
farmhouse OF the Quaker, the whole
thing was arranged. When they reached
the place, the horse was put in the barn,
and they entered the house. He said as
they took seats before the fire, r:Amy,
thee may put on another plate; Daniel
will stay with us a few days and then he
will go to California.
The benevolent Quaker was confident
that Daniel Akin would keep his resolve
AT length when everything was in read
mess the old horse was harnessed, and be-
fore daylight Daniel Akin was on his
way to a railway station. He had not