The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-02-22
Storp.
NOT A DROP MORE. DANIEL.

He had neglected his family till his wife's
father had taken her and her children to the pa
rental roof lie had spent all his substance for
drink, and was kept from the poor-house only by
performing mental services for his food, and By
the kindness Of Thomas Edgerton, member of
the society OF friends, who had known him from
his youth, and had strong hope that in the
course Of time lac would see his folly and turn
again into the right path. The lending Iner-
chant OF the place had let him have drink as long
as his money lasted, but would trust him no
longer. lie 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 remained q
while longer and left As the cool air OF the
evening fell upon him he allat once began to give
utterancc to his feelings in the following strain
Not drop more, Daniel Am drunk or am
| sober. am sober. Not a drop more, Daniel
Did Haskins think drop more would hurt me !!
NO! but my money is gone. lie has got every
thing had. PIE has got the Bible mother gave
me- lie has got the shoes which my wifa bought
for Jennie, and paid for with her own earnings
Not drop more, Daniel. Daniel, what say you
TO that say SO too. l once had good clothes
aud now have nothing but rags. Not drop
more, Daniel, till have others good as when
Mary and l were married. l once had good
watch, but that too is gone. Not another drop,
Daniel, till have another as good as the one |
pawned u Haskins for drink. / have seen the
time when had good horse and buggy, and
could ride into the village in Is good style as any
other man in the place. Not drop more, Dan
is, till own another hor.. and buggy as good
Us once had. l once had COWS which furnished
my family with butter and cheese, but Haskns
has got them. Not another drop more, Daniel,
till those COWS. or others * good those, arc
mine again. ! once had this wallet full of bills,
but now there is not a cent. Not drop more,
Daniel, till this wallet is we'll filled again
BY this time he had reached the place where
he had formerly resided, and he stood and leaned
against the fence and unused long time in al
lencs. IIe viewed the desolateness OF the scene
by the light OF the moon, and his eyes ranged
over the housc and barn, once his own, which had
become out of repair
lie then said "OnGe owned this house and
farm. Here was born-Herc my father and
mother died. l was the pride Of their hearts, bat
brought down their gray hairs with sorrow to
the grave Here commenced my married life,
aud all that heart could wish was mine. Here
Mary and took comfort till Haskins carns here
and opened his rum shop, and now he calls it his
In that south room my children were born,
an there my Jennie died. o how sorrowful ,ho
looked when she saw me take her shoes and start
for the store 10 pawn them for rum, while she
lay sick And then how she begged Inc before
see died, never 10 strike her mOtaer again ] can
see her how, her pale face, her wasted form, but
she.canHot come 10 me again. And ., my wife how
shamefully 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 ta-
ken from me by those Who loved You and would
not see you .bussl. They won't have Inc in the
house. Hey, will not let me live with you. Not
drop more, Daniel till this house is mine again.
Not drop more till these broad acres are again
ia my possession, and till my wife and the chill
YGn lsytya
are happy family ouee more. Not drop moro,
Daniel, so help me God, till all these things are
ar0 emphasized. thank you, Haskins. for those
words. l shall not forget them.
he had become much occupied with his
thoughts and spoke in tone 90 loud that he had
not heard the wagon, which by this time reached
the road in which Was seated the kind-hearted
Quaker who has be.n mentioned. lie stopped |
his horse and heard distinctly the language
which Daniel had used A. lie closed his soilo- |
guy lie turned and SAW Thomas Edgerten who |
said "Daniel, does thee mcan ~ keep thy VOW
II. answered, II do
Thee has promised great many times thee
would drink no more VIA, makes tLss think
thee wall keep thy VOW ?" -'-t|-
II know, friend Edgerton. thas l have often |
vowed to drink more, but now | Zee! different |
from wlia: ever did before. My heart is broken |
and feel my weakness, and l believe God viii |
help me this time" |
God grant it may be so. Daniel get in and |
take seat Thee must be hungry; 20 home
with me- !
On the way lie Quaker drew out from him
all that has Geen wri.ton and he advised him
10 so to California. He 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
"Thoo wants TO sc. thy wife and children be-
fore thee goes y
Eyes, friend Edserton, do but they have
become estran9cl from Ii ! went perhaps
they would not believe what I say. 1t is better
that should not see them. Indeed. il is better
that they should not know where | am. / want
to surprise them, as | hope to do, by coming
back sober man, AMI with money enough to
mako them comfortable. T prefer that you and
and your wife should be the only ones in the
place who should know where l am and what
am doing .' ''- -'N J's'. t'
Thus. uhilo riding toward the Quot farm.
house Of the Quaker, the whole thing was ar
ranged. When they reached the place the horse
was put in the barn, and they entered the house.
lie said as they took seats before the fire, "Amy,
thee may put on another plate, Daniel will
stay with us few days and then he will go to
California
Tho benevolent Quaker was confident that
Daniel Akin would keep his resolve At length
when everything was in readiness the old horse
was harnessed, and before daylight Daniel Akin
was on his way to railway station. He had
Not boen in the village since the night when the
words "Not drop more, Daniel" wore uttered.
no was missed from his customary haunts, but
It was supposed that he had gone off on Il spree,
and 70 nothing was thought Of his absence His
VIE rather lived i'll an adjoining town, and .