The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-03-24
MISCELLANY.
Not a Drop More, Daniel.

NOI q OIOp lIOIc, Odnlel.
Daniel Akin had become common
drunkdr 50 fully had he come under
the dominion Of his appetite that he was
perfectly miserable when he could not OBJ
tain 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. lie had spent all his
substance for drink, and was kept from
the poor house only by performing menial
ser, ices for his food, and the kinlness of
! Thomas Edgerlon, a member OF the so
ciety of friends, who had known him
from his youth, and had strong hope
that in The course Of time he would see
his folly aud turn again into the right
path. The leading merchant Ct the place
had let him have drink rs long as his
money lasted, and would trust him no
longer. lie was loafing about the store
one bright moonlig ght evening, pleading
with the merchant to trust him for II
drink. His reply was, "NOt II drop
more, Daniel" lie remained while
longer and left. As the cod air Of the
evening fell upon him, he all at once be-
gan to give utterancc to his feelings in the
following strain:
"Not drop moro, Daniel. Am
drunk or am sober! / Iam sober. Not
drop more, Daniel Did IIaskins
think Il drop more would hurt me No:
but my money was gone. lie has got
everything had. He has got the Bible
my mother gave me. lie has got the
shoes which my wife bought for Jennie,
and pail for with her own earnings. Not
"a drop more, Daniel Daniel what say
yor to that! | say so, too. | once had
good clothes, and now have no'hins but
rag. Not drop more, Daniel, till |
have Others as good a when May and |
were mnrricd. | once had good watch
but that, too, is g,ne. Not a drop more,
Daniel, till have another as good as tie
one pawned to lIaskins fer drind. |
have seen the time when | had q od
h0rse AMI buggy, and could ride in ~
god style rs any man in the place. Not
Il drop more, Daniel, till own another
horse and buggy as good as once hal.
! once had cows which furnished my fans
lily with butter and cheese, bu: IIaskin-
has got them, Not drop more, Daniel.
till those cows Or Others as gJOI rs those
are mine again. once had this wallet
full of bills, bat now there is not a cent.
Not n drop more, Daniel, till this wallet
is we'll filled again
by this time he had reached the place
where he had f1rMcrly resided, and he
stood and lcancl against the fence, and
musel for along time in silence. H.
viewed the dcsolateness of the scene by
the light Of the moon; and his eye rang
ed over the house and barn once his own,
which had become out of repair
lie then said, ''oncc | owned this house
and fam Here | WAS born. Here my
father an mother dird. Twas the pride
Of their hearts, but brought down their
gray hairs with sorrow to the gravc -
Here commenced my married life, and
all that heart couid wish was mine Here
Mary and took comfort till IIaskins
cane here, and opened his rum shop, anl
now he calls it his. In that south room
my children were born; and there my
Jennie died. Oh, how sorrowfnl she
looked whea she saw me take her shoes
and pawn them tor rum, while she lay
sick And then how she begged me bea
fore she died never to strike her mother
again. AMI Oh, my wife, how shams>
fully have abused you! 1t was not
yow Daniel that did it. mol it was
that cursed rum that llaskins sod me-
No wonder you were taken from me by
those who loved you and would not see
you abused. They won't have me in the
house. They will not let me live with
you. Not drop more, Daniel, till this
house is mine again. Not drop more
Daniel, till these broad acres are again in
my possession, and that wife and children
that are living, are in lyondcr rooms, and
we are happy family once more. Not
4 drop more, Daniel, SO help me God,
till all these things are accomplished. |
thank you, lIaskins, for these words. |
shall not forget them"
lie had become so much occupied with
his thoughts, and spoken in 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 Qua
kcr who had been mentioned lie stop
ped his horse and heard distinctly the Ian
guage which Daniel used. As he closed
his soliloquy he turned and saw Thoma,
Edgerton, who said, 'Daniel, docs thee
mean to keep thy vow''
81 do"
"Thcc has promised great many
times that thee would drink no more -
What makes thee think thee will kecI
thy VOW"
IL know, Friend Elgerton, | have of;
ten vowed to drink no more, but now
feel different from what | ever did before
Ny heart is broken, and | feel my weak.
ness. and ! believe God will help me thi.
time
"God grant it may he so. Daniel, &c
in and sake a seat. Thee must he hun
CRY; 90 home with me-"
Ga the way the Quaker drew out o.
him all that has been written: and h,
advised him TO 60 TO California. liz
told him to 60 to New York, and worI
his passage around the Cape. lie deter
minei to do so. The Quaker lurnishe,
him with suitable apparel.