Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-07-29
temperance.
A Sudden Conversion.

nut also ~ the peculiar soul-touch il devel-
ops. 1t is as follows s.--
In one Of the Northern towns Of Vernon
lived young man whom | shall call Daniel 4
Bryan. He was lawyer by profession, and
one Of the most intellectual men in that Sec
tion Of the country. No one possessed the
confidence Of his friends more than he, and
no one was better calculated to secure the
good will and friendship Of all with whom he
came in contact. Business poured in upon
him, and he failed not to give the utmost sat.
islaction.
At the age Of 27, Bryan took to himself q
wife from among the most favored ones IN I
the country. Mary FELTON, experienced a
strange pride when she gave her hand to the
young lawyer, and if none cnyied her, many
at least prayed that they might be as fortu-
nate But ere long cloud came over the
scene. Convivialityra high among the mem.
bers Of the bar, and young Bryan possessed
one Of those peculiar tomperamente which Z -
length gave the whole body and soul up to
the demon Of appetite. For three years he
followed the custom Of the times without neg.
Letting much Of his business, but finally he
sank into the lowest pit Of degradation when
at the age Of 30, he had become a confirmed
drunkard He now neglected his clients al
together for he could not remain sober long
enough at any one time TO carry a case /
through court. The only business he had now
upon his hands was the collecting of some
few small debts
On the evening Of his 35th birthday he
joined the Washingt6nians, and once more his
bright genius shone out upon the world. But
il could not last long amid the examples Of
those who were his constant companions, he
went back to his cups, and down he sank as
rapidly as he had risen. In one short year
from that time he was a miserable degraded
thing. People who had left notes and ac-
counts with him to be collected called upon
his wife, and upon inquiring of her where he
was she would tell them he was away, Poor
woman They could not bear to dispute her
aud they would 60 their way, though they
knew full well that the remains Of Daniel
Bryan were PROSTATE upon the bed room
floor.
One day Mr.. Vinson had called to see
him. Vinson had left notes and accounts to
the amount of several thousand dollars with
Bryan to collect, and he was anxious about
them. His poor wife answered him as usual
that her husband had gone away
My dear madam" returned Mr. Vinson,
."I know your misfortune aud | appreciate
}Cur ioo'ings, pu' l must see your husDahu'
learn all l wish to know"
Mary Bryan spoke not a word, but with
fearful eyes turned away, and Mr.. Vinson
followed her. He found Mr.. Bryan in a
back room, stretched at full length upon the
floor, with jug of Medford rum by his side :
v i'i inuo" enoi' iisoii "Iouseu 'ne poo,
'In sIa'0 u | s'n,oo,,IO.ousneSs' anu
- ,,J ',,,i' - ~ ,i.'I ~ LaI inS tgOu' '"'
"o'.1 ''''e %..onss 1 ~ an nov ,ei' "':n nun
ie'uiieu ii' '.e i""Her III weak
nusNy niooolsli"s eor0e' W ueuuo.eu ny
per G'n'avr' anu you Il nnd 'ie rcS' IN inc
ruiz Mn p sary go' 'he Key ~
- Nls piy ~ IN N ~"s T. o1l'eu ~ ule Aey was
siouaIeu .IS a,,S -u, I ,,son 'Iuhu 'ae a'o
all r;s, i,,,i ~, ~. ''' -
In b;s worst ,ooroon,s Rr-.n no,.. ,so5l
for himself a single nernv he beld in ,rna
UnnJreds ,bcre Serd NV laborod hord - 20
claim tho wandorer bnt w;tbont etfact Yeor
ol,er Won. wont hr and h. sanL io,ror nd
Iower-vet b;s villa Ieff him not Hor bro,b-
or n vo1no Iovvor named Noses Folton of
ton rr,,oJ 1or ~ f,r,aLo hor b,,shon5 a. tLo
same limo olFering bcr , comfartahle bo,ne
beneath his own roof hnt sbe Won would IV mo-,
listen -"
A. lenctb ali homo r,oe ,,;vor -, Uool
,oer uooI world tba Ellen non lia drrnl on
tbo aoor ond no4 dav oe reoI sobr;ot,,
morlod bis conrse donbt ;f s1ob nnntbc,
case was ever known Te was now TOO law
for con1,ivioiitv Car those with whom h. vonld
- a,s,,ia,,d ,ro,,ld ro, Ill, ,,;., L;n
All oione in his o,yn oti;ce md cbombor bo
dronl Tho ,ccnrsed ro;son and even III yory
liea saemed tb,, ofsprino, of The ing
In the oarlv Snring Moses FELTON, had
call IN go tn Ohm Refore he sst on, he
waited his sister He offered 70 tote bor
with him Inf sbe ropld not oo
:. Rnt ,yh,, s+a,, bor, -, ,,r,sad tho hro,hor
9. Won arc al e,dod oray ana disaase i mon
Won Wbv should vo,, 1.-Two with ercb a |
, Irnto p,
mHusb Moses sneal no, ca $ ansreroa
the Nife teening hack the tears q will not
Ieave him now. Bnt he will soon leave me.
He cannot live much longer y
Al that moment Daniel BRYAN entered the
o,,ort,nent Evon Me- Felion ,vas stortled
Inv his apnearance He looked like a wan
/ derer from the tomb He had his hat on and
his iup in his hand.
.Ab Mosas how are ve9,, he oasned for
, he could not sneak mainly
The visitor looked at him for few mo-
ments in silence Then as his features as /
sumed a cold. stern exnression. he said in a
calm. but strongly emphasized tone -
" Daniel BRYAN. | have been vour next
) best friend but one. Nv sister is an angel
! but mated to demon. | have loved YOU.
DANIEL as I never loved before, for Won wero
nohIo ,,enorous and L;nd hnt / hate Won now
for Won are a perlect devil incarnate Look
NJ hat yom,p She is NV sister--tbe only
s;s,er cod ovor ,,ayo me- wish her n liye