The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1868-03-07
.sot a. I'd rop More BaniCg.

drunkard So fully had he come un-
der the dominion of his appetite that
he was perfectly N iserable when lie
could not obtain the means Of gratify-
ing his thirst. He had neglected his
family till his wfo's father had taken
her and Der children to the parental
roof. lie had spent all his substance
tor drink, and was kept from the poor
house only by performing menial servi.
ces for his food, and by the kindness Of
Thomas Edgerton, 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 and turn again into the right
path. The leading merchant Of the
place had lett him have drink as long
as his mouey lasted, but would trust
him no longer. lie was loafing about
the store one bright moonlight evening,
pleading with the merchant to trust
HIM for drink. Hisreply was, "not a
drop more, Daniel lie remained a
while longer and left. As the cool air
of the evening fell upon him, he all at
once began to give utterancc to his feel.
ngs in the following strain:
Not drop more, Daniel. Am l
drunk, or am sober. l am sober. Not
a drop more, Dariel. Did Haskins
think drop more would hurt me? No [!
but my money is goae. lie has got CIV
erything | had. He has got the Bible
mother gave me. lie has got the shoes
which my wife bought for Jennie, and
paid for with her own earnings, Not a
drop more, Daniel. Daniel, what say
you to that? / say so too. once had
good clothes, and now have nothing but
rags. Not drop more, Daniel, till |
have others as good as when Nary and
we've narried. | once had good
watch, but that too is gone. Not a
drop molc, Daniel, till | have another
as good as the one | pawned to Has
kins for dIiuk. l have secn the time
when had a good horse aud buggy,
and could ride into the village in as
good style as any man in the place.
Not drop more, Daniel, till | own an.
other horse and buggy as good as l
once haG. once had cows which fur
nished my family with butter and cheese,
but Uaskius has got-them Not a drop
more, Daniel, till those COWS OF others
as good as those are mine again. !
once had this wallet full of bills, but
now there is not a cent. Not a drop
more, Daniel, till this wallet is well filed
again"
by this time he had reached the
place where he had formerly resided,
and he stood and leaned against the
fence, and mused for long time in ST.
lence. lie viewed .he desolateness of
The scene by the light of tie moon, and
his eyes ranged over the house and
barn once his OVID, which had become
out of repair. .. 70 ..-.
He then said "Once I owped this
house and farm. Here l was born.
Here my father and mother died |
was the pride of their hearts, but |
brought down their gray hairs with sor-
row to the grave, Here l commenced
my married life, and all that heart could
wish was mine. Here Mary and l 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
o, how sorrowful she looked when she
saw me take the shoes and stalt for The
store to 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 can
not come to me again. And o, my
wife, how shamefully have | abused
you It was not your Daniel that did
it. No! it was that cursed rum that
Haskins sold me. No wonder YOU we're
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 10 my pos.
session, and that wife and the children
that are living are in yoader rooms, aud