The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1868-01-02
NOT a DIR o - hI y IL l.
DANIEL.

ion Of his appetite that he was
perfectly miserable when he
could not obtain the means Of
gratifying his thirst. He had
neglected his family till his
wile's father had taken her and
her children to the parental
roof He had spent all his sub
stance for drink, and was kept
from the poor-house only by
performing menial services for
his food, and by the kindness
of Thomas Edgerton, a membef
| of the Society Of Friends; who
had known linn from his youth,
and had a strong hope that in
the course oftime he would see
his folly and turn again into
the right path. The leading
merchant of the place had let
him have drink us long as his
money lasted, but would trust
hlm no longer. He was loaling
about the store one bright
moonlight evening, pleading
with the merchant to trust him
for a drink. His reply was,
Not a drop more, Daniel" He
remain ID while longer and
left. As the cool air of the
evening fell upon him, he all at
once Eegan to give utterance
to his feelings in the following
strain:
Not a drop more, Daniei,
Am | drank, or am | sober !
am sober Not a drop more,
Daniel. Did Haskins think a
/ drop more would hurt me!
/ No! but my money is gone. He
has got every thing | had. He
has got the Bible my mother
! gave me. lie has got the shoes
which my wife bought for Jen-
ME, AMI paid for with her own
earnings. Not a drop more,
/ Daniel. Daniel, what say You
o ,Aa!S J say so too. | had
once good clothes and now
have nothing but rags. Not a
drop more, Daniel, till | have
Others as good as when Mary
and | were married. | once
had a good watch, but that too
is gone. Not a drop more,
Daniel, till lhave another as
good as the one | pawned to
lIaskins for drink. have seen
| the time when | had Il good
h orse and buggy, and could
ride into the village in us good
style as any man iii the place.
Not a drop more, Daniel. till |
own another horse and buggy
as good as | once had. ! once
had COWS which furnished my
family with butter and cheese,
but Haskins has got them. Not
a drop more, Daniel, till those
COWS or others as good are mine
again. | once had this wallet
full of bills, but now there is
not a cent Not Il drop, more,
Daniel, till this wallet is we'll
lillcd again"
BY this time lie had reached
the place where he hed former
~ resided, and he stood and
leaned against the fence, and
unused for a long time in ST.
lcnce. He viewed the desc
lateness of the scene by the
light Of the moon; and his eye
ranged over the house and barn
once his own, which had be-
come out of repair.
He then said, "Once | owned
this house and farm. Here |
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 | com
menced my married life, and
Ill that heart could wish was
mine. Here Mary and | took
comfort till lIaskins 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
her shoes and start for the store
10 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 cannot come to me again.
And o, my wife, how'shame-
fully 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 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
Won Not n droD more Daniel