The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1868-03-31
Not "a Drop More, Daniel.

Not a Drop More, Daniel.
Daniel Aigen had become a common
drunkali So fully bad he come under
tbs dominion u lis appetite that be
Was perfectly miserable when be could
not obtain the means Of gratifying his
thirst He had neglected his .amily
till his wlies father had taken her
and the children to the parental roof
He bad spent all his substance for drink,
aud WAS kept from the poor house only
by performing menial services for his
food. aud by the kindness of Thomas
| Edgerton, member Of ths Society OF
| Friends, who had known him from bis
youth. and had strong hope that in
| the course Of time he would see his fol
/ In and turn again into the right path.
| The leading merchant OF the place had
! lot him have drink as long as his money
/ lasted, but would trust him no longer
| He was loahng about the store one
bright moonlight evening, pleading
with the merchant 10 trust him for "A
drink. His reply was, Not drop
more, Daniel lie remained while
| longer, and left As the cool air Of the
evening fell upon him, he all at once
/ began to give utteranee to his feelings
/ IN the following strain:
Not drop more, Daniel. Am l
| drunk, or am / sober Not a drop
more, PANEL. Did Baskins think u
drop more would hurt me2 No (! but
my money is gone. He has got every
thing / had He has got this Bible my
mother gave me. He has got the shoes
my wife bought for Jennie, and paid
ior with her own earnings Not drop
more. Daniel what say you to that 1
say 30 toe. l had once good clothes
aud now have nothing but rags. Not
drop more, Daniel, TIL have others
as good as when Mary and were mar
rled once had a good watch, but
that too Is gone Not u drop more,
DaLigl, TIL / have another as good as
the one pawned TO Hasklns for drink
| have seen the time when | had good
horse and buggy, aud could ride INTO
| the village IN as good style rs any man
IN the j ace Not drop more, Dan
1 ltl, tIii i own another morse aad buggy
az good rs | once had | once had
cows which furnished my family with
butter and cheese, but Haskins has got
them Not drop more, Daniel, tlll
,hose cows or others as good are nine
again / once had Tins wallet full of
/ oils, bat nov there II not cent. Not
drop more, Danei, TIL this wallet is
4 well hiled usain.
BY tins t.ue he bad reached the
/ place where he hau formerly resided,
/ aud be stood and io.lued against the
/ fence, and nlused fol long time IN si-
1 lsnce. He viewed the desolateness Of
the scsns 10y the light OF the moon /,
and hls eye ranged over the house and
barn once his own, winch had become
/ out OF repair.
be then said. "Once / owned this
1 house aud farm. Here | was born.
/ Here my father and mother died |
Was the PRIDE Of their hearts, but
brought down thor gray hairs with sor-
/ row 10 the grave. here | commenced
my married life, and all that heart
could wish was mine. Here Mary and
L ] took comfort till Hasklns came here
and opened his run shop, and now he
1 calls II his In that south room my
children were born and there my Jen-
ME died Oh, how sorrowinlly she
i looked when she saw me take her shoes
and start for the store to pawn them
4 for rum, while she lay sick. And then,
| how she begged ne, before she died,
=! never 20 stI1ke her mother again. |
can see her now, her pale face. her vast
+ ed form, but she cannot come to me
again. And Oh, my wife, how shame
fully have abused you 1t was not
I 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
( ia the house. They won't lst me live
I with you. Not drop more, Daniel,
tall this house Is mine again. Not "a
4 drop more tai these broad acres are
/ IN my possession, and that wife and
children that arc living, are in youder
rooms. and We are happy family once
more. Not a drop more, Daniel, 80
+ help me God, TIL all this is aecomplis-
he'd | thank you Haskins, for these
words. lshall not forget them"
He bad become ~ much occupied
with his thoughts, and spoken in a
tone 80 loud, that he had not heard the
wagon which BY this time bad reached
the road. in which was seated the kind
hearted Quaker who has been mention
cd Hs stopped bis horse and heard
distinctly the language which Daniel
used As he closed his sohloquy be
turned and saw Thomss Edgerion, who
said "Daniel, does thee mean 10 keep
Thy vowy-
lie answered, i DO.
'sThee has promised a great many
times that thee wonid drink no more.
What makes thee think shee wiA Keep
. L.