Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-09-11
A SUDDEN CONVERSION.

The simple story am about to relate
possesses much interest for those who
were acquainted with the parties con-
cerned, and others its interest will not
only be in its truth, but also in the Pc
culiar soul-touch it develops 1t is as
In one of the Northern towns of Yer
mont lived a young man whom l shall
call Daniel Bryan. He was q lawyer by
profession, and one of the most intellec-
tual men in that section 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 satisfaction.
AT the age of u, Bryan took to him.
self wife from among the most favored
ones in the country. Mary FELTON, ex-
perienced u strange pride when she
gave her hand to the young lawyer and
if none envied her, many at least prayed
that they might be as fortunate. But
ere long a cloud came over the scene.
Conviviality ran high among the men,
bers of the bar, and young Bryan rOs-
sessed oneofthose peculiar temperaments
which at length gave the whole body
For the three years he followed the GUS
tom of the times without neglecting
much of his business, but finally he
sank into the lowest pit of degradation;
when at the age of IS, he had become
u confirmed drunkard. He now neglect
ed his clients altogether for he could not
remain sober long enough ut any one
time to carry 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 WashingtOnian and once
more his bright genius shone out upon
the world. But it could not last long
amid the examples of those who We're
his constant companions, he went back
to his cups, and down he sank as rapid
ly a. he had risen. In one short year
from that time he was miserable de-
graded thing. People who had left
notes and accounts with him to be col
lected, called upon his wife, and
hupon inquiring of her where
he was, she would tell them he
was away, Poor woman They could
not bear to dispute her, and they would
go their way, though they knew full
well that the remains of Daniel Bryan
were PROSTATE on the bed room floor.
One day Mr., Vinson had called to
see him. Vinson had left notes and ac-
counts to the amount of several thous-
and dollars with Bryan to collet, 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, 81 know your misfortune and
appreciate your feelings. but l must
see your husband. If | can see him for
| nvoD n N, inntn | pon 1parp all I xviCh tn
know"
Mary Bryan spoke not q word, but
with fearful eyes turned away, and Mr..
Vinson followed her. He found Mr..
Bryan in back room, stretched ut full
length upon the floor, with jug of
Medford rum by side! With much eff
fort Ninson aroused the poor man to q
state of semi-cOnsciousness, and asked
if he had done anything about the notes
and accounts he had left with him.
eyes" returned the lawyer in weak,
husky, hiccoughing voice, ave deduct
ed my per centage, and you'll find the
rest in the trunk. Mary,s got the
key"
Mrs. Bryan was called in, the key was
produced, and Mr.. Vinson found the
money-four thousand and some odd
hundred dollars-all right and safe.
In worst moments Bryan never used
for himself single penny he held in
trust. Hundreds there were who labor
ed hard to reclaim the wanderer, but
without effect Year after year went
by, and he sank lower and lower-yet
his wife left him not. Her brother, a
young lawyer, named Moses FELTON,, of
ten urged her to forsake her husband, at
the same time offering her comfortable
nome beneath his own roof, but she
would not listen.
At length all hope was given up
Week after week would the fallen man
lie drunk on the floor, and not a day of
real sobriety marked his coarse. doubt
ii such a case was ever known. He was
now too low for conviviality, for those
with whom he would have associated
would not drink with HIM. All alone
in his own Office and chamber, he drank
the accursed poison, and even his very
life seemed the offspring of the jug.
In the early spring, Moses FELTON, had
a call to Ohio. Before he set out he
visited his sister. He Offered to take
her with him, but she would not go.
"But why stay here ?" urged the bro
Ither "YOu are all faded aWay and dis