St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-03-06

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
you. Not drop more, Daniel, till this
house is mine again. Not drop more
till these broad acres are again in my
possession, and that wife and chill
dren that are living are in yon-
der rooms, and we are a happy family
once more. Not a drop more, Daniel,
so help me God, till all these things are
accomplished. thank You, IIaskins,
for these words. | shall not forget
them"
He had become SO much occupied with
his thoughts, and spoken in Il tone so
loud that he had not heard the wagon
which by this time had reached the road
in which was seated the kind-hearted
Quaker who has been mentioned. He
stopped his horse and heard distinctly
the language which Daniel used. As he
closed his soliloquy he turned and and
saw Thomas Edgerton, who said,
"Danicl, does thee mean to keep thy
VOW -
lie answered, Il do
"Ihee has promised a great many
times that thee would drink no more.
What makes thee think thee will keep
thy vow -
Il know, friend Edgerton, | have of
ten vowed 10 drink 10 more, but now |
/ icel different from what ever did before.
My heart is broken, and feel my weak
ness, and | believe God will help me this
time
'God grant it may be so. Daniel, get
IN and take seat. Thee must be hun
Try 90 home with me-
On the way the Quaker drew out Of
him all that has been written: and he
advised him to 20 to California. He told
him 10 20 to New York, and work his
passage around the Cape. lie dc;crmin-
ed TO do So. The Quaker furnished him
with suitable apparel.
Thee wants to see thy wife and chill
drcn before thee goes
"Ics, friend t.dgcrton, do, but they
have become cyirangcd from me. Ii
went, perhaps they will not believe what
say. 1t Is better that should not see
them. Indeed. ii is Letter thcv should
not know where am. want TO sur
prise them, as hope to do, by coming
back a sober man, and with moley
cnounh to make them comfortable.
prefer that you and your wife should be
the only persons in the place WHO snail
know where l am and what l am
doing"
Thus, while riding towards the quiet
farmhouse OF the Quaker, the Who'll,
thing was arranged. When t!cy reach
ed the place, the horse was put in the
barn, and they entered the house. lie
said aS they took seats before the fire,
l Amy, thee may put ON another plate
+ Daniel will stay with Us a few days, ano
: then lie will 90 to California;
t The benevolent Quaker was conliden
that Daniel Akin would keep his re
: solve.
} At length when everything was il
: readiness the old horse was harnessed
l and before daylight Daniel Akin was "I
= his way TO a railway station. He ha'
: not been in the village since the nigh
c when the words, Not drop more
II Daniel" were uttered.
c He was missed from his customary
c haunts. but it was supposed he had gon
. off on Il spree, and So nothing was though
i ot his absence. HIS wite's father live,
Y in the adjoining town, and some though
. he had zone there.
Il No inquiries were made, for all wer
c rcjoiced that he was missing. and care
5 not for his return.
lie had been gone somewhat NOR
!. than a year when the Quaker was in til
II store OF Iiaskins. and remarked that h
: wished TO hire a pasture the coming sea
G son.
Il have got one | will let you hav
l free of rent if you will put up the fence
II on the place" said IIaskins.
k .'Where is it ~ said the Quaker.
1t son the Akin farm"
= "lf thee will let it at that rate the
y must have let it get out of repair
p at is so, indeed; | cannot leave tn
ID store to see to it. The house is pool
and the family that lived in it last wei
y too shittlcss to buy wood, and burnt IL
I'd the rails. | had rather sell it than rel
V it,
i'll ''What will thee take for it -
ld sit cost me some sixteen hundred do
'd lars
a "Yes, but thee paid in goods, an
as charged thine own price on them"
Or 10 be sure | did Akin could NJ
I'd get trusted anywhere else, and | te
lie | was running great risk in letting hi
Z. have goods, ard l charged accordingl
H. Just as everybody else would under Il
&c circumstances"
ed "Thce has not told me what thee won
1t take for the place will give thee eig
re hundred for it, if that is any object
od thee
lis Haskins thought long enough to co
ot clude that the interest of eight hundr
Ill dollars was far better for him than Il
farm, for the use of which he realiz
ce scarcely anything, and said, '.You c;
hG have it,
w y" "Thee can make out the deed to-mc
~, io row, and thee shall have thy money.
oy oJ the way, does thee know what has
- come of Daniel Akin p
No. He has not been in the villa
nd for more than a year. At any rate
fa- have not seen him."
de We may tell the reader what Haski
cir did not know. The Quaker had that d
ere received letter from Daniel Akin, ST;