Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-08-28
F" Not a Drop More, Daniel ~

perfectly miserable when he could not
obtain the means Of gratifying his thirst.
He had neglected his family till his wife's
father had taken her and her children TO
the parental roof. lie had spent all bis
substance in drink, and was kept from
the poor-house only by performing men
ial service for his food, and by the kind
ness Thomas Edperton, member of the
Society OF Friends, whom he had known
from his youth, and who had strong
hope that in the course of time he would
see his folly, and turn again in the right
path.
The leading publican of the place had
let him drink so long as his money lasted,
but would trust him no longer lie was
lounging about the store one bright
moonlight evening, pleading with the
publican 10 trust him for drink.
Ills reply was, "Not drop more,
Daniel"
lie remained a while longer, and then
left. AS the cool air of the evening fell
upon him, he all once gave utterance to
his feelings in the following strain: "Not
a drop more, Daniel" Am | drunk or
am sober? ] am sober. "Not drop
more, Daniel" Did Hoskins think a
drop would hurt me? No; but nv
money was gone. He has got all, got
every thing had; even the Bible my
mother gave mo! lie has got the boots
which my wife, with her own earnings,
bought for Jennie. "Not drop more,
Daniel" Daniel, what say you to that !?
say So too. / once had good clothes,
but now / have nothing but rags. "Not
drop more, Daniel" till have clothes
again as good as when Mary and were
first married. once had good watch,
but that too is gone. ''Not a drop more,
Daniel" till have another as good as
the one l pawned to Hoskins for drink.
l have seen the day when had horse
and buggy, and could ride into town in
as good style as any man in the place
"Not a drop more, Daniel" till have
another horse and buggy as good as l
once had. l once had cows that fur
nished my family with butter and cheese,
but Hoskins has got them. "N OF drop
more, Daniel" till those cows, or others
as good, are mine again. Ionce had this
wallet full OF bills; but row not a cent
have I got. "Not drop more, Daniel" {"
till this wallet is well filled again. .
BY this time he had reached the place
where he formerly resided, and, leaning
up against the fence. he mused long
time in silence He viewed the desolate
place by the light of the moon, and his
eyes ranged over the house and farm,
once his own. He then said to himself,
"Once | owned this house and farm.
Here my father and mother died. l was
the pride of their hearts; but brought
down their gray hair with sorrow to the
grave. Here l began my married life {;
and all that heart could wish was mine.
Here Mary and took comfort together,
till Hoskins came and opened his rum
shop; and now he calls it his. Tn that
south room my children were born, and
there my Jennie died. Oh, how sorrow
full she looked when she saw me take her
boots and start for the store to pawn
them for rum, while she lay sick upon
the bed. And then how she begged OF
me never to strike her mother again.
And, oh, my wife, how shametully l
abused her! 1t was not your Daniel
that did it! No, it was Hoskins' ac-
cursed rum! 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 won't let
me live with you. "Not drop more,
Daniel" till this house is mine again.
mot u drop more, Daniel" till these
broad acres are again in my possession,
and the wife and children that are living,
are in yonder rooms, and we are a
happy family once more. "Not drop
more, Daniel" Help me, my God, till
all these things are accomplished !
thank you, Hoskins, for these words.
shall not forget them" ~.
lie had become so much occupied with
his thoughts, and spoken in tone so
loud, that he had not noticed the wagon
which by this time had reached the road
IN which was seated the kind-hearted
Quaker before mentioned. He stopped
bis horse, and heard distinctly the Ian
guage Daniel used. AS he closed his
soliloquy he turned aside and saw Thos.
Edgerton, who said: "Daniel, does thee
mean to keep thy vow ?" @
"Yes, friend Edgerton, I do" aa
'Ihee has promised great many
tlnes thee'd drink no more. w hat
makes thee think thee viii keep thy VOW
this time % ~ ,a .1 -. p.
81 know, friend Edgerton, I have often
vowed / would drink no more; but now
teel different from what have felt be.
fore; my heart is almost broken, and !
feel my weakness; and believe God
will hel p me this time" .a#. ..a.
"God grant that it may be so! Dan
iel, get in and take seat. Thee must
be hungry; go home with me-"
On the way the Quaker drew out OF
him all that has been written, and he
advised him to go to California. He told
him to go to New York, and work his
way round the Cape. He decided to dc
so. The Quaker kindly promised to fur
nish him with suitable clothing.
"rhee would like to see thy wife and
children before thee goesPHl g'asI 40
81 should, but they have become sc
estranged from me, if | went perhaps
they would not believe me. think IL
will be better they should not know
where | am. / want to surprise them
| and hone to so by coming back n sober