Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-06-16
temperance.
"Not a Drop More, Daniel"
su1rtSo rHE AcrroN TO rmE woEl

ion Of hsappetite, that he was perfectly mis-
cradle when he could not obtain the means Of
gratifying his thirst. He had neglected his
family till his wiie's father had taken her
and the children to the patornal roof He
had spent all his substance in drink and was
kept from the poorhousc only by performing
mental services for his food and by the kind
ness of Thomas Edgcrton, member of the
Society Of Friends who had known him from
his youth, and who had a strong hope that
in the course Of time, he would see his folly,
and turn again into the right path.
The leading publican Of the place had let
him have drink 80 long as his money lasted,
but would trust him no longer. He was
ounging about the store, one bright moon
light evening, pleading with the publican to
trust him for drink-his reply was; " Not
drop more, Daniel :"
lie remained awhile longer and then left
As the cool air Of the evening fell upon him,
he all at once gave utterancc to his feelings
in the following strain go Not drop more,
Daniel Am | drunk or am / sober7 | am
sober Not a drop more, Daniel = Did
/ Iloskins think drop would hurt me ? No ;
but my money was gone. He has got all
got every thing had even the Bible my
mother gave me 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, hut now have moth
ing 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 pawued to Hoskus for drink.
have seen the day when had good horse
and buggy, and could ride into the town in
as good style as any man in the place.
Not drop more, Daniel, till | have an
other horse and buggy as good as | once had.
/ | once had cows that furnished my family
with butter and cheese, but lloskins 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
not a cent have | got Not a drop more
Daniel, till this wallet is well-6lled again.
By this time he had reached the place
where he formerly resided aud, leaning W
against the fence, he unused a long time in
silence. He viewed the dcsolatc place by the
light of the moon, and his eyes ranged over
the house and farm. once his own. He then
said 10 himself: 4. Once | owned this house
and farm Here was born. Here my ia
ther and mother died. was the pride o
their hearts but brought down their era,
hairs with sorrow to the grave Here
beran INV married life and all that hear
could wish was mine Here Mary and tool
comfort together. tin Hoskins came and open
ed his rum.shop aud now he calls it his
In that south room my children were born
and there my Jennie died. Oh, how sorrow
ful she looked when she saw me take he
boots and start for the store to pawn then
for rum. while she Law sick upon the bed
Aud then how she begged Of me never 4
strike her mother arain | can see her now
her pale face her wasted form but sh
cannot come to me again. And oh. my wife
how .hamcfnIly abused her Ii was no
vour Daniel that did it. No, it was Hoskins'
= Iaeeursed rum No wonder YOU were take
from me by those who loved YOU. and woul
not see YOU abused. They won't have me i
the house. They won't let me live with you
Not drop more, Daniel till this house
mine again. Not drop more, Daniel, ii
these broad acres are again in my possession
= and the wife. and children that are living, ar
in wonder rooms, and we are happy famil
once more. Not drop more, Daniel =
Helm me. nv God. till all these things ar
accomplished | thank you, Hoskins, fo
these words. | shall not forget them.n
He had become so much occupied with hi
thoughts, and had spoken IN a tone so lou'
that he had not noticed the wagon, which b
this time had reached the road. in which W,
' seated the kind.hearted Quaker beiore-mel
= toned He stopped his horse, and heard di
:, tinctly the language Daniel used. As !
closed his soliloquy he turned and saw Thom;
r Edgerton, who said Daniel, does the
mean to keep thy vow ?"
g." Yes. friend Edgerton, do"
"Thee has promised a great many time
thee'd drink no more What makes tn,
i think thee will keep thy vow this time y
| know, friend Edgerton, | have ofte
vowed would drink no more but now
= feel different from what | have felt before
my heart is almost broken, and | feel N
weakness and oelleve uod VIII he'p Il
t 'n's 5IluI uS .. h.. :, .n bo %, Don;o
' wv 80 W., TIoo ms, he bu,
d -. :" anI Louo r ,r;,b mo mo - Nv
d gry ~ uon'o WV" M I'S, n',.ro. 5.o,r ont &c HI;
~ oh M 'Io "SS, Son '"r ,to~ an5 bo odv;sed HI;
al 'na' mas C,;e 1sen '''Ig"' uo ,ad I " Sm 20 30
n 70 20 70 G"'.,oi"," I ~ p'1 I'M " ,ho Son
g new oIN, D'u Io'~ MS TL n.y. ~ Ountor l;n5
+. lie uep'Iou 70 Go 80 in, n;1 VGn V;,ahlo nlot
Pro"'''ou 10 'u'"''" III" WI" SUI ''''' ''''
h Tug, r o.,,l ,no - .oo ,hr ,r;e, =,
I'll ince Sou'u 'sNo " ,r S'' Wy
r cnll1reh ,3 pyiV'S ~, '"'. so0s hooon,o co o
d s'oe'u, e Ou' 'Gcy ic "~.v norhons n,
II 'ranESu iiTn '"e' y "0n; a.. :, ,rm
~oulu no. oS,'oII ,NS a, '"t nh H. om
- oo''ei ''0y 9'.ou',i 1s ~ -. =, A. %,
d oom;nr "~n; ~ hnct a sober man and with mon
1t ooomn5 10 note thcm comfortable | prei
= hst % CON and vonr wiGe should he the on
- ."~s N the nlocc who shall know where
ID u, pun or wbo, pm doinrn
t '"ii rLas ,~h;le r;i;nc towards tho ouiot far
or n of % ,ha onatoT tbe whole thing was I,
m eI nouao W. thcy reaobe5 tbe farm. I
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