The Republican journal., 1869-06-03
MOT A DROP MORE, DANIEL

MOT A DROP MORE, DANIEL"
! Daniel Akin had become confirmed drunk
! ard so fully had he come under the domin-
ION of his appetite, that he was perfectly mis-
cradle when he could not obtain the means
of gratifying his thirst lie had neglected his
family till his wifc's father had taken her and
the children to the paternal roof lie had
spent all his substance in drink, and was kept
| from the poorhouse only by performing me-
NAL services for his food and by the kindness
of Thomas Edgcrton, a member of the Soci-
ETY. of Friends, who had known him from his
youth, and who had 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 so long rs his money lasted,
but would trust him no longer. lie was
! loungin@ about the store, one bri ght, MOON
light evening, pleading with the publican to
trust him for a drink-his reply was; ''Not a
drop more. Daniel!i'
lie remained a while longer, and then left
As the cool air Of evening fell upon him, he
all at once gave utterance to his feelings in
the following strain: '' Not q drop more,
Daniel Am drunk Or am | sober? | am
sober Not Il drop more, Daniel Did Hos
kins think drop would hurt me? No: but
ilA money WIS gone. 1lt HIS SS3OJ itl-SS0ol
everything | had; even the Bible my mother
gave me. He 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 Il 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 drop more, Daniel till
have another as good as the one pawned
to IIoskins for drink, | have seen the day
when | had a good horse and buggy, and
could ride into town in as good a style as any
man in the place. Not a drop more, Daniel,
till have another horse and buggy as good
as once had. | once had cows that furnish
ed my family with butter and cheese but Hos
icl.' till those COWS, OF others as good, are
mine again. | once had this wallet full Of
bills: but now not Il cent have | got. Not Il
drop more. Daniel till this wallet is we'll
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.
the the moon and ifs EYES na$s E tie ght OF
and farm, once his own. He then said to
himself; ''Oncc [ owned this house and farm.
| Here my father and mother died. | was the
pride of their hearts; but | brought down
| their GRAY hairs with sorrow to the grave
Here began my married life and all that
heart could wish was mine. Here Mary and
| took comfort together, till Iloskins came
and opened his rum shop; and now he calls
it his. In that south room my children were
born, and there my Jennie died. Oh, how
~orrowfu} she looked when she saw me take
her boots and start for the store to pawn them
| f,,, ,-!,; No thn bpil Y
And then how she begged of me never to
strike her mother agan | can see her now
her pale face her wasted form but she can
not come to me again. And oh, my wife,
how shametully | abused her! 1t was not
your Daniel that did it. No, it was Hoskins'
accursed rum. No wonder YOU We're taken
from me by those who loved you, and would
not see YOU abused. They won't have me III
the house They won't let me live with you.
Not q drop more, Daniel till this house is
mine again Not q 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 a drop more, Daniel Help
plished, | thank you, 1Ioskins, for these
words. l shall moi forget them"
4 He 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 seat
ed the kind-healted Quaker before mention
ed tie stopped his horse, and heard dis
tinctlv the language Daniel used AS he
closed his soloquy he turned andsaw Thomas
Edgcrton, who said: 'Daniel does thee mean
to keep thy vow?'
Yes, friend Edgerton, do"
Thee has promised a great many times
thce'd drink no more. What makes thee
think thee will keep thy vow this time?"
Il know friend Edgerton, | have often
vowed I would drink no more; but now
my heart is almost broken, and | feel my
weakness; and believe God will help me
this time
'tod grant that it may be so! Daniel, get
in and take a seat Thee must be hungry
90 home with me'
On the way, the Quaker drew out of him
all that has been written, and he advised him
to 90 to California. He told him to 90 to
New York, and work his way round the Cape
He decided to do So The Quaker kindly
promised to furnish him with suitable cloth
ing.
''Thee would like to see thy wife and chill
,lren before thee goes? ?'
II should, but they have become so es-
tranged from me, if | went, perhaps they
would not believe me. | think it will be bet
ter they should not know where | am
want to surprise them; and hope to do SO, by
coming back a sober man, and with money
enough to make them comfortable. prefer
that you and your wife should be the only
persons in the place who shall know where
am, or what | am doing"
Thus, while riding toward the quiet farm
house Of the Quaker the whole thing was az
ranged. When they reached the farm, the
horse was put into the barn, and they entered
the house, As they seated themselves before
I the fire, the Quaker said to his wife, ''Amy
thee can put on another plate. Daniel will
stay with us a few days, and then he is going
to California"
The good Quaker felt confident Daniel
would keep his word this time At the end
Of few days everything was in readiness
The old horse was harnessed, and, before
daylight, Daniel Akin was on his way to the
railway station: he had not been in the vii