The Van Buren press., 1869-08-10
MISCELLANY.
Daniel Bryan's Oath.

tion to beggary aad dying condition.
Bryan had married, in his better days,
the sister OF Moses FELTON,.
At length all hopes were given up.
Week afte, week would the fallen man
lie drunk on the floor, and not day OF
real sobriety marked his course. / doubt
If another such case was known. lie was
too low for conviviality. for those with
whom he would have associated would
not drink with him.
All alone in his Office and chamber he
continued to drink, and even his very life
seemed the offspring Of his jug.
In early spring Moses FELTON, had q
call to Ohio. Before he set out he visit
ed his sister. He offered to take her
with him, but she would not go.
"But why stay here p urged her bro.
ther "you are al faded away, and dis.
ease is upon you. Why should you live
with such brute p
Hush, Moses, speak not" answered
the wife, keeping back the tears II
will not leave him now, bu; he will soon
leave me; he cannot live much longer"
At that moment Daniel entered the
apartment. lie looked like wanderer
from the tomb he had his hat on and
his jug in his hsnd
"Ah, Moses, how are you ?" he gasp
ed, for he could not speak plainly.
The visitor looked at him for o few
moments in silence. Then his features
assumed a cold, stern expression and be
said, with strongly emphasized zone:
"Daniel Bryan, | have been your best
friend but one. My sister is al angel,
but matched with demon. have lov-
Daniel, as never loved man before ---
You were noble, generous snd kind; but
| hate you now, for you are a perfect
devil incarnate. Look at that woman.
She is my sister; she might now live with
me in comfort, lonly she will not do it
while you are alive, yet when you die she
will come to me. Thus do / pray that
God will soon give her joys to my keep
ing. Now, Daniel, sencerely hope that
the first intelligence that reaches me from
my native place, after | reach my new
home, may be-that-you-are--deSd "
"Step, Moses, / can reform
"You cannot; it is beyond your pow
er. You have had inducements enough
to reform half the sinners Of crcation.--
Go and die, sir. ns soon as you can, for
the moment that sees you thus shall not
find me among the meurners"
Bryan's eyes flashed, and he drew him
self proudly up. "Go," he said with a
tone Of the old powerful sarcasm, "go to
Ohio, and I'll send yoa news, Go, sir,
watch the post. l will yet make You
take back your words"
Never, Daniel Bryan, never"
"You shall! swear it !"
With these words. Daniel Bryan hurled
his jug into the fireplace, and while ye.
a thousand pieces were flying over the
room, he strode from the house. Mary
tainted on the hoor Moses bore her to
s bed, and then, having called in neigh
Dor he hurried away for tho stage wait
ing.
For a month Daniel Bryan lowered
over the brink Of the grave, but he did
not die.
Zone gill Of brandy will save you,"
said the doctor, who saw that the abrupt
removal of all stimulants from a system
that for long years had subsisted on al
most nothing else. was nearly sure to
prove fatal You can surely take gill
snd not take more"
"Ah," gasped the poor man, take q
gill and break my oath. Moses FELTON,
shall never hear that brandy or rum kill
ed me- If the want of it can KLINE, then
let ina die. But won't die; III live till
Moses FELTON, shall eat his words"
lie did live. An iron will conquered
the messenger that death ssnt-Daniel
Bryan lived. For one month he conld
no. walk without help. But he had help
Joyful, prayerful help. Mary helped
him.
A year passed by, and Moses FELTON,
returned to Nerment lie entered the
courthouse at Burlington. and Daniel
Bryan was on the floor pleading for n
young man indicted for forgery. FELTON,
started with surprise. Never before had
such torrents of eloquencc poured from
his lips. The youth was acquitted. The
successful counsel turned from the court
room, and he met Moses FELTON,.
They shook hands but did not speak.
When they reached spot where none
could hear tnsm, Bryan stopped.
Moses" he sail, "do you remember Der
the words you spoke to me year ago =
IL dc. Daniel"
"Will you then take them back, unsay
them now and foreyer?'
"Ycs, with all my heart
"Then am in part repaid
"And what must be the remainder OF
the payment
"To die an honest, unperiured man.
The oath that has bound me thus far was
for life"
That evening Mary Bryan was the
happiest Of the happy. No.allusion WA
made in words to that strange scene OF
one year before but Moses could read
both in the countenance Of his sister and
her husband the deep gratitude they did
not speak.
Aud Daniel lived one Of the most hon
ored mon in Vermont Five times he
sat in the Legislature Of the State, thrice
in the Senate, and once in the halls Of
tho National Congress.
rF Tommy, my son, fetch in a
stick of wood" "Ah my dear moth
err" responded the youth, "the gramati
o.l oor,;on Of your education has been