Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-05-27

his horse, and heard distinctly the Ian
guage Daniel used. As he closed his
soliloquy he turned and saw Thomas
Edgerton, who said:-
daniel, does thee mean to keep thy
vow?n
Yes, friend Edgcrton. do"
Thee has promised great many
times thcc'd drink no more. What makes
thee think thee will keep thy VOW this
time ?n
81 know. friend Edgerton, have often
vowed would drink no more; but now
feel different from what have felt be
fore; my heart is almost broken, and
feel my weakness and Ibcliere Gop ,cil
help me hiS time"
God grant that it may bc so! Daniel
get in and take seat. Thee mus, be
hungry; go home with me-"
On the way. the Quaker drew out oI
him all that has been written. and he adj.
vised him to 90 TO California. lie told
him to 60 to New York, and work his
way round The Cape. He decided to dc
so. The Quaker kindly promised to fur
niSh him suitable clothing.
Thee would like to see Thy wife and
children before thee goes"
Il should. but they have become SO
cstranged from me; il | went, perhaps
they would not believe me. think il
will be better they should not know
where am. j want to surprise them
and hope 10 Ilo so. coming back n sober
man. and with money enough to make
comfortable. prefer that you and you,
wife should be the only person in the
place who shall know where am, or
what | am doing"
Thus, while riding towards tho quic,
farmhouse of the Quaker, the whole
thing was arranged. When they reach
ed the farm. the horse was put into the
barn, and they entered the house. AS
they seated themselves before the fire, the
Quaker said to his wife,
Amy, thee can put on another plate,
Daniel will stay with us 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 lew days everything stood in
readiness The old horse was harm esscd
and, before daylight, Daniel Akin was on
his way to the railway. station; he had
no, been in the village since the night
when the words-"No, drop more, Dan
iel." were uttered. He was missed from
his customary haunts but il was suppos.
eel he had gone on u "spree," and so
nothing was thought of his absence. No
inquiries were made. for all were glad
that he was missing, and cared not for
his return.
lie had been gone somewhat more than
year, when the Quaker was in the store
oi HoSkins, and wished TO hire pasture
for the coming season. II have one that
YOU may have tree. il YOU will put up the
fences on the place." said lIoskins.
Where is il ?" asked the Quaker.
Its on tho Akin farm" was the reply.
"lf thee will let it at that. iheo mus!
have let it get sadly out of repair"
at is, indeed | cannot leave the store
TO look after it. The house is poor. and
the family that lived in i, last, were toe
shiilless to buy wood. so they burnt up
all the fences; in fact, Iwould rather sell
it than rent it,"
"Whst will thee take for ?" inquired
the Quaker.
at cost me sixteen hundred dollars"
Yes. but thee paid in goods, and ask
ed thine own price for them"
ITO be sure did. Akin could not get
trusted anywhere else, and felt that
was running great risk in letting him
have goods; so charged according,
ly; Just as anybody else would have done
under the circumstances"
But thee has not told me what tn ee will
take for the place. | will give thee eight
hundred dollars for it, if that is any OBJ
iect 10 thee"
Hoskins thought long enough over the
matter to conclude that the interest OF
eight hundred dollars was far better fol
him than a farm, for the use Of which he
realized scarcely anything, and at last
said, "You can have it."
Very well. Hoskins; thee can make
out the deeds to morrow, and thee shall
have thy money. By-the-by, does thee
know what has become OF Daniel Akin ?
No; he has not been in the village foi
more than year. ut any rate have not
seen him."
We may here tell the reader something
that Hoskins did not know. The Quaker
had that day received letter from Dan
iel Akin. stating that he was at the mines
hard at work, and sticking to his motto
Not drop more, Daniel" that he had
laid up few hundred dollars. and desir'
ed him to inquire what the place he once
owned could be bought for.
Mr.. Edgerton had taken the method
above mentioned to find out the views oI