Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-10-19
g NOT A DROP MORE M9ER{BB5 DANIEL. u


DANIEL ATKIN had become a con-
firmed drunkard, So fully had he come
under the dominion of his appetite, that
he was perfectly miserable when he
could not obtain means to crafty his
thirst. He had neglected his family till
his wife's father had taken her and the
children under his parental roof. He
had spent all his substance in drink
and was kept from the pOOrhOuse only
by performing mental services for his
food, and by the kindness of Thomas
EdgertOn, a 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 so long as his money
lasted, but would trust him no longer
He was lOunging about the store one
bright moonlight evening, pleading with
the rum seller to trust him for drink,
but the reply was: Not a drop more,
/ Danielp aar
He remained a while longer, and then
! left AS the cool air of the evening fell
upon him, he all at once gave utterance
/ to his feelings in the following strain =
/ Not a drop more, Daniel Am drunk
or am l sober? I am sober Not a
! drop more, Daniel Did Hoskins think
"a drop would hurt me? No, but my
money was gone. He has got aIl-g0t
/ everything mad even the Bible my
mother gave me! He has got the boots
/ that my wife, with her hard earnings,
! bought for Jennie. Not a drop more,
! Daniel Daniel, what say you to that?
l say so, too. I once had good clothes,
but now l have nothing but rags. Not
] 81 Il
again rs good as when Mary and | were
/ first married. l once had good watch,
| but that too is gone Not a drop more,
! Daniel, till l have another as good as
the one pawned to HOskins for drink.
/ l have seen the day when I had good
! horse and buggy, and could ride into
town in as good style as any man in the
place.
Not drop more, Daniel till have
another horse and buggy as [ once had.
once had cows that furnished my fami-
] ly with butter and cheese, but Hoskins
| had got them, Not drop more, Dani-
! el, till these COWS or others as good, are
mine again. I once had this wallet full
of bills; but now not cent have I got.
! Not drop more, Daniel, till this wal
let is well filed again.
! By this time he had reached the place
where he formerly resided, and leaning
up againgt the fence, he mused a long
! time in silence. He viewed the desc
| late 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 I owned this house and farm
/ Here my father and mOther=died. was
the pride of their hearts; but 1 have
! brought down their gray hairs in sorrow
to the grave! Here 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.
In that south room my children were
! born, and there nay Jennie died. 'Oh,
| how SorrOWful shezIOOl1ed 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. -t A~--.
And Oh, my wife, how shamefulIy I
abused her 1t was not you Daniel
that did it. No, it was Hoskins' accurs-
ed 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 in the house. They won't let
me live with you. Not a drop -naere,-
Daniel, till this house is mine again.
| Not drop mOreJ 'Daniel,' TIL these
broad acres are again in my possession,
and the wife and children thatare living
are in yOnder rooms and we are Il hap
py family once more. Not drop more,
Daniel.' Help me, my God, till all
these things arc accomplished! / thank
you, HOskins, for those words. I shall
not forget them.
He had become so much occupied with
his thoughts, and spoke in tone so
loud, that he had not noticed the wag-
on, which by this time had reached the
/ road, and in which was seated the kind
hearted Quaker, before mentioned He
| stopped his horse, and heard distinctly
the language Daniel used. As he closed
his solilOquy, he turned and saw ThOm-
as EdgertOn, who said: 'DaRiel,-does
thee mean to keep thy vOw9 --,-
Yes, friend EdgertOn, l dO.''
'Thee has promised a great many
times theeld drink no more. What
makes thee think thee will keep thy
vow this time "
4 know, friend Edgerton, Ihave often
vowed I would drink no more; but now
I feel different from what have felt be-
/ fore; my heart isalTnOst broken, and |
feel my weakness aud L, believe God
will help me this time Bs Gs
God grant that 1t may be so! Daniel
get in and take a seat. Thee must be
! hungry; 90 home with me-
On the way tie Quaker drew out OF
him all that has been written, and he
advised him to go 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 clothing.
thee would like to see thy wife and
children before thee goes% ii
I should, but they have become so
estranged from me, ifI-went, perhaps,
/ they would not believe me. / think it
will be better they should not know
where I am. l want to surprise them;
and hope to do so, by coming back a
man, and with money enough. to make
them comfortable. l prefer that you
and your wife should be the only per-