Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-05-04
aA isfellaufAMs.
mot 4 Drop More Daniel"

Daniel Akin had become a common
drupkard So fully had he come under
the dominion of his appetite, that he was
perfectly miserable when he could not
obtain the means Of gratifying his thirst.
lie had neglected his family till his wife's
father had taken her and her children to
the parental roof. He had speLt all his
substance FOR drink, and was kept from
The poor house Gully by performing mental
services for his food. aud by the kind
ness OF Thomas Edgerton, member OF
the Society of Friends. who had known
him from his youth, and had a strong
hope that in the course Of time Daniel
would see his folly and turn again into
the right path. The leading merchaL.
in the place had let him have drink as
long as his money lasted, but would trust
him no longer. Els was loafiDg about the
store one bright moonlight evening,
pleading with the merchant for drink.
His reply was:
Not dfop more, Daniel
He remained while longer and left.
AS the cool air of the evening fell upon
him, he all at once began to give utter
ancc to his fee ings m the following
strain.
Not drop more, Daniel. Am l
drunk, or am | sober? lam sober. Not
a drop more. Daniel. Did Haskins think
drop more would hurt me? No! but
my money was gone. He has got the
bible my mother gave me. He has got
the shoes my wife bought for Jennie. and
paid for with her own earnings. Not a
drop mere, Daniel. Daniel, what say
you to that? say so 500. l once had
good clothes, and now l have nothing but
rags. Not drop more, Daniel till |
have others as good as good as when
Mary and | were married. [ bad once
good watch. but that, too. is gone
Not drop more. till I have another as
good as the one | pawned to Haskins for
a drink. l have seen the time when l
had nice horse and buggy, and could
ride into the village in as good style as
any man in the place. Not drop more.
Daniel, till own an other horse and
buggy as good as | once had. | once
had cows which furnished my family with
butter and cheese, but Haskins has got
them. Not drop more, Daniel, till
those cows, or others as good are mine
again. oDce.had this wallet full Of
bills, but now there is not cent. Not
drop more. Daniel, till this wallet is
we'll filled again
b. this time he had reached the place
where he had formerly resided, and he
stood and unused for time in silence.
He viewed the desolateness of the scene
by the light of the moon; and his eye
ranged over the house and barn once his
own, which had become out of repair.
He then said
Once l owned this house and farm
Here | was born. Here my father and
mother died was the pride of their
hearts but brought down their gray
hairs with sorrow to the grave. Here I
commenced my married life. and all that
heart could wish was mine. Here Mary
and [ took comfort till Haskins came and
opened his rum shop. and now he calls it
his. In that south room my children
were born, and here my Jennie died. Oh
how sorrowful she looked when she saw
me take her shoes and start for the store
to pawn them for rum, while she lay sick.
And then how she begged me before she
died, never to strike her mother again.
| can see her now, her pale face, her was
ted form, but she cannot come to me
again. And Oh. my wife, Low shame
fully | have abused you! Il was not
your Daniel that did it. No, it was that
vile rum that Haskins sold me. No
wonder you were taken from me by those
who love you.and would notsee you abus-
ed. They Won have me in the horse. ] hey
will not let ME live with you. Not. a drop
more, Daniel. till the house is mine
again. Not drop more. Daniel, until
these broad eres are again in my posses.
sion. aud that wife and children that are
living, are in youder rooms. aud we are
a happy family once more. Not drop