The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-04-29
"Not a Drop More, Daniel
A Good Temperance Story.

nANIEL AKIN had become con-
IL firmed drunkard. 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. He had neglected his family
till his wife's father had taken her and the
children to the paternal roof He had
spent all his substance In drink, and was
kept from the poorhouse only by perform
ing menial services for his food, and by the
kindness of Thomas Edgertop, 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 place one bright
moonlight evening, pleading with the
publican to trust him for II drink-his reply
was
"Not a drop more, Daniel ~
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 drop more, Daniel" Am l
drunk or am sober? am sober. " Not
drop more, Daniel Did Hoskins think
drop would hurt me? No; but by money
was gone. He has got all-got 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. l once had
good clothes, but now have nothing but
rags. "Not drop more, Daniel" till
have clothes again as good as when Mary
and / were first married. / once had a
good watch, but that, too, is gone "Noi
drop more, Daniel" till have another
as good as the one l pawned to Hosl1ins
for drink. l have seen the day when l had
a good horse and buggy, and could ride
into the town in as good style as any mar
in the place. "Not drop more, Daniel, y
till have another horse and buggy as
good as l once had. / had cows that fur
nished my family with butter and cheese
but Hoskins has got them. "Not droI
more, Daniel" till those cows or others a,
good are mine again. / once had this wal
let full of bills; but now not one cent have
got. "Not drop more, Daniel" til
this wallet is well filed again
BY this time he had reached the place
where he formerly resided, and leaning VI
against the fence, he unused long time il
silence. He viewed the desolate place b.
the light Of the moon, and his eyes ranged
over the house and farm, once his own
He then said to himself: "Once ownet
this house and farm. Here was born
Here my father and mother d.sd. wa
the pride Of their hearts; but 1 brough
down their gray hairs with sorrow to tn
grave! Here began my married life; ant
all that heart could wish was mine. Her
Mary and / took comfort together, til
HoslSins came and opened his rum-shop
and now he calls it his In that sout
room my children were born, and ther
my Jennie died. Oh, how sorrowful sh
looked when she saw me take her boots an
start for the store to pawn them for rum
while she lay sick upon the bed An
then how she begged me never to strils
her mother again Ilcan see her now; he
pale face, her wasted form; but she canno
come to me again. And oh, my wife, ho'
shamefully | abused her II wasnot you
Daniel that did it. No; it was Hoskini
accursed rum No wonder you were take
from me by those who loved you and woul
not see you abused They won't have M