The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1875-02-05
DANIEL sRYAN,s OATH.

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condition. Bryan had married in
his better days the sister OF Moses
FELTON,.
At length all hopes were given up,
Week after week would the fallen
man be drunk on the floor, and not
day Of real sobriety marked his
course. / doubt if such another was
known. He was too low for real
conviviality, for those he would have
associated with would not drink with
him.
All alone in his Office and chamber,
he still continued 10 drink, and even
his very life seemed the offspring Of
his jug.
In early spring Moses FELTON, had
a call to 60 to Ohio. Before he set
out he visited his sister. He offered
to take her with him, but she would
not go.
"But why stay hereP" urged the
brother. "You are fading away and
disease is upon you. Why should
you live with such brute9"
Hush, Moses, speak not So" an
swered the wife, keeping back her
tears. ~ will not leave him now,
but he will soon leave me. He can
not live much longer"
At that moment Daniel entered the
apartment He looked like q wan
derer from the tomb. He had his
hat on, and his Jug in his hand.
"Ah, Moses. how are ye ?" he gasp
ed, for he could not speak plainly.
The visitor lookedat him for few
moments in silence. Then as his
features assumed cold, stern ex-
preston; he said in a strongly en-
phasized tone:
Daniel Bryan, l have been your
best friend but one My sister is an
angel, though matched with demon.
| have loved you, Daniel, as / never
loved man before; you were gener-
Gus, noble and kind; but / hate you
now, for you are a perfect devil in
carnate. Look at that woman. She
is my sister-she now might live in
comfort, only that she will not do it
while you are alive; when you die
she will come to me. Thus do l
pray that God will soon give her joys
to my keeping. Now, Daniel, l do
sincerely hope that the first iDtelli-
gence that reaches me from my ma
tive place, after / shall have reached
my new home may be--that--y you
are deadl0
"Stop, Moses, / can reform yet"
you cannot. 1T is beyond your
power. You have had inducements
enough to have reformed half the
sinners of creation, and you are
lower than ever before. Go and die,
sir, as soon as you can, for the mo-
meht that sees you thus, will not find ,
me among the mourners. /"
Bryan's ewes flashed, and he drew ,
himself proudly up. I
"Go," he said, in the tone of the /
old sarcasm. "Go to Ohio, and I'll
send you news. Ohio, sir, and watch ]
the post. 1 williyet make you take
back your words.3t as. taa ,rne.9
"Neyer, Daniel Bryan, never
"You shall, | swear it" ..e-
With these words Daniel Bryan
hurled the jug into the fireplace, and /
while yet the thousand fragments
we're flying over the floor. he strobe I
from the house. =, ....r
Mary sank fainting on The floor.
Moses bore her to bed, and then
having called in a neighbor, he hur-
ried away, for the stage was waiting
For month Daniel lowered over
the brink of the grave, but did not :
die.
"One gill Of brandy will save
you" said the doctor, who saw that
the abrupt removal Of stimulants
from the system, that forlong years
had almost subsisted on nothing b,
else, was nearly sure to prove fatal. |,
"You can surely take a gill and not
take any MORE" '9d ln' l.rri
'Ay, gasped the poor man, "take +,
q gill and break my oath. Moses I
FELTON, shall not hear that brandy !,
and rum killed me. If the want of
it can kill me, then let me die-1'll
not die till Moses FELTON, shall eat
his words"
He did live. An iron will con-
quered the messenger death sent
Daniel Bryan lived. For one month
he could not even walk without help.
Mary helped him.
A year pissed away, and Moses
FELTON, returned to Vermont. He
entered the Court house al Burling-
ton, and Daniel Bryan was or the
floor pleading for o young man who
had been indicted for forgery Eel
5on started in surprise, Never before
lad such torrents Of eloquence
poured from his lips. The case was
;iven to the jury, and the youth was
cquitted. The successful counsel
urned from the courtroom and met
Noses FELTON,.
They shook hands, but did not
peak. When they reached spot
where none others could hear them,
Bryan stopped.
"Moses, he said, "do you remem-
Der the words you spoke TO me a year
ago9"
81 do, Daniel"
"Will you now take them back
unsay them now and foreyerY"
Eyes, with all my heart
"Then | am in part repaid.
"And what must be the remainder
of the payment ?" asked Moses.
II must die an honest unperiured
nan. The oath that has bound me
hus far, was made for life."
That evening Mary Bryant was
mong the happiest Of the happy,
A SEAT I'M CONGRFgs FOR TUREE