American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-02-12
mot A DROP MORE, DANIEL !"

QrunkarQ. so FULLY had he come unde
the dominion of the bottle, that he wa.
perfectly miserable when ne could not oh
tain the means of gratifying his thirst
He had neglected his family till his wife.
father had taken her and the children to
the paternal roof. He had spent all his
substance in drink and was kept from the
poor house 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.
Hostins, the leading liquor seller 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
saloon one bright moonlight evening,
pleading with the keeper TO trust him for
drink. His reply was sharp and unfeel-
ing:
Not a drop more, Danielr'
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 ! soberf / am sober. Tot
a drop more, Daniel Did Hoskins think
. drop would hurt mey No; but my
money was gone. He has got all; got
evrything ! had-even the Bible my
mother gave me. He has got the boots
which my wife, with her own earnings,
bought fer Jennie. Not a drop more,
Daniel Daniel what say you to that? 1
say so, too. l once had good clothes. but
now have nothing but rags. Not a
drop more, Daniel till have clothes
again as good as when Mary and were
married. l once had good watch but
that, too, is goneI Not drop more,
Daniel till 1 have another horse and
buggy as good as once had. once had
cows that furnished my family with but
ter and cheese, but fioskins has got them.
Not drop more, Daniel till those cows,
nr others as good, are mine again. l
once had this wallet full of bills; but
now not a cent have got. Not drop
more, Daniel till this wallet is well filled
again"
By this time he had reached the place
where he formerly resided, and, leaning
up against the fence, he unused a long
time in silence. He viewed the desolate
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
owned this house and farm. Here was
born Here my father and mother died.
was the pride of their hearts; but l
brought down their gray hairs with sor-
row to the grave! Here 1 began my mar
ried life, and all that heart could wish was
mine. Here Mary and took comfort to-
gether until -Hoskins came and opened
his store, and now he calls it his. In
that south room my children were and
there my Jennie died. o, how sorrowful
she looked when she saw me take her
boots and start for the store to pawn them
for rum, while she lay sick upon the bed.
md hon al, hasv
strike her mother againi can see her
now-her pale face, her wasted form but
she cannot come to me again. And o,
my wife, how shamefully l abused her!
1t was not your Daniel that did it. No,
it was Hoskins' accursed rumi No won
der you were 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 drop
more, Daniel till this house is mine
again. Not a drop more, Daniel till
these broad acres are again in my posses
sion, and the wife and children that are
living in yonder rooms and we are a
happy family once more. Not a drop
more, Daniel Help me, my God, till all
these things are accomplished l thank
you, Hoskins, for these words. / shall
not forget them"
He had become SO much occupied with
that he had not noticed the wagon which
lad reached the road, 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 ana saw Thomas
Edgerton, who said:
Daniel, does thee mean to keep thy
vow."
Yes, friend Edgerton, 1 do
Thee has promised great many
times thee'd drink no more. What makes
thee think thee will keep thy vow this
time.r
II know, friend Edgerton, have often
vowed | would drink no more. But now
/ feel different from what 1 have felt be-
fore; my heart is almost broken and
feel my weakness; and 1 believe God will
help me this time.''
God grant that it may be so! Daniel,
get III and take n seat. Thee must be hun
cry; go home with me-"
On the way the Quaker drew out OF
him all that has been written, and he ad-
vised him to go to California He told
him to go 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 goesy''
/ SHOULDN'T they have become so
estranged from me; If l went, perhaps
they would not believe me. / think 1t
would be better they should not know
where / am. want to surprise them and
hope TO do so by coming back a sober
man, and with money enough to make
them comfortable / prefer that you and
your wife should be the only persons in
the Mace who shall know where am or