Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-03-09
.UFSCEEL.g.E'EDES.
mot a Drop More, Daniel"

Daniel Akin had become confirm
ed drunkard. So fully had he come
under the dominion of the bottle, that
he was perfectly miserable when he
could not obtain the means of gratify-
ing his thirst. He had neglected his
family until his wife's father had taken
her and the children to the paternal
roof. He had spent all his substance
in drink aud was kept from the poor
house only by performing menial SER
vices for his food, and by the kindness
of Thomas EdgartOn, member of the
Society of Friends, who had known
him from his youth, and who had d
strong hope that, in the course OF time,
he would see his folly and turn again
into the right path.
Hoskins, 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 unfeeling:
Not q drop more, Daniel"
He remained a while longer and
then left. AS the cool air of the eve
ming fell upon him he, all at once, gave
utterance to his feelings in the follow
ing strain:
"'Not drop more, Daniel Am !
drunk or sober? l am sober. Not q
drop more, Daniel Did Hoskins
think drop would hurt me? No; but
my money was gone. He has got all;
got everything l had-even the Bible
my mother gave me. He has got the
boots which my wife, with her own
earnings, bought for Jennie. Net g
drop more, Daniel Daniel, what say
you to that? | say so, too. | once had
good clothes, but now / have nothing
but rags. Not drop more, Daniel,
till have clothes again as good as
when Mary and l were married. ]
once had good watch, but that, too, is
gone! sNot drop more Daniel till
have horse and buggy as good as ]
once had. j once had cows that fur.
nished my family with butter and
cheese, but Hoskins has got them.
Not drop more, Daniel till these
cows, or others as good, are mine
again. | once had this wallet full OF
bills; but now not cent have / got.
Not drop more, Daniel till this wal
let is well filled again."
By this time he had reached .he
place where he formerly resided, and
leaning up agains: 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 l owed 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 began my married
life, and all that heart could wish was
mine. Here Mary and l 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 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. And then,
how she begged me never TO strike
her mother again! l can see her now
her pale face, her wasted form: but
she cannot come to me again. And
o, my wife, how shamefulIy | abused
heri 1t was not your Daniel that did
il. No, it was Hoskins' accursed rumI
No wonder you was taken away 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, Dan
iel,' till this house is mine again. Not
a drop more, Daniel till these broad
acres are again in my possession, and
my wife and children that are living
are in yonder rooms and we are hap
py family once mere. Not q 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