Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-05-04
"NOt a Drop More, Daniel"

drunkard. So fully had he come un-
der the dominion of the bottle, 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 poor-house only
by performing mental services for his
food, and by the kindness of Thomas
Edgarton, a member of the Society of
Friends, who had known him from his
youth, and who had 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 enc bright moonlight
evening, pleading with the keeper to
trust him for drink. His reply was
sharp and unfeeling:
Not a drop more, Daniel.''
He remained awhile longer and then
left. As the cool air of the evening
fell upon him, he all at once, gave ut
terance to his feelings in the following
strain:
Not drop more, Daniel Am |
drunk or am sober? / am sober. Not
a drop more, Daniel. Did Hoskins
think drop would hurt me? No; but
my 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 1 have nothing
but rags. Not drop more, Daniel
till l have clothes again as good as
when Mary and 1 were married. L
once had good watch; but that too is
gone. Not drop more, Daniel, till 1
have another horse and buggy as good
as once had. L once had cows that
furnished my family with butter and
cheese, but Hoskins has got them.
Not drop more, Daniel till those
or others as good, are mine again. L
once had wallet full of bills, but now
not cent have L got. Not a drop,
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
long time i'm silence He viewed the
desolate place by the light of the moon,
and his eye 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 my mother died. L was the
pride of their hearts; but l 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 took comfort
together until HOskins came and open
ed his rum-shop and now he calls it his.
In that south room my children were
born, and there my Jennie died. Oh,
how sorrowful she looked when she
saw Inc 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 for me never to Istrike her
mother again! / can see her now-her
pale face, her wasted form: but she can
not come to me again. And o, my
wife, how shamefully 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 drop more, Dan
iel, till those broad acres are again in
my possession. and the wife and chill
dren that are living are in yonder room
and are a happy family once more. Not
a drop more, Daniel Help me, my
God, till all these things are accom-
plishedl thank you, Hoskins, for
these words. | shall not forget them"
He had become so much occupied
with his thoughts, and spoken in a tone
so loud, that he had not noticed the
wagon, which had reached the road. in
which was seated the kind-hearted
Quaker before mentioned. He stopped
his horse and heard distinctly the Ian
gnage Daniel used. AS he closed his
soliloquy, he turned and saw Thomas
Edgart0n, who said:
''Daniel, does thee mean to keep thy
vow.r
''Yes, friend Edgarton, do"
''Thee has promised great many
times thee'd drink no more. What
makes thee think thee will keep thy
vow this timer
IL know, friend EdgartOn, have Of
ten vowed l would drink no more. But
now feel different from what L felt
before; my heart is almost broken and
feel my weakness; and believe God
will help me this time.''
God grant that it may be so. Dan
iel, get in and take seat. Thee must
be hungry; go home with me.''
On the way home the Quaker drew
out of him all that has been written,
and he advised him to go to California.
He told him to 90 to New York and
work his way around 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 goes?''
81 shouldn't they have become so
estranged from me; if i went perhaps
they would not believe. l think it
would be better they should not know
where am. | want to surprise them,
and hope to do so by coming back a So
Der man, and with money enough to
make them comfortable. / prefer that
you and your wife should be the only
persons in the place who shall know
where am or what am DOING
Thus, while riding toward the quiet
farm house of the Quaker, the whole
thing was arranged. When they reach
ed the farm the horse was put into the
barn, and they entered the house. AS
they seated themselves before the fire
the Quaker said to his wife: