Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-09-14

Daniel Aiken had become q con-
arraed firunkard. So fully had he
hacome under the dominion Of the
bottle that he was perfectly misera-
HE when be could not obtain the
means of gratifying his thirst. He
had neglected his family I'LL his
wife's father had taken her and the
children 10 the parental 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 Edgerion, member If 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
ofthe place, had let him have a drink
40 long as his money lasted, but he
would trust him no longer. lie was
lonaging about the saloon one bright
moonlight evening, pleading with
n the keeper 70 trust him a drink.
His reply was sharp and unfeeling:
n Not 8 drop more, Daniel"
II He remained q while longer, and
4 then left. IS the cool air OF the
q evening fcilnpon him, he ell at once
] gave uttefanee 10 his feelings in the
4 following strains;
4 Not drop more, Daniel. Am
4 drHnk on sm ] sober. Not "a drop
more, Daniel Did Hoskins think
drop more would hurt me? No,
u but my money has all gone. He
n had got All. got everything ] had
81 even tho Bible my mother gave me.
III lie has got the boots which my wife,
N with her own earnings, bought for
n Jennie. Not drop more, Daniel
"a whattio you say TO that? l say so
n too; once had good clothes, but
NJ now have nothing, but rags. Not
n drop more, Daniel, till / have
ID Clothes again as good as when Mary
and l were married. / once had n
& good watch; but that, TOO, is gone!
Not drop more, Daniel, Till have
another horse end buggy a. good. L
# once had cows that furnished my
81 family with butter and cheese, but
' III oskins has them. Not drop
more, Daniel till those cows, or
cthers as good are mine again l
Once had this wallet full Of bills; but
nov not cent have / got. Not a
drop more, Daniel, til this wallet is
vel filed again.
BY this time he had reached the
81 place where he formerly resided, and
Meaning up against the fence, no
unused long time in silence. He
Viewed tho desoiate place by the
light of the moon and his eyes
ranged oyer the house and farm,
Dnce his own. lie then said 10 him
ncif--
''OnCc | owned this house and
farnl. Here | was born. Here my
father AID mother died. / was the
pride Of theiE hearts; but brought
down their gray hairs with sorrow
to the gravel Here began my
married life, and ali that heart could
wish was mine. Here Mary and /
took comfort together until Hoskins
eame and opened his store, and now
he calls II his. In that south room
my children were born, and there
my Jeunle died. OH how sorrowful
siae looked when she saw mo take
her boots and start for the store TO
pawn them for rum, while she lay
sick upon tho bod. And then how
she begged me ueca- 20 strike her
lfipther again. can SEQ her now
her pale face, her wasted form; but
she cannot come 10 me again. And
q, my wife, bow shameful / abused
ker' IL was not you, Daniel, that
did Ii. No, 1t was Hoskins' accureed
rum! No wonder you wero taken |
from by those who loved you and |
would not SEQ you abused. They |
won't have me in the house nor let |
me live with you. Not drop !
moro, Daniel till this house IL
mine again. Not a drop more
Daniel till these broad acres are |
again In my possession, and the wife |
ard children are living In yOndcr
rooms amt we are a happy family |
once more. Not drop more, Dam
fei.' Help me my God till all these
things are accomplished! thank
you, Hosklns, for these words. ]
shall not forget them.
Hehad become 80 much occupied |
with his thoughts and spoken In "A
tone 80 loud that he had no. noticed
the wagon which had reached the
read. In which was seated the kind |
hearted Qurker before mentioned.
He stepped mis- horse and heard des-
tinctly the language Daniel used. AZ
he closed his soliioquy, he turned
md saw Thomas Edgerton, who
aid:
Daniel, does thee mean TO keep
thy vow"
Yes, friend Edgerton, do"
thee has promised great many
times thee'd drink no more. What
makes thee think thee wilI keep thy
vow this iine?''
know, friend Edgerton, ! have
offa,t vnwaxI | wautd NOT drink