Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-09-11
JOSIAH TODD.
by MRS. A. NJ. FREEMAN.


for any one of us had we been so lucky
as to have had the Todds' fortune. An
hundred thousand dollars isn't a small
item, especially when it is successor to
so many cents.
Josiah Todd had made an investment.
Sallies fortune had heen let down in n
shaft leading to well of pure coal oil,
and now ii had come up magnanimously,
having added TO itself u thousand fold.
Josiah Todd came into the house, his
round, red face all aglow, his little eyes
shining happily
"Sailie!A he cried, excitedly, "rve
been offered hundred thousand for my
share in the WELL"
"a hundred thousand! oh! Josiah,
hope you have taken it,"
" No, Sallie; it is worth as much to me
as to any one. I've never been rich. l
want to learn how il will seem. 1t must
be mighty fine to be the biggest man in
the place There's old Plum isn't bit
finer fellow than am; he's wonderfully
looked up to. And as for Mrs. Plum,
she's only a shadow to you, Sallie; and
their Matilda isn't near so hearty a
lookin' girl as our Polly"
Josiah Todd was a small man-that is,
measuring only his length.-but if one
attempted to consider his breadth he
might be counted as modern Brobdig-
nag. In fact he was staunch old
Knickerbocker, genuine descendant of
the worthy Aldermen who, Washington
Irving tells us, cut their garments into
strips to measure the boundaries of their
land. Josiah Todd could have encom-
passed respectable section.
Josiah went out into the street. He
threw his head back, placed his thumbs
in his pocket, tipped his hat a little to
one side, and prepared himself thorough
ly to do Justice to his new Importance.
But however much he had felt elated he
was scarcely prepared for the extra con-
descension with which he was greeted.
A little way from his own door he met
Lawyer Snibbs. Now Snibbs had often
met Todd and had always passed him in
differently, sopSe4mes with little nod,
Just the slightest, in fact; then again he
would walk by quickly, paying no more
attention to Josiah than as though he had
not been directly in his way. You see,
Todd lived In a little wood colored frame
building-Snibbs lived in stone front.
"How do you do, Mr. ToddS' said
Snibbs, warmly, pulling off his black kid
and reaching forth his white hand.
"Quite we'll, | thank you," said Todd,
utilgultu, anu CAICIulhS MS iA''iN oiANi "
brown hand.
ave must be neighborly, Todd" said
Snibbs. "pve often wondered that your
| family didn't call. | am sure our young
people would be delighted with each
other"
"Why," said Todd, stammeringly,
quite unprepared for this speech, and, in
| his ignorant simplicity, unable to detect
its insincerity, 81 am sure we have been
waiting for YOU. OF course Sallie would
be that glad to drink cup of tea with
Mrs. Snibbs, and as for Polly, the child
has wished so many times that she could
be near enough to your stylish daughter
so that she might learn exactly how t(
arrange her back hair. You see, the rats
will shown
"Well, come in, Todd. Come in. lie
us be friendly" So saying the lawye
passed on.
" Not so bad fellow, after all" re
flected Todd. "a very pleasant-spokel
man. Quite generous of him to invit,
us in. must speak TO Sallie. No doub
it is our own fault that we haven't ha'
friends"
A little further down the street Tod
met the doctor of the place.
How are you, Todd?" said DR.. Beck
grasping Todd's hand and shaking il "A
warmly as though Todd had been tn
grand Mogul himself, 81 hope you ar
well. Is Mrs, Todd thriving? All of tn
little Todds livelyY"
"Quite WELL" answered Todd, rubbin
his little fat fingers together in ecstacy
"ThaCs a blessing, Todd, When
, man can point to SO perfect "A family a
yours-can pronounce them PHYSICAL
J healthy, and morally whole-it is a pos
tive proof that he himself has been a
honest man in his life, as his fathers bC
| fore him. That's aristocracy, sir! That
| blood That's our nobilityp
! 81 didn't know,n said Todd, reflectiv,
{ ly, looking after the doctor "that Bee
f was so good natured fellow though
him short and gruff, little kind of stuc
+ up, as though he was better than con
( mon folks. A pity that we amt any {
| us sick, so that we could call him il
, But Sallie is so healthy, and the youn
ones are like knots, But here comC
5 Plum. l declare, if he isn't liftinghis hi
9 and bowing-smiling even"
: 6 ! was just thinking of you, Tod'
The very man | wanted to see. 1t WI
: only this morning that my wife gave m
$ instructions to invite yourself and fan
D lily to the excursion. Only the first fan
s lilies of the place are going We've cha
n tered boat, and intend to have III
y top time Do join us, and prevail upo
! your amiable lady to make one of Il
t party Nothing will delight the your
y people so much as to have your son an
d daughter of the number"
t "Thank you! thank youp repliC
c Josiah, throwing back his head lit
g further and stepping prouder as
/ walked away.
y When Todd went home that noon
s was with the firm determination TO re
+ der his family worthy of their illustriol
/ head. He carried with him the la
: guide to etiquette, several fashion ma
D azines, engaged dress-maker, rented
brown stone front, gave it over into Il
hands of the upholsterer and mat
g speedy preparations for immediate e
e odus.
s Sallie begged to be excused from joi
ing the excursion, but as Plum had Sc