The Van Buren press., 1875-08-31
NO. Fl
John Todds Reformation.

SpAn AOuu . Ael0T TMaE0ut
1t not unfreqncntly happens that when
prayers, and entreaties, and shame, suf-
fcring, and degradation, have failed to
check man in his down hill course,
some incident seemingly changes the
whole current efhis life. have such an
incident in mind. You may know my
hero as John Todd A few yet living
will know him by any name.
John Toda had sank very low. Once
he had been gay, handsome and happy.
When he made Mary Somers his wife,
there was not young man in our village
whose prospects seemed brighter. But
the demon Of drink seized him. II was
gradual going down. Wife and chill
dren were neglected; true friends were
forsakeH; the low anil the debased were
his chosen companions, and poverty and
want fell upon his once happy household.
For months and years his friends tried
IT, save John 'Fotld. They expostuiated,
they prayed. they B. aA.eed theJ reasoned.
but all to no avail, and At length they
gave it up.
One night, qnivering aud shaking. with
not penny in his pocket, John Todd
entered his dilapidated home and asked
his wife for liquor. She told him there
was not drop in the house. He cursed
her savagely, and then commenced to
search, protesting to believe that she had
liquor hidden away somewhere At
length, away back on one OF the shelves
OF a small locker over the fire place he
found bottle the contents Of which
snlclled like rum. As he raised it to his
lips his wife, who had kcen watching
him, sprang forward and dashed the bot
tie from his hand, sllyerins II upon the
hearth.
With fierce oath John Todd smo.e
his wife to the floor, supine upon the
broken glass, antl .ben staggered away
to his bed. lie would not 60 out again
Tor he had no money
On the following morning hts oldest
child, girl Of twelve years, came to his
bedside.
"O, papa, do you know what you did
last nightS p
He had dim recollection, bnt made
no reply.
"You kaocked mamma down, and cut
her badly. !"
"Ayc. child, shc--s She III
"She saved our Iiie, papa. That was
poison in the bottle you were holding to
your lips--a most dreadful poison. !"
POISON child I"
Yes, don you remember what grand
ma sent over for mamma to kill bugs
with7 1t was corrosive sablimate and
alcohol. -
| John Todd sank back upon his pillow,
and did not get up until noon. When he
arose he was very weak and tremulous.
He dressed himself and went out into the
kitchen, where he saw his wife stand by
the fire place, with napkin bound about
her head. He went to her side, and laid
his hand upon her shoulder. She turned
and looked into his face, but he did not
speak. lie only kissed her, and then
went out.
Only kissed her. What did it mean
Mary Todd caught her hands over her
heart to crush back the sudden, snrging
hope. It were sadness to hope now.
And yet, with the impress ofthc kiss up
on her cheek, and with the memory of
the look that had accompanied it, she
sank upon her knees and wept and
prayed
Jshn Todd went away into the woods.
where he wandered until AightfalI, and
with the last CLEAN OF the setting sun he
was upon his knees, his palsied hands
revereutly folded, speaking vow to
heaven that his home should be once more
happy II he could make 1t 50.
Out Of the darkness Of desolation, even
in the midst Of ruin, comes the angel Of
hope and promise TO stricken home.
Mary heard, and saw, and took heart,
and gave her smile and blessing to the
work.
That was twenty years ago. John Todd
has kept the faith from that day to this.
He is beloved, respected. and honored
Is Is II arr.
woman than his wife is not to be found
anywhere.