Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-11-01
JOHN TODD,s REFORMATION.


1t not unfrequently happens that
when prayers and entreaties and shame
and suffering and degradation have fail
ed to check man in his down hill
course, some incident seemingly changes
the whole current of his life. | have
such an incident in mind. You may
know my hero as John Todd A few yet
living will know him by another name.
John Todd had sunk very low. Once
he had been gay, handsome and happy.
When he made Mary Somers his wife
there was not a young man in our viii
lage whose prospects seemed brighter.
But the demon of drink seized him. 1t
was gradual growing of appetite, and
a gradual going down. Wife and chill
dren were neglected the low and debas-
ed were his chosen companions, and pow
erty and want fell upon his once happy
household.
For months and years his friends tried
to save John Todd. They expostulated,
they prayed, they begged, they reason
ed, but all to no avail, and at length
they gave it up.
One night, quivering and 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 eommenc-
ed to search. protesting to believe that
she had liquor hidden away somewhere.
At length, away back on one of the
shelves of small locker over the fire.
place, he found bottle the contents of
which smelled like rum. As he raised 1t
to his lips, his wife, who had been
watching him, sprang forward and dash
ed the bottle from his hand, shivering
it upon the hearth.
With fierce oath. John Todd smote
his wife to the floor, supine upon the
broken glass, and then staggered away
to his bed. He would not go out again,
for be had no money.
On the following morning his oldest
child-a girl of twelve years-came to
his bedside.
..Oh papa, do you know what you
did last night o.
He had dim recollection, but made
no reply.
"You knocked mamma down, and cut
her badly.
SAY, child, she-she-"
"She saved your life, papa. That was
poison in the bottle you were holding to
your lips-a most dreadful poison"
Poison, child %
"Yes. don't you remember what grand
ma sent over to mamma to kill bugs
with ? 1t was corrosive sublimate and
alcohol"
John Todd sank back upon his pillow,
and did not get up till noon. When be
arose he was very weak and tremulous
He dressed himself and went out into
the kitchen, where he saw his wife stand.
ing by the fireplace with napkin bound
around her head. He went to her side,
and laid his hand upon her shoulder
She turned and looked into his face, but
did not speak He 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, surgine
hope. 1t was madness to hope now
And yet, with the impress of the kis'
upon her cheek, and with the memory
Of the look that accompanied it. she sanl
upon her knees and wept and prayed.
John Todd went away into the woods
where he wandered until nightfall, ana
with the last cleaning Of the setting
sun he was upon his knees. his palsiec
hands reverently folded. speaking yOv
. TO Heaven that his home should be one
/ more happy if he could make il So