The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-06-21
John TOdd's Reformation.

IL not lilIteqnently happens that
when prayers, aud entTeatiet,, and shame,
suffering, and degradation, have failed
to check man in bis down-hill course,
some incident seemingly changes the
whole current OF his lifc. / have
such an incident in mini. You mny
know my hero ~ JOhn Todd. A few
yet living will know him by another
name.
John Todd had stink very low. Once
be Ind been gay, handsome, and happy.
When lie tnada Mary Somers his wife,
there was not q yollng man in our village
whose prospects seemed brighter. But
the demon bf drink seized him. It was
q gradual growing Of appetite, aud n
gradual going down. Wife ndchildren
were neglected; true friends were for
aalSen; the low and, .theg ;debased wore
bis chosen companions and poverty and
want fell upon his household. ].
For months and yeais his friends tried
TO save John Todd. They expostulated,
they prayed, they begged, they reasoned,
but all to no avail (; and at length they
gaye It up.
Ono night, quiyering and shaking,
with not o penny in his pocket, John
Todd entered his dilapidated home, and
asked his wife for liquor. She told him
there was not q drop in the house. He
cursed hor sayagely, and then COM
tnenced to search, protesting to believe
tliat she had liquor hidden away some.
where, AT length, away back on ono Of
the shelves OF small locker over the
Fireplace he found o bottle, the contents
Of which smelled like rum. Ashe raised
it to his lips his wife, who had been
watching him, sprang forward and dashed
the bottle from his hand, shivering 1t
upon the hearth.
With o fierce oath John Todd smote
his wife to the floor, supine upon the
broken glass, and then staggered away
TO his bed. Hewolld not go out again,
for he had no money.
On the following morning his oldest
child, q girl Of twelve years, came to his
bedside. Y
40, papa, do you know what you did
Inst nightP
He bad dim recollection, but made
no reply. i.aa.i
'Yoa knocked poor mamma down,
and cut her badly"
Aye, 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, childi" p raa.
eyes; don't you remember what
grandma sent over for mamma TO kill
bugs With It was corrosive sublimate
and alcohol"
John Todd sank back upon his pill
low, and did not get up until noon.
When lie arose no was very weak and
tremuloua. He dressed himself and
went ont into the kitchen, where he saw
his wife standing by the fireplace, with
q napkin bound around her head. He
wentto her side, and laid his hand upon
her shoulder. She turned aud looked
into his face, but he did not speak. He
only kissed her, and then went out.
Only kissed herl What did 1t mean |
Mary Todd caught her hands over her
heart to crush back tho sudden, surg
ing hope. 1t were madness to hope
now. And yet, With the impress Of the
kiss upon her cheek, and with memory
Of the look that had accompanied it, sho
SINK upon her knees and wept and
prayed.
John Todd went away into the woods,
where lie wandered until nightfall, md
with the last cleaning Of the setting
sun he was upon his knees, his palsied
hands reyerently folded, speaking vow
to Heaven TINT 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 the
stricken home. Mary heard, md saw,
and took heart, and gave her smile and
blessing 10 the work.
That was twenty years ago. John
Todd has kept the faith from that day to
this. He Is beloved, respected, and
honored wherever he Is known; and q
happier woman than his wife is not to
be found anywhere.-Ledgcr