Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-18
#isfella
JOHN roDDs' RkfosMAfIsy.

1t not unfrequently happens that when
prayers and entreaties and shame md suf.
iering and degradation have failed to
check man in his down hill course. some
incident seemingly changes fhewh6letur.
rent of his lite. have such an incident
10 mind. You may know my herp a4John
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 young man in our village
whose prospects seemed brighter. But
the demon Of drink seized him. II .was.a
gradual growing of appetite and Krxd.
ual going down Wife ana saIiIdr6n
were neglected; true friends wer0fGfssk-
en-; the low and debased were his chosen.
companions, and poverty and want fell
upon his happy household. g sas
For months and years his frtehdAtr161s
to save John Todd. Thev exp0gn)at4d;s
they prayed, they begged. they reasoned,
but all to no avail, and at length they gave
it up. 9AF Assa szNsssasas
One night. quivering and shivering.WiGk iGkki
not penny in his pocket, John Todd en- I
tered 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 q
small locker over the fireplace, he found
Il bottle the contens Of which smelled like
rum. As he raised it to his lips, his wife,
who had been watching him, spraug for
ward and dashed the bottle from his hand.
.t tho
With a fierce oath, John Todd smote his
wife to the floor, supine upon the broken
glass, and then staggered away to his 6ed.
He would not go out again, for he had no
money. 81. 4 v.sf,ss,
On the following morning his oldest
child-a girl of twelve years-came TO hlss !
bedside. gfsa &s -
"Oh papa, do you know what you did >
last night ?" IA
He had dim recollection, but made no
reply.
"You knocked mamma down, and cut her
badly su8s SO
"Ay, child, she-she'- ,aal
"She saved your life. papa. That was
poison in that bottle you were holding To
your lips a most dreadful poison"
Poison, child ?'' e3ise'4
Eyes, don't you remember what grand
ma sent over for mamma to kill bugs with
1t was corrosive sublimate 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 standing by
the fireplace with napkin bound round
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, surging
hope now. And yet, with the impress OF
the kiss upon her cheek aud with the mem
ory of the look that accompanied It, she
sank upon her knees and wept and prayed.
John Todd went away into the woods
where he wandered until nightiall. and
with the las, cleaning of the setting sun
he was upon his knees, speaking vow to
Heaven that his home should be once
more happy II he could make it SO 'e''
Out OF the darkness of desolatioa. even
in the midst OF ruin, comes the. apgel cf
hope and promise to the stricken home.
Mary heard and saw and gave her smile
and blessing to the work.
That was twenty years ago. John Todd
has kept his fsiih to this day. He is be-
loved. respected and honored wherever
he is known; and happier woman than
his witeiAEot to be found. Philadelphia
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