The Van Buren press., 1875-10-05
John Todd's Reformation.

John Todd's Reformation.
1t not unfrequently happens that when
prayers and ntreaties and shame, suffer
ing and degradation. have failed to cheek
a man in his down hin course, some Incl
dent seemingly changes the whole eur
rent of his life have such An incident
ia mind. You may know my hero as John
Todd. A few living will ano. hin
any name.
John Tedd had sunk very low. Once
he had been gay, handsome and happy.
When he made Mary Somcrs his wife,
there was not a young man in our village
whose prospects seemed brighter But
the demon of drink seized him 1t was
a gradual going down. Wife and child
red were neglected; true friends were for
saken; the low and debased were his
chosen companions, and poverty and
want fell upon his once happy house
hold
| For months aud years friends tried to
save John Todd, They expostulated
they prayed they begged. they reasoned,
but all to no avail and at length they
gave it up.
One night, quiverins and shaking with
not a 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 houte. 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 small locker over the fire place he
found bottle, the contents Of which had
the smell of rum. As he raised it to his
lips, his wife, who had been watching his
movements, sprang forward. and dashed
the bottle from his hand, shvering it up
on the hearth.
With a fierce oath, John Todd smote
his wife to the floor, supine upon the bro
ken glass, and then staggered away to
his bed He would not 60 out again, for
he had no money.
On the following morning, his oldest
child, girl Of twelve years, came to his
bedside.
20, papa. do you know what you did,
last night7
He had = dim recollection. but made
no reply.
You knocked mamma down and cut
her badly
Aye, child, she--she'--
She saved your life, papa That was
poison in the bottle you we're bolding to
your lps-a most dreadful poison.
Poison, child!
Yes, don't you remember what grand
ma sent over for mamma to kill bugs
with :? 1t was corrosive sublimats and al
eohol.
John Todd sank back upon his pillow,
and did not get up until noon. When he
arose, he was very weak and tremulous
tiv iirrp'sc1 ;'r..'e ",Aa. .ran, Ar i,.e the
her mead He went to her side'" "a"ahnnt
his hand upon her shoulder. She turned
and looked into his face, but he did not
speak. He only kissed her, and then
went cut
Only kissed her What did it mean 7
Mary Todd caught her hands over her
heart to crush back the sudden, surglng
hope. 1t were sadness to hope now. Ana
vet with the impress of the kiss upon
her cheek, and with the memory si the
| look that had accompanied it, she sank
upon her knees, and went and prayed,
'ohn Todd went away into the woods,
where he wandered until nishtfall, and
with the last CLEAN of the setting sun ne
was upon his knees, his palsied hands
reverently folded, speaking VOW TO
heaven that his home should be once
more happy, if he could make it 50.
Out of the darkness of desola,ion
even in the midst of ruin, comes the an
gel Of hope and promise to stricken
home. Mary heard, and saw, and took
heart, and gave her smile and blessing tc
the work.
That was twenty years ago. John Todt
has kept the faith from that day to this
He is beloved. respected and honoret
everywhere he is kpown; and a happier
woman than his wife 10 not to be fount
: anywhere.