Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-02-21
DIR. JOHN TODD,S EARLY CA
REER.

On the 9th day Of October. A. D.
1900. poor insane woman Of Rutland.
Vermont. the wife Of helpless cripple.
gave birth to a puny babe, whom the
good neighbors we're moved to hope that
God would mercifully recall from so In
hOspitable a world as this promised to
prove to the newborn child.
On the oath Of August. 1873. there
died in Pitts6eld. Mass. venerable
clergyman, loved and honored through
out the country. and known IN his books
the world over. The unprOmising in
fant who came unwelcome into the
world at the beginning Of the century
had become the DR.. John Todd, whose
influence for good has been felt to the
very ends Of the earth, and whose pub
lished writings are read in mere Ian
guages than one can we'll count on the
fingers.
From beginning to end the story of
his life is full Of interest and luckily
his letters. Of which he wrote an unusu-
al number every year. are 50 rich in
personal detail, and 50 frank and unre-
served withal, that his biography is. in
fact, almost an autobiography, written
from day to day as the events ehrOni-
cled occurred, and with no thought Oh
Its authors part that his account Of his
hfe's experiences was ever to be put in
to print.
The childhood of the young John was
passed, after the fashion of rural child
hood in New England st that early day.
chiefly in hard work His crippled IA
ther died about six years after the boy
birth, leaving a large family, which, by
reason Of extreme poverty and the help
lessuess Of the maniac mother. was nee
essarily scattered. John found q home
with an aunt in North Killingworth,
Connecticut, where be remained several
years, working hard ''for his food and a
part of his clothes" and trapping wild
animals for the rest. When ten
years Of age, he passed brief time in
New Haven, attending school, and earn
ing his bread in the capacity Of 'rchOre
boy" in the house Of kinsman- 1t was
during this residence near Yale College
that he first came in contact with peo-
pie of higher culture than was CON-
mon among the rural folk Of North Kill
Iingworth, and the accident appears to
have determined the whole course Of his
life His ambition was awakened, and
from thas time forward his purpose was
fxed-to secure the benefits Of a
thorough training in the schools The
task he thus set himself seemed hope
less one-sO much so, indeed. that from
first to last his friends labored diligently
to dissuade him from the undertaking
He was without money, without pros
poets, and without friends able to helE
him; but. young as he was, the iror
will which served him so well IN after
life was already his. and he appears new.
er to have faItered in his purpose after
it was once formed. He lived poorly,
by such work as he could get to do
saved every moment Of time. studied IN
der any masters he could find, and f.
ually. in the autumn Of 1918. entered
Yale College, having travelled there OF
foot from Charleston, Mass, with hi
entire wardrobe under one arm and hi
entire library under the other" At tn
time Of his matrieulation, he tells Us, b
had but three cents in the world. two o
which be paid out for toll in crossing
bridge on the same day.-HDPeT
Noga=5Rs-