FOR HIS BROTHER'S SAKE.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1080, 31 August 1883, Page 4

FOR HIS BROTHER'S SAKE.

LITERATURE.

The True History of* a Life of Self-Sacrifice. By Col. Geokge W: Symonds. “ The Governor • pardoned John Brisben, a penitentiary convict, to-day. He was sent up from Bonrbon for fifteen years for forgery, and had ten years yet to serve. Our readers are familiar with .the history of this case, and the humane action of his Excelhncy will bo gone-: rally commended.” —Frankfort {Ky.) Yeoman. I read this 1 i 1 tie paragraph and my mind went lack six years. I knew 5 John Brisben, and I also knew Ids twin 'brother Joseph., I was familiar with • the details of the-action that placed John Brishcn in a felon’s cell, and now when the sad affair is 'brought back to my 'mind so vividly ! must write it ont, tor •.-newer’'before have I met, in prose or iif real 'life nr in romance, a greatuCikero, ttian ; inatlor-ot-faut John. Bvishen. Tie Brisbens came - of good stock. 1 t-think .the great-grandfuth-'r of my hero emigrated to Kntiu'ky when Kenton’s- Station, 1 etween the present city of May si lie anil the historic old Town of Washington, was ihn principle settlement on the dark, and bloody ground'.’’ - He came from 'Upper, Pennsylvania and lociited 'about five, miles from the Ohio 'River, 1 bn Limestone Creek. He was an’ iivdn'strbnis strongliuif'edji dinri-hiiarled-ohl fellow, and in a few '-years his smroundings were of themost comfortable’,description. .Qne ‘of iiis 'sons/ " Edwin Brisben, once represented .Kentucky in Federal; Congress-. I think ho was the grand-father of i John ..and Joseph Brisden. Their fathcr’s.name was Samnelpand ho died when ‘ - they were little children, leaving his vvidow ,an , excellent bldegra!ss fibril ami a Snug little fortune in stocks,-bonds,-’.and mortgages;' The widow' : 'remained ' a ’ widow until her death. . /Sirs Samuel T Brisben -was,*- >* good wbrinin, and she idolized her twin boys.. -;Like most twins, the brothers resembled..each .other -in a striking manner) and even intimate acquaintance conld not tell iheni apart. But although ■ the physical ‘resemblance was so strong there .was gieat dissimilarity in the dispositions of the twins. Joseph Brisben was surly and morose, , sometimes.cnuning nndircvengeful. He was withal a dreamer and an enthusiast; a mimAVekkleniined riubbbks/ a brillian*, frothy talker when he chose to be sogiable .(-whi.ch was seldom-),' 41 splendid horseman,.and a most excellent shot. John’ Bfisben, pn the contrary, was' cheerful and bright, Honourable and for-i giving. rt |H e was.«man' of rhigh v moral principle, .intensely., r .practical and methodical,’ cared .li ttle-for books, - and r splendid: companion. He-was a poor horseman,.and I doxi’t. think- fie ever shot a gnu in his life. ' He saw nothing, of.the poetry of. life/audios for .sport., he enjoyed Idnfself only .when har.cl at work. He'loved his brother/ 1 and when they, \y.cre boys together,suffered .punishment many limes, and uncomplainingly, that “ Jodie ” might go' scot free; His life was therefore one constant"sacrifice/' hril thg’bhject bfihlsJoving adbyalipii made f hut shabby returns' for this unselfish' devotion; ft.cn jl’L /'i. Co ."cJ They were twenty years, old when their mother died very suddenly. Joseph pfbtencenl grief, and was so hysterical at the grave that he had to be led wkhyl • " 1 ' ■■ ■“‘ - John, on the contrary, never demonstrative, took ;lhe/great?affliction with his customary coolness. He said but Tlie property' left to, the boys was nonsiderablfe/ THe day they were dVj; the ‘tfdsleei/met; ahd ! ;riiaffh kettl^htent,There; was the blnd-^Hsi'farm” valtfed' at + 50j.00.0d015/ an'd o> Tob,bo'o , (Jpls’ ;* im :: 7nvestkd; securities 1 r wHich’%dnlfi f ‘ho^'tufn ! iritfi* money*Si'Jp's6pb idemiffided: a :; ’division. ffoYorhcap take theSJfanjJ/ Jack//die said- b<ifa'l)'WaS,;:UG,veCriCntr,;OUt !for,a: farmfit s fohmy.uhar^.’// ; s i r S.o; .this sort;of;* .division was - made. Jphfi; ( icontinned t.oo at the homestead, working jn. !his ; plain, 'methodical way, - andrslowly >adding to ; -his i share-of. the money what he could--raise out of the profits oLt be famuoqi Joseph) <with r his nowly-acquised health up anestablishrgant!ftt.theinc4Teßt„to,wn and bbgan a life . oif n pleasure ; >• I of . ■ , the c grosser,'.u sort. His?brother-:gave.hinr noi advice, .for he knew .it Was useless.'] Joseph spent*'his rrfbney withigreat prodigality and before he knew it he was a beggar. In the meantime John’s——2s,ooodols had doubled? One day: Joseph came to him with », full - confession of his pecuniary’ troubles. - ;.,• \ \\ ; •; . v . > ; b jacif^’’ s a id»; “ I.flip .-pot only, a? beggar/ but I iam keavily in debt. Help we out like a good fellow, and I will settle down and begin life in sober earnest.- With my* capacity for business I can soop.raake money enough to repay yoiy i; wild 'oats, and with a litUe iielp I can soon recover all that I have squandered so foolishly.” For.an f answer John Brisben. placed his’name’to an order for the 25,000 dols, he had,earned-,so laboriously. II Wilt that be* enough, Jodie ?” be asked, “ because I have as much more, which you can have if it is necessary. “ This will ,bc sufficient, old, fellow,” was the !i reply.;; “ In two years I will pay it back.” ' ' He went hack to town, drew his money, paid his debts, sold some of his horses 4nd ’discharged several of his servants. Twcnfy thousand dollars was left cut of the loan. He invested this in business, and for a while seemed to Itave really reformed, John, was encouraged ; 10-.sr.y : ■ “ Jodie will come ont all right. He is smarter than I, and in five years whl b ; worth more money than I conld make in a lifetime.” In hss than three years Joseph Brr/ben’s aff.iirs wore in the hands of

his creditors, and a sheriffs officer closed ont his business. Again he turned to, his brother for help and sympathy. “ 1 own that I managed a trifle carelessly,” he said l y way of explanation. “ Experience is a dear teacher, and the lesson I )iave le rued I shall never forget. If yon cotno to my assistance now 1 can soon recover myself.” (lo be continued.)