Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-02-17
lea. This he handed to James the moment
he had signed it,

lake no denial. Fortune has been unjust to
you, James. My uncle did not know your
worth, my father does not know it. No one
knows you but myself. l will not see you
20 abroad like beggar or a mere laboring
adventurer. Take this money and buy
yourself farm. 1 believe in your ability
to distinguish yourself in the country to
which you are going, by your skill and sci-
ence in agriculture. You will do honor to
the family and the name, if you have fair
play; and have il you SHALL
Il can get along without this money,
Harry, and | do not like to rob YOU
1T is no robbery. 1t is a free gift. Or,
if you are too proud for that, call it loan,
and when you are perfectly able to do so
you may repay it,
But may be shipwrecked-'
Il will provide against loss from that
cause. You must take it, James. You are
my onlybrother; could never answer it TO
my conscience, if l were 10 allow you to 60
away without providing as amply as l can
for your well being. have enough and
more than enough for myself
Thus urged, James received the money,
and, an hour after, left the paternal mansion
forever.
Years rolled on. Harry married, had a
fine family of children growing up around
him, and all was going on prosperoasly;
when his easy dispostion-his unwillingness
to say no led him into series of embar-
easements which brought him 10 the brink of
ruir, In nc bocop,,nO corur;t,,
for a friend who was engaged in extensive
commercial speculations, he was compelled
to sell the fine estate which he had inherited
from his uncle, and take shelter for him
self and his family in the homestead of his
father, now far advanced in life. The de-
cease of the old man soon after this event,
once more raised him to competence, by
giving him second Inheritance, James hav-
ing been passed over in the final disposition
Of his fathers property.
Things now went on prosperously for ma
ny years, and Harry had passed the middle
period of life. when being engaged one day
in overseeing the workmen on his farm, he
was surprised by sudden shower, and TAX
ing shelter under tree, he was struck blind
and reduced to premature decripttude by
lightning. AT forty lie had all the appear
ance of an old man. His misfortune end
ed not here. A succession of bad crops
soon ran him deeply in debt, and he found
himself once more obliged to sell his farm
to satisfy his creditors. A kind letter which
he had received some months before from,
James, determined him to join his brother
in America, and try with the few hundred
pounds which still remained to him, to re-
trleve his fortunes in that distant land.
He accordingly embarked for Philadel-
phia with his wife and two youngest chill.
dren but i'll fortune still pursued him. The
ship was wrecked on the coast of New Jer-
sey, and although the crew and passengers
were saved, the trunk which contained his
money was lost, and he found himself on a
strange shore in completely destitute con-
dilon.
Fortunately, his good spirits never de-
serted him. Although blind and destitute
his courage and fortitude were unabaled.-
He found shelter for himself and family in
the house of kind hearted farmer and
among the few effects which we're saved
from the wreck was one trunk which con.
taiued the same violin on which he had been
accustomed to play in the happy days of his
youth. When it was brought to him, he
grasped it cheerfully, and exclaimed, Will
this | may be enabled 10 find my brother.
residence without being dependent on the
hand of charity His performance on the
instrument was, in fact, so skilful, that the
villagers, won by IFS sweet tones, and theil
sympathies for his misfortunes, got up lit.
tie concert, which gave him money enough
TO commence his journey towards the inte
rior of Pennsylvania, where he hoped te
find his brother. And so he travelled OF
from town to town, poor blind fiddler, pit
tied and relieved indeed, but still very poo
and destitute, knowing not in the mornin.
where he should lay his head at night; ant
as full of anxiety as he was of affection fo
his suffering family.
When he arrived at the town from which
James last letter had been dated, he Learned
10 his dismay, that his brother had sold hi
property there and emigrated to the west. :
No one could tell in what part of the country
he had settled; but he expressed an intention
to buy farm in Illinois. Slowly and sad
ly' did poor Harry resume his Journey
Days and weeks did he toll on, until at las
they told him that he had arrived in the Stat
of Illinois. But it was great State, an
he still wandered on vainly inquiring afte
his lost brother, until the hope of finding hi
abode almost died within him.
Towards the close of chill autumn day
he found himself in the kitchen of lsrg
farm house into which he had been invite
in order to regale the children with fe,
tunes on his violin. 1t was scene of rusti
comfort. A cheerful fire blazed upon III
J hearth, 10 which his little boy fastened 70
} the purpose Of warming himself. TIL
! children of The farmer danced about The room
! in eager anticipation of the music, till tn
{ poor fiddler had drawn forth his instrumer
from its case and began to play, when its fu
sounding tones soon stilled the tumult. Tw
: little girls stood before the performer, wi,
I pleased attention, one with folded hands. an
5 the other with one hand on her lips and III
3 other holding the reins attached to the It'll
!, carload Of playlhings half forgotten benin
t her. The elder leaned over the back of he
mothers chair. sheltered by which the ltd
II kn,, Sho o~ ~ A., c., ..>v.