Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-01-06
The Three Brothers.

woman in Japan was left widow with
three small boys, and no means of subsistence
out their labor. These young lads, not having
oeen brought up to this kind of life, obtained
with difficulty the necessaries of existence, and
deeply lamented not being able to place their
mother in happier condition.
1t had been made public, not long previous.
that whoever would seizea robber and bring him
to the magistrate should receive considerable
sum. The three brothers, whom the poverty of
their mother effected thousand time more than
their own, conceived, unanimously, a resolution
as strange as heroic. They agreed that one of
them should pass for robber, and the other two
should carry him to the Judge, and inform against
him.
F. They cast lots 10 know who should be the
victim Of filial love; it fell upon the youngest,
.iySwho suffered himself to be bound and conduct
-" ctninal sHa ackpogl edged bat be had
roobed. He was sent topris6h, and tde.> csseyt
received the promised sum; but before going
home they found means Of going into the prison
wishing, at least, to say last adieu to their un
happy brother. There, believing themselves to
be seen by no one, they threw themselves into
the armes of the prisoner, and by Tears showed
him the excess of affection and sorrow with
which they were filled.
The magistrate who, by accident, was in a
place from which he perceived them, was sur
prised to see criminal receive such proofs o.
friendship on the part of those who had delivered
him to justice. He gave orders to one of his
men to follow the two informers, and watch then
closely.
The domestic obeyed, and reported to hi
master, that having entered after them into lhei
house, he stopped at the door Of the chamber o
their mother, where he could easily overhea
them. That on entering, the first care of tn
two lads had been to give their mother tn
money they had received as the price of thei
information; that woman, astonished, had show
more dissatisfaction than joy at the sight of
sum SO large; that she questioned them warml
on the manner by which they reqred it, and o
the absence of their brother; that they wei
unable reply but by weeping, but, at last, threa
ened with the maedictions Of q mother so dea
they had confessed all.
At this frighful recital the unfortunate w
man, penetrated with gratitude and also vii
terror, rushed out with the intention of going
declare all to the magistrate, but unable to be
such agitation, had fallen senseess into the arm
of her children.
After this relation, the judge went to the prl
on of the third brother, and nerrogated hi
anew; but the lad persisted in his tale, al
| nothing could induce him to recant. Then 1
Judge informed him that he only wished to knc
soiwhat oxaent his Elial love wets4 carry him. a
! declared that he had been informed of all I
details Of his history.
The judge finally went to make his report
, this adventure to his sovereign, and the prime
struck with an action so heroic, wished to S
, the three brothers and the mother of the ov
, children. He loaded them with presents, a
marks of distinction, assigned to the youngest
pension of fifteen hundred crowns, and FIVE hu
: dred to each of the others.