Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-25
The Two Brothers.
IN ENGL LISH ALE

In the outskirts of small town in De-
vonshire there stands to this day a small
farm house, of picturesque, though ruined
aspect. It had once been far more extern
sive, but it's owner a careless and unen-
ergetic man, had gradually parted with
acres, and allowed the principal portion
Of his dwelling to go, in the course of
twenty years, to ruin, until there remained
habitable but a kitchen and two bed
rooms. More addicted to sporting, and
betting on horse races, than assiduous at
tention to his interests, Edward Sargent
had become distressed farmer, not from
bad harvests or misfortune, but from
thoughtlessness or love of pleasure. 1t
was in vain that his wife strove to supply
his presence. She had young family to
attend to; and besides, good, true, pru-
dent Esther was townsman' s child whom
he had married for her beauty and per.
sonal good qualities, but who, though an
excellent wife and better mother, was not
the woman to replace the absent agricul-
turist. She had, as have said, family
two boys and a girl, whom she bl ought
up as well as she could. They had not
much outdoor education, because, at the
very time when they should have gone to
school, the income of the farmer decreased
in consequence of heavy losses, and then
came death and took away the head of the
house.
| Mrs. Sargent found herself, at thirty
seven, with a house, a few acres, and
thirty pounds a year, derived from money
in the funds of her own; and with these
limited resources she determined to do
battle for her little ones, and to raise
them to as high moral elevation as
possible. The clergyman of the parish,
fortunately, was simple, good man, who
willingly aided her; and when Edward
was twenty one, Alfred nineteen, and
Sophia seventeen, they had made much
progress. Edward was learning the bust
ness of an architect, Alfred attending to
the farm, and Sophia to the details Of the
household.
Their characters We're very different.
Edward was very thoughtful, looked be-
fore him always, and scarcely ever acted
from sudden impulse Alfred, on the
other hand, was more lively, very thought
less, and possessed by an ardent desire
to rise from his obscure and humble
position, but without ever beginning any
thing which might lead to his success.
Sophia was good little housekeeper,
aided her mother in doors, worked at her
needle, and made the house light and
merry with her sweet voice and gentle
smile
At this epoch in their life their mother
died, and Edward found himselfat twenty
one at the head of the household. The
young people deeply grieved for the loss
of their parent, and for more than six
months no other topic OF conversation
was heard in the house-all, however,
otherwise continuing as usual, Edward
going regularly to his office, Alterd attend
ing TO the affairs of the farm, and Sophia
the domestic duties of the interior. Cen
orally of an evening they assembled to-
gether, and spent the hours IN reading,
talking, and sewing, according to their
several tastes but towards the end OF
that time Edward would often 60 out of
an evening, and so soon would Alfred.
The former always returned about half
past nine, to sup with his sister, but AL
fred would often stay until nearly mid
night. For some time this change in
their mode of life excited no remark, but
one morning. at breakfast, Edward adj
dressed his brother:
my dear AL" said he, gently, chow
comes it we never see YOU of an evening