The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-11-19
Selettea Sturp.
THE THREE BROTHERS.
A TALE OF UNION AND DISUNION
By j. 7. TRowBRIDGE.

IAkl !.
The merchant of NIilbrook. diving, left
three sons to inherit his estate. This was
the most valuable property in the village
consisting of an extensive country store
the onv one in the placc-a handsome farm
and V, y excellent grist mill.
On his osath bed. the merchant called his
three sons IT, his side, and said;
am abou' to die; and | shall have my
self ready to iuNYc this world in peace
when | have given You the advice of an old
and experienced man, and a fathers bless
ing.
II leave to you considerable property,
! which hope you will know how 70 appre-
ciate and enjoy. take more pleasure in
| bestowing upon you this fruit OF my indus
try, since have the satisfaction of feeling
! that in accommodating wealth, have never
knowingly wronged Il living being, nor
even devated from the path Of rectitudc.
! And OH my sons, consider, now, what a
! heavy burden of guilt upon me this would
have been at this lime, did my conscience
tell me il had been purchased at the expense
of my uprightncss and the happiness of my
fellow beings? Consider, too, how much
better it would be to die in honest poverty,
than in the midst of Il-got riches; and, in all
your dealing with mankind, remember the
earnest counsel Of dying father: BE just to
your neighbor, and keep your conscience
clean"
After giving utterance to much more ad-
vice of the same description, TO which his
SONS listened with pious attention, the old
man said:
81 have made my will according to the
best of my judgment, and in the sincerity
of my love. In this have not considered
the interest of one more than that of an
other; and am sure you will respect your
fathers memory too much to murmur at his
last worldly dispensation."
The young men joined in assurance of
veneration tor the old man, love for each
other, and pous submission TO his will
Then the merchant of Mlbrook continued :
"You. Richard my first horn--the be-
loved of your mother, whoml am going to
join in another world-you, for whom |
first experienced fathers joy and she a
mothers tenderness-you have a just claim
to be considered first"
Richard pressed the old mau's hand, and
Joseph and James bowed in silent acllnowl-
edgement of their fathers justice.
40 you Richard" pursued the dying
man, 81 give the farm, with everything per-
tanning to it, except the land on the farther
side of the stream which | think should
properly belong to the mill. You have a
sanguine temperament Richard you are
fond of air and exercise, and am sure the
action of Il farmers lie will suit you better
than anything else.
You, Joseph, have mechanical genius.
You have always taken delight in the ma
chinery about the mill, for the management
ofwhich you are well suited. Accordingly,
have given it to you with all its depend
eEcies, and the land belonging to it,
'Gou, my dear James, have a talent for
trade, You shall be a merchant after your
father The store, and village lots, which
naturally go with it,, belong to you.
"And now, oh my sons, hear my last
counsel, Although your property is di-
vided, let not your hearts he divided, also
Labor together, and for your mutual good
as you have always done until now. United
you will be strong divided the world will
discover your weakness. No. my dear sons
be not divided. Richard shall raise grain
in abundance, aud shall share with his
brothers for Joseph shall grind it, ard
James shall offer it freely to both. And
SO may ye live, oh my sons, in love, and in
integrity, in mutual faith and so may
Heaven bless you, as | bless you now"
The death of old Richard Blame took
place in the family mansion, which apper-
tained to the store. and which now became
the property of James, the youngest son.
Here the brothers had always lived and
here they continued to live after the mer-
chants death for James would not permit
either Richard or Joseph to leave him al
though both the farm and the mill boasted
of houses almost as comfortable TO live in
as that belong ing TO the store,
mo, no, boys" James would say, you
must not leave the family mansion so long
as we remain bachelors. You are within
quarter of a mile of your farm, Richard
near enough, you are such a walker and
am sure il is better to give up the entire