The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-04-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
0o"' THE BARS OF A CE, .

" q State Prison. Do not be astonisbed,
my friend, at being addressed by such a
being. can assure you | am a special
convict, and, perhaps, some of these days
when l am free, you may encounter nv
verltable self in the bosom of your social
circle. If your curiosity is awakened, /
Will breathe TO you through the gratings
OF my cell my eventful history. 1t is a
strange one, respected friend. Indeed |
make bold TO say that a stranger one was
never breathed into your ear.
had an only brother. We had been
brought up in a distant village.
in the State Of Pennsylvania. Our
hther died when my younger
brother was born, leaving NV
mother very poor. She brought us nm
bravely, however. Ibeing the eldest, was
sent OF at an early age to fight the battle of
life, and, while helping myself, to do n,ne'
thing toward helping others VIII ,h;s
noble purpose in my mind l m "A, - nj
progress, and finally had the srS;,,ood .aP(, ~
set Oh to New York; rigF .dy imagining
sl snas 'nu,o S;t;o',S W. Ihe greatest prizes
l. loi an a4toa.;Ou' you' 4. Full Of the most
alugns 1-lUC'LGn i'i my mother, tried to
ant a iait ~ turn to my own advance
menI. 1 leit as though every act of my
Tb;s 1r1e I;aa fao1 L effect upon their fortunes
IN ini' .' ing so inspired me that selfde-
rlai vas not only easy, but delightful.
cling as did, that all my savings bene
hted them so greatly, how could | do
otherwise than saver
Twas extremely fortunate in New York.
Ny last employers in the country gave
me letters to one of the chief merchants
in that city. He received me kindly.
Finding out my industrious and saving
habits, he speedily promoted me- Year
by year he added to my salary. At length,
after years of labor, found myself at the
age of twenty-five, the confidential clerk
OF my employer, with a large salary, and
The control of millions.
Some years before had conceived the
idea of giving my brother a good educa-
ton. Ny brother was to ne more like a
son than anything else. His nature was
widely different from mine | was bold,
resolute and daring; he was gentle, poeti-
cal, and full of sentiment | was stern.
practical and independent; he was quiet,
reliant and meditativc. | was formed for
life of warfare and action he for a life
of study and meditation.
He went to college. His progress was
remarkable /; he was at the head in every
thing he graduated with the highest hon
Ors. | saw him at the final exhibition
when he obtained his degree. l admired
and applau1ed more than any one else my
young brother In truth, as he stood
there with his fragile form, his pale face,
his eye bcaming with the light of genius,
he was worthy of all the admiration had
TO bestov. | have his portrait now with
me. Il resembles the poe. Shelley moIe
than any face that have ever seen.
Ny brother went home, and, as l sup
posed, studied for his profession. cor
always with my mother. My
brother was always irregular in lette-.
writing, and | never thought much MT
hearing from him. l soon n.aesr,e
troubled, however, at learn cc .hst he
was unwel | recommen' ,c1 tr;,, acroa.
the ocean and a tour t. f.1ough Europe, and
Offered to pay his expenses. After this
oner Wai'eu -nxiously to learn the ef-
Iect. l dld not hear from home for rear
y III .hth. grew very apxioss, and
y, .n' -ght seriously of paying them visit
--ince my departure, fifteen years before, 1
had never been home, and had only met
my relatives on their visits to me at New
York.
One day on going to the office founda
telegraphic dispatch. The words of that
dispatch have bufned themselves into my
memory:
Your brother is dying, Come homei"
III waS strangers name. Great God
nv brother dying! A stranger, too, telc-
graphing to me, What meant all this?
Was my mother also dying?
| never closed my eyes for three davs
and three nights, nor did eat mouthful
until | came in sight of my native town in
Pennsylvania L waited for two hours
trying TO overcome my agitation created
by fasting and want of sleep. Ordinarily
nothing rufflet me; but now was as
weak rs child. | walked up the main
street came within sight of the old
familiar cottage. The blinds were all
down. Great Heaven | was not prepared
for such blow l dreaded the worst.
The worst had come. A stranger opened
the door-a stranger stared at me.
recognized much OF the old furniture with
which my mother would not part. / saw
my brothers portrait hanging in the hall.
I" Are they in2" gasped out, not know
ing what said.
No one recognized me. did not wish
to be recognized Fearful of being an OBJ
ject Of vulgar pity, | had determined to
act as stranger. So, with all the calm
ness that L could muster, asked after my
mother by name. Then the blow fell The
woman at the door spoke solemnly:
"She's dead, Sir"
Hadn't she SON." | asked, with
frightful attempt at indifference
Yes, Sir-his death broke her down.
She died next day
Unfortunate people
"Ah yes, Sir There's never been
u
pecially poor Henry, Sir. He was u great
favorite"
al used to know brother OF his in
New York Does he know about this?"
"Ah, Sir, Idon'tknow. It'll be sad
blow for him"
"IIow did it happen?"
"Won't you walk in, sir? and III tell
you"
"No, thank you It's so close. I'm hot;
III sit here"
/ sank into a seat by tic cottage door
The woman told me all. Her story was
simply this:
When Henry came home from college
he was the pride and boast of the village.
PeopIe sought his acquaintance who be
fore had overlooked him, and his learning
and genius won the regards and adrnira
tion of all. Among the young ladies Of
the place there was one FROM Philadelphia
who appeared to be greatly struck by my
brother. She belonged to one OF the first
families in that city, and was exceedingly
bpaptifhl.I IIer, beauty, boysveraw was only
in appearance Strange TO say, with tAe ]
utmost lovelness of form and features, she |
combined hardness of heart and sell |
fishness of nature. zfrightful to contem-
plate. She only sought my brother for |
the sake ,,of making conquest OF the |
talented young villager. As TO love or |
she would have laughed at the |
idea. Her aspirations werei far higher |
than that By the utmost artfulness, and
by the exceeding charm which she was
capable of displaying, she completely over
come my brother. With all the intoxica-
ton OF genius he surrendered himself To !
afrpower. With hinfio ldSewas to giVe
up his soul, his life, his all. IL was no