Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-04-22
sGiSCELLANE0GS.
THROUGH THE B ARs OF A CELL.

my friend, at being addressed by such a
being. can assure you am q special
e6hvset, and, perhaps, some of these days
when l am free, you may encounter my
veritable self in the bosom. of your social
circle, If your curiosity is awakened,
will breathe tolyou through the gratings
gofmys cell my evehtful history! It is a
strange one, respected friend. Indeed I
make bold 70 say that q stranger one was
never preathed into your ear. 3 "a y
had an only brother. We had been
brought up in o. distant village,
in the State of tPeunsylvania. Our
father died when my younger
brother ~ was born, lesving, my
mother very poor She brought us up
.brsyely, however Ibeing the eldest, was
sent off at an carly age to fight the battle of
life, and, while helping myself, to do some
thing toward helping others. With this
A, noble purpose in ny mind made rapid
progress, and finally had the hardihood to
set off to New York, rightly imagining
that there were the greatest. prizes
for an ambitious youth. Full Of the most
ardent affection for my mother, tried to
made everything turn to my own advance
ment. / felt as though every act of my
liTe had an effect upon their fortunes.
This feeling so inspired me that self-de.
nial was not only easy, but delightful.
Feeling as | did, that all my savings bene
flied them so greatly, how could l do
Otherwise than save I'm IN CNT-T
il 4 was extremely fortunate in New York
My 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 promored me r. Year
. by year he added 20 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. ylrH
Some years before had conceived the
idea of giving my brother good eduea-
tion. My brother was to me more like a
son than anything else. His nature was
'7 widely different from mine. was bold,
- resolnte and daring; he was gentle, pOeti-
cal, and full of sentiment l was stern,
practical and independent; he was quiet,
reliant and meditatiYe. was formed for
life of warfare and action he for 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 I admired
and applauded more than any one else my
q yothg BROTHER In truth, as he stood
there with his fragile form, his pale face,
his eye beaming with the light of genius,
he was worthy of all the admiration had
tosbestow. l have his portrait now with
me. 1t resembles the poet Shelley more
than any face that have ever seen.
My brother went home, and, as sup
posed, studied for his profession. cor
responded always with my mother. My
brother was always irregular in letter
writing, and never thought much of not
hearing from him. soon became
troubled however, at learning that he
was unwell. / recommended trip across
the ocean and a tour through Europe, and
offered to pay his expenses. After this
offer waited anxiously to learn the eff,
feet. did not hear from home for near
ly a month. l grew very anxious, and
thought seriously of paying them visit.
Since my departure, fifteen years before, l
had never beSn home, and had only met
my relatives on their visits to me at New
\ z One day on going to the ofice found a
telegraphic dispatch. The words of that
dispatch-haYe burned themselves into my
memory :Hti4
%. "Your brother isdying! Come homer
1t was a Strangers name. Great God
my brother dyingl A stranger, too, tele.
W w udb ulGduG dll lulS
Was my mother also dying!
l never closed my eyes for three days
and three nights, nor did l eat a mouthful
until | came in sight of my native town in
Pennsylvania. waited for two hours
trying to overcome my agitation created
by fasting and want of sleep. Ordinarily
nothing ruffled me; but now l was aI
weak as child. l walked up the main
street. Icame within sight of the old
familiar cottage. The blinds were al
down. Great Heaven was not prepared
for such blow, / 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. L saw
my brothers portrait hanging in the hall
"Are they in?p / gasped out, not know
ing what said.
No one recognized me- l did not wisl
to be recognized Fearful of being an OBJ
ject of vulgar pity, had determined tc
act as a stranger. So, with all the calm
ness that could muster, asked after my
mother by name. Then the blow fell. Tht
woman at the door spoke sOlemnly;
"She's dead, SIR. rra.-
" Hadn't she a son ?" | asked, with
frightful attempt at Indifference.
"Yes, Sir-his death broke her down
She died next day"
Unfortunate people +" ......
h, "Ah yes, Sir There's never been I
death in the village so unfortunate. Els
pecially poor Henry, Sir. He was grea
favorlte.H a n. '.s uttI
"I used to know brother OF his il
New York. Does he know about this?"
r. =" All. Sir, ] don't know. I'LL be a saC
: blow for him" ( aalaEfAE .B
How did IL hannen pn
"Won't you walk in, sir9 and I'll tel
3IH'N6, thank you. It's SO close. I'm hot
I'll sitlhere,"D9 Tg41DOHy
1 sank into seat by the cottage door
The woman told'm ALL Her story wa
simply this; fNfiI. I.yGIHH
When Henry came home from colleg
he was the pride and boast of the village
PEOPLE sought his acquaintance who be
fore had overlooked him, and his learninl
and genius won the regards and admira
tiop of all Among the young ladies o
the place there was one from PHILADELPHIA
who appeared 70 begreatly struck by m,
br0ther, iShelbelohgcd TO one of the mrs
families in that city, and was exceedingl,
a. beautiful. Her beauty, however, was onlI
in appearance. Strange to say, with tn
putmost eliness QffQim and features, sh
q combined ahardness' Of heart and sci
fishness of nature frightful to contem
Elthe Sake Of making q CONQUEST Of tn
talented young yilager. AS to love o
4, = marriage, she would have laughed at In
idea. Her aspirations wereI far highe
than that. BY the utmost artfulness, an,
r'' by the exceeding charm which she wa
d. capable of displaying, che completely over
come my brother. With all the intoNica
''tion Of genius he surrendered himself +
up lis soul, his life, his all. II was n
lipht OF transitory matter. 1t was tn
most serious thing on earth. AS to hel
Le never doubted her sincerity.