Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-03-09

many wears, when | was young, and
my brother was my constant companion
and PLAYMATE" s'You loved each other
ever so much, didn't you I" said Eddie,
getting up and leaning on the arm Of
the old mans chair. "Oh, yes, my
son, we did, indeed; but there was one
time when our love came near being
shipwrecked by our quarrels and disa-
greements. But dream opened our
eyes, and we saw the rock and steered
clear OF it, ooh, p" said Eddie, 'please
tell MS the dream" son, yes, do"
Joined in Charlie. So Uncle Peter
leaned his head back in his chair, and
shut up his eyes, and began:
will was much younger than |, and
much more impulsive. Because I was
older. thought might be tyrannical
and dictatorial to him. Oh course this
kind Of treatment on my part drove
him away from me, and he sought the
society Of other boys, who led him into
mischief and vice. AS years went on,
we drifted further and further apart,
until really quite grew to dislike him.
forgot that had helped to make him
so careless and thoughtless. At first
he used to think everything l did was
right, and could have done so much
for him then by good examples and
kindness but | was cold and cross,
and he soon became teasing and trying
to me- One afternoon, in my temper,
aroused by something he had done
to annoy me, I said: William, l
almost hate you; if you should
die tonight l should not be sorry /
was shocked after I had said it, 1 did
not mean anything of the kind but
there it was. The words burned into
my heart; I was too proud to take
them back. Will gazed at me mo-
ment out of his great blue eyes, and
then went out OF the room, and his
surprised, disappointed look haunted
me all the evening. went off to sing
ing-school, and l remember how harsh
and discordant everything sounded to
me, and how heavy my heart was. l
/ was glad when it was over. / did not
stop to talk with any of the boys and
girls, but ran home as fast rs l could.
"Where's WILL" said I, as soon as l
got inside of the door ale has gone
up to bed, +" replied my mother. ''He
! uoeSn I seem I'd Ieei we'll Lo-nlHut.
.'Oh what if he should be sick and
die" / thought. 81 should feel like n
murderer tried to prop myself up
I in my anger by thinking of all the ugly
things he had said to me; but at the
lonely tribunal Of my own conscience
I felt condemned, and convinced that
/ had been the most to blame. When |
went up to our room, Will was asleep,
I with traces Of tears on his flushed face,
which made me fell so miserably mean
4 that | could scarce resist the longing
which came over me to wake him up
and tell him how sorry was for what
l had said AS stood looking at him
in this softened mood, he stirred I'M
easily in his sleep, In moment the
/ old animositv came back. and my heart
grew cold and unloving SO laid
down by his side, with my mind agita-
ed between anger at him and
the tenderer brotherly feelings
which would assert themselves,
until at last l fell asleep; and l
dreamed that l had been away from
home for long time, and now l was
coming back. l was SO happy in the
| thought of seeing Mother and Will that
l ran all the way up the village street.
As l fastened along, I kept thinking of
VIII. and how bitter our feelings had
often been toward each other. l SAID
to myself: IN make him love me now /;
for | know now what warm. loving
heart lies underneath all his fun and
mischief I reached the house, and I
pushed open the front door. Not n
sound was heard Ii seemed so strange
that no one should meet me. The little
parlor-door stood open. and the sun flick
cred through the grapevines that shaded
the windows, and painted the tiutterinp
leaves down on the gay rag-carpet.
| looked in. In the center of the
room was something covered with q
white cloth. Somebody was dead. Was
ried forward and raised the cover; and
there lay my only brother, rigid and
cold IN the sleep of death. God had
taken me at my word, and VIII was
gone, without forgiving me for my crue
!, words. l thought of all his pleasant
little ways; all the little impulsive
generous things he had done, and
recollected how cold, distant and repel
liant had been. Oh how | did feel
!, | prayed and prayed TO God to let III,
say one word to my brother. | beg
; ged VIII to come back, and I woult
never speak another unkind were
to him. But while Iwrithed with agony
; and was crushed with despair
he was still and cold; while
knelt by his side, hopelessly beseech
ing him to forgive me, he lay silent
and deaf 10 all my entreaties. Al las
| saw him open his eyes and smile low