Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-30
Singular Meeting between Two
Brothers.

Some ten years ago two brothers left
their home in Illinois and came to Cali
tornia. The elder was man Of the most
steady habits, who had received a thor
Ough business education in his native
State, and who had made UP his mind to
prosper in the new country he had chos.
en-. The other was inclined to be dissi-
pated, and had figured In so many
scrapes at home that he stood in very
bad odor in his village. The brothers
lived together for some time in San Fran
cisco, while both looked for situations.
The younger brother, however, fell into
bad company and bad habits, and after a
few months they separated by mutual
consent The elder obtained situation
in wholesale store as porter, and by his
diligence and steadiness soon worked
himself into the confidence Of his en-
plOyers. Of his brother he saw little.
One day a note reached him from his
wild relative, who was then confined in
the city prison on a charge of petit lar
Gerry. He bailed him out and employed
counsel to defend him. Though circum-
stantially evident that the prisoner had
committed the crime alleged, yet the ac-
tual proof was SO meager that in his trial
at the municipal court he was acquitted.
The elder brother now renounced the
criminal altogether, and until Christmas
eve they had not met for nearly ten
years Advancing rapidly in the esteem
of his employers the industrious young
man soon found himself in the receipt of
good salary and gradually rose to part
nership in the firm which he had entered
as store porter. He purchased house
on Bush street, married a lady with a con-
siderable fortune of her own, and on last
Christmas he saw three beautiful children
around him to enjoy the wonders of the
Christmas tree. That light the family re-
tired about midnight. Toward two O'Clock
in the morning the gentleman heard a
noise below stairs, and moving quietly
out of bed, stood at the head of the stairs
to assure himself that his suspicious of
burglars being in the house were correct
The CLEAN of candle in the parlor as
sured him, and returning to his bedroom
and arming himself, he crept down stairs
to capture the thief. He had proceeded
so cautiously that the burglar was not
aware of any one stirring in the house
hold, and when he reached the parlor
door he saw man endeavoring to pry
open the buffet where he kept his silver
Leveling his revolver at the thief, he
shouted, "stop, or you are a dead man, !"
and he had the burglar completely at his
mercy.
The Jimmy" dropped from his nervous
hands, and the gentleman was advancing
to secure him, when, to his infinite hor
ror. he perceived that it. was his younger
brother whom he had thus detected In
the act of crime. Both stood motionless
for moment, and then the unfortunate
wretch, dropping on his knees, cried out:
GAS God is my Judge, Robert, I did not
know that you lived herer The other
believed him, and bidding him sit down,
asked him what could have led to the
commission of such crime. Twas the
old story. Liquor and evil companions.
That night the wouldbe burglar slept un-
der the roof of his forgiving brother,
who, when he told this strange story to
our reporter, declared, with tears in his
eyes, that he intended to save him, if
possible, and was going to give him en-
ployment in his own store. He said that
if he could only reclaim his erring broth
er it would be the best and dearest Christ
mas present he could expect. The reck-
less man appears to be truly penitent,
and this extraordinary meeting may be
the means of saving him from the States
Prison or even the gallows.-,San Fras,
cisco Bulletin.