The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-02-20
A Strange Meeting.

Some ten years ago two brothers left their
homes in Illinois and came to California. The
elder was man of the most steady habits, who
had received thorough education in his native
State, and who had made up his mind to pros
per in the new country he had chosen. The
other was inclined to be dissipated, 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
Francisco, while both looked for situations.
The younger brother, however, fell into bad
company and bad habits, and after few
months they separated by mutual consent The
elder obtained situation, and by steadiness
soon worked himself into the confidence of his
employers. Ofhis brother he saw little. -.
One day note reached him from his wild
relative, who was then confined in the city
prison on a charge of petit larceny. He bailed
him out and employed counsel to defend him.
Though circumstantially evident that the pris-
oner had committed the crime alleged, yet the
actual proof was 80 meagre that on his trial at
the municipal court he was acquitted. The
elder brother now renounced the criminal al
together, and until Christmas eve they had not
met for ten years. Advancing rapidly in the
esteem of his employers the industrious young
man soon found himself i'll the receipt Of q good
salary, and gradually rose to partnership in
the firm which he had entered as store porter.
He purchased house on Bush street, married
lady with a considerable fortune of her own,
and on last Christman he saw three beautiful
children around him to enjoy the wonders of
the Christmas tree. That night the family
retired about midnight Towards two o'clock
in the morning the gentlemen heard noise
below stairs, and moving quietly out of bed
stood at the head of the stairs to assure himself
that his suspicious of burglars were correct.
The CLEAN of candle in the parlor assured
him, and returning to his bed room and ARM
ing 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 household and when he reached the
parlor door he saw man endeavoring to pry
open the buffet where he kept his silver. Lev
efling his revolver at the thief, he shouted,
"Stop, or you are dead man," and had the
burglar completely at his mercy.
The "jimmey" dropped from his nervous
fingers, and the gentleman was advancing to
secure him, when, to his unspeakable horror,
he perceived it was his younger brother who he
had thus detected in the act of q crime. Both
stood motionless for moment and then the
unfortunate wretch dropped on his knees, and
cried out: GAS God is my judge, Robert, / did
not know that you lived here p The other be-
lieved 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 would
be-burglar slept under 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
would give him employment in his own store.
He said that if he could only reclaim his er-
ring brother it would be the best and dearest
Christmas present he could expect. The reck-
less man appears to be truly pentent, and this
extraordinary meeting may be the means OF
saving him from the State prison, or even from
the gallows.-Sam Francisco Bulletin.