Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-11-27
"a BROTHERS. SACRIFICE.

Ff : A BROTHERS. SACRIFICE.
Bearn and were in quiet and beau
tiful cemetery of considerable extent and
with an exquisite, varied surface, wood
ed with remarkable grace. Bearn, with
changed face, led the way along well
graveled, winding walks, among white
monuments and much handsome shrub
berry to a secluded spot among frs and
Expresses and kalmias, little inclosed
square, perfectly velvet in its sod and
planted with numerous choice flowers
and shrubs. In the center of this lot
was large square cenotaph of dark
green porphyry, with the simple word
cut into the top in intaglio and gilded ::
"Triptolemus.
Bearn laid upon the block small
bouquet, which ho took from his pocket,
and stood by it in silence, while a
wondrous pathetic softness melted into
his face and dewed his eyes just little !;
but even that touch transfgured the
man, and the hard outer crust dropped
away, affording tender precious
glimpses of sweet soul underneath
Dear heaven, brothers Why do we
not oftener see one another at such mo-
ments as these, when we are none the
less men because the hearts within us
are vitalizcd by strange yearnings and
spiritualized by subtle consciousness of
our infinite capabilities GA
friend, Bearn ?"
"My brother!'
How long has he laid here 7"
/" He is not here at ALL" said Bearn,
turning away. That is simply to his
memory then, with a sudden wild
gust of passion that revealed to me a
new phase of the man, he lifted his hand
as if to salute the block, and cried
81 would give all am worth if he
did lie here in his lonely grave, after
due honor in the world to his nobility I"
We walked away in silence, cruuching
the gravel beneath slow feet, and each
looking down, busy with his own
thoughts.
"Tell me about Triptolemus, said I,
and my silent companion reused himself
out of his faraway mood with a start.
"After ALL" said he, "there is not
much to tell you, only how loved him,
and how he loved me and all of us, and
gave time, ambition, everything for the
sake of this love Last time [ saw him
alive-it was in February, 1S49. There
were only two of us-Trip was two years
older than me-and my mother, and we
had hard time of it. Trip, you see,
was very bright fellow, quick to
learn, ambitious, wanted distinction
honors, and all that. He'd had good
start in schooling, was well grounded,
you know, and going right forward to
his goal, when father died, leaving us
nothing much but his good name. Then
mother and went to work, for we were
proud of him, you know, and we knew
he'd never forget what he owed us.
Mother started a millinery shop, and
left school and went errand boy, and we
managed to keep Trip at his books and
the wolf from the door, but it was hard
lines, old fellow wore patched shirts,
I can tell you, aud mothers face got
very thin and anxious. She had her
worries, you see, but didn't let on, and
she didn't eat as much as she needed
but how could two unthinking boys
know that Trip was getting ready for
college, and, by night-teaching and odd
jobs of different kinds, he got together
quite little nest-egg to help bear his
college xpenses-between three and
four hundred dollars it was. Well, one
night he woke me up with his groaning.
What's the matter, Trip9' said I, and
with that the poor fellow burst out cry
ing. 'Oh, it's too bad, Flav 7 said he.
Here's the sheriff's been put in an exc
cution upon mothers poor little shop,
and she never said word about it to
me nor you neither, and I, selfish do.
nething, living upon you both t Never
you mind about that, Tripl' l answered
stoutly, you're going to be the gentle.
man OF the family, and it's all right oul
working for you. When you're rich and
famous won we rollick in purple and
fine linen, though T He said no more,
and I went to sleep. Five days later
Trip was gone, and leftonly letter with
5000 in it-more than half his pile.
"'I'm off to California, he wrote
'to contribute my share to the support
of the family And he had gone with
out a word Of leave-taking. left the
old lady fainting in the arms of some O
the neighbors, and ran all the way t.
the slip where the ship was to sail from
L just saw him as the vessel was towet
out. I shouted to him to come back
he smiled, shook his head and waved m,
farewell. Take care of mother, anC
Ill do the rest = Those we're his las
words, and / never saw my Trip again 7
He stopped and looked out over tn
hazy scene before us. "It was har,
lines for the old lady, Mr.. Smith, and