The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-09-06
FOR HIS BROTHERS SAKE.
The True History of II Life of Sclf-Sncrincc.
BY COL. GEORGE w. sYMCNDs.

"1ho Governor pardoned John Drisben {.
penitcntinry convict. to-day. lie was sent up
from Bourbon for fifteen years for forgery
and had ten years yet to serve. Our readers
arc familiar with the history of this case, and
the humane action of His, EXccllency will be
gen:rally commended" - Hdnkfow (Ky.)
YcO,ndn.
read this little paragraph and my
mind went back six years. / knew john
Brishen, and L also knew his twill
brother Joseph. I was familiar with
the details of the action that placed
John Brisben in fclon's cell, and now.
when the sad affair is brought back to
mind so wildly, I must write it out, for
never before have I met, in prose or
poetry, in real life or in romance, a great
cr hero than plain, matter Of fact John
Brishcn
The Brisbens came of good stock. |
think the great grandfather of my hero
emigrated to Kentucky when Kenton's
Station, between the present city OF
Maysville and the historic, old town of
Washington, was the principal settlement
on the clark and bloody ground" He
came from Upper Pennsylvania and 10.
Gated about five miles from the Ohio
River, on Limestone creek. He was all
industrious, strong -limbed. lion-hearted
old fellow, and i'll few years his sur
roundings were of the most comfortable
description. One of his sons, Edwin
Brisben, once represented Kentucky in
the Federal Congress. L think he was
III, grandfather of John and Joseph
Brisben. Their fathers name was Samuel
and he died when they were little chill
dren, leaving his widow an excellent
blue grass farm and a snug little fortune
i'll stocks, bonds and mortgages. The
widow remained widow until her death.
Mrs. Samuel Brlsben was good woman
and she idolized her twin boys. Like
most twins, the brothers resembled each
other III striking manner, and even in
innate acGuaintances could not tell them
apart. But although the physical re.
,cmblance was so strong there was great
lissimilarity in the dispositions of the
twins. Joseph was surly and mOrosc,
sometimes cunning and revengeful. He
WAS withal dreamer and an enthusiast: ::
man well learned in books, q brilliant,
frothy talller when he chose to be sOci-
able (Which was seldom), splendid
horscman, and n most excellent shot
JOHN Brisben, on the contrary. was
cheerful and bright, honorable and for
giving. He was n man of high moral
principle, intensely practical and method
lcal, cared little for books, and, although
he said but little, was splendid com
paniOn. He was poor horscman, and
don't think he ever shot gun in his life
he saw nothing of the poetry of life, an(,
as for sport, he enjoyed himself only
when hard at work. He loved his
hrothcr, and when they were boys to-
ecther suffered punishment many times,
and ncomplainingly, that "Jodic" "
might go scot free. His life was, there
fore, one constant sacrifice, but the
object Of this loving alteration made
vnt shabby returns for this unsclfsh de-
bottom.
They were 20 years old when Their
mother died very suddenly. Joscpl
; made great pretense of grief, and was
so hystcrical at the grave that he had I,
be led away.
John, on the contrary, never dcrAoN
strativc, took tho great aflliction witt
| his customary coolncss. He said lu
| little and shed no tears.
The property Lett to the boys was con
siderable. The day they were 81 year
old the trustees met and made sctt,
mcnt. There was the blue. grnS~ faIn
valued ut $50, 900, and $1,000 in Wei
invested securities which could lie turn, ,
into money. Joseph demanded ii.
vision.
"You can take the farm, jack" h'
SAID. 81 was never cut out for q farmer
Give me $50, 900 in money for my share.
So this sort Of division was mad
John continued on at the hOmestCu,
working in his plain, methodical way
aud slowly adding to his share of tn
money what he could raise out of tn
profits of the farm. Joseph, with hi
newly acquired wealth, set up an estah
lishmcnt Mt the nearest town and bcga
life of pleasure-pleasure of the crosse
sort His brother gave him no advice
for he knew it was useless. JoSep
spent his money with great prodigalt.
and before he knew it he was n bcggal
In the meantime Johns $25, 900 ha
| doubled itself One day Joseph cam
TO him with full confession of his po
cuniary troubles.
"Jack," said he, "I am not only
} bcggar, but | am heavily in debt. Hel
me ont like good fellow, and will PC
Ito down and begin life i'll sober cArneS
With my capacity for business [ can so
mako money enough to repay you.
have sown my wild oats, and with a lit
help / can soon recover all that | ha'
squandercd so foolishly."
For an answer John Brisben place
his namo to an order for the $25, 200
a had earned so llboIiously.
"Will that bo enough, Jodie P"
asked, "because. I have as much MOI
which you con have If it is necessary, "