News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-01-18
JOE GRIMALDI'S BROTHER.
A Strange Disappearance Which was Never
Explained.


two strangers in waiting. They were
young men Of gentlemanly appearance,
and, upon hearing the words, Here s
Mr.. Grimaldi-who wants him ?" one of
them turned hastily around and warmly
aecosted him. He looked about his own
age, and had evidently been accustomed
to a much warmer climate than that of
England. He wore the fashionable
evening dress of the day-that is to say,
blue body-coat with gilt buttons, a
white wastcoat and tight pantalOOOns-
and carried in his hand a small gold
headed cane.
Joe, my lad p exclaimed this person,
holding out his hand in some agitation,
show goes it with you now, old fellow?"
He was not a little surprised at this
familiar address from a person whom he
was not conscious of ever having seen IN
his life, and, after moments pause, re
piled that he really had not the pleasure
of the strangers acquaintance.
Not the pleasure of my acquaintance
repeated the stranger, with loud laugh.
''Well, Joe, that seems funny, anyhow p
He appealed to his companion, who
concrred in the opinion, and they both
laughed heartily. This was all very
funny to the strangers, but not at all so
to Grimaldi; he had vague idea that
they were rather laughing at than with
him, and as much offended as surprised,
was turning away, when the person who
had spoken first said, in rather
tremulOus voice, Joe, don't you know
me now?" He turned, and gazed at him
again. He had opened his shirt, and was
pointing to a scar on his breast, the
sight of which at once assured him that
it was no other than his brother who
stood before him-his only brother, who
had disappeared under peculiar circm-
tanees. They were naturally much
affected by this meeting, especially
the elder brother, who had been so
suddenly summoned into presence of the
near relative whom long ago he had |
given up for lost. They embraced again
and again, and gave vent TO their feelings
IN tears.
"Come up stairs, said Grimaldi, as
soon as the first surprise was over;
Mr. Wroughton is there-Mr.
Wroughton, who was the means of your
going to sea-he'u be delighted to see
you
The brothers were hurrying away,
when the friend, whose presence they
had quite forgotten in their emotion,
said:
"WeII, John, then III wish you good
night"
Good night, good night!'' said the
other. shaking his hand; 81 shall see
you in the morning"
Eyes" replied the friend; cat ten,
mind -
AT ten, precisely; shall not forget"
John.
1.-The friend, to whom he had not In
troduced his brother in any way, de-
parted, and they went upon the stage
together, where Grimaldi introduced his
brother to Powell, Bannister, Wrough-
ton, and many others in the green-room,
who, attracted by the singularity of the
return under such circumstances. had
round them. Having his stage
business to attend to, he had very little
time for conversation; but of course he
availed himself of every moment he could
spare off the stage, and in answer to his
inquiries, his brother assured him that |
his trip had been eminently successful.
'.At this moment" he said, slapping |
his breast-pocket, II have six hundred
pounds here"
''Why, john" said his brother, ''it's
very dangerous to carry so much money
about with you"
Dangerous p replied John, smiling;
1--WE sailors know nothing about danger.
But, ny lad, even if all this were gone
should not be penniless.
And he gave knowing wink, which
induced his brother to believe that
be had indeed made good trip of it. "
At this moment Grimaldi was again
called upon the stage, and Mr..
taking that opportunity of
talking to his brother, made many kind
inquiries of him relative to his success
and the state of his finances. In reply |
to these questions, he made, in effect, |
the same statements that he had already |
to Joseph, and exhibited,
as evidence of the truth of his declara- |
tions, a coarse canvass bag, stuffed full of |
various coins, which he carefully re-
placed In his pocket again. As soon as |
the comedy was ended, Grimaldi joined |
him, and Mr.. WroughtOn, having con-
graduated his brother on his return, and |
the fortunate issue of his adventures, |
babe them goodnight, when Grimald
took occasion to ask how long the sailor
had been in town. He replied, two or
three hours back; that he had merely
tarried to get some dinner, and had
come straight to the theatre. In answer
to inquiries relative to what he intended
doing, he said he had not bestowed a
thought upon the matter, and that the
only topic that had occupied his mind
was his anxiety to see his mother and
brother.
A long and afectionate conversation |
in the course OF which it was
by Joseph, that, as his mother
lived with himself and wife, and they |
had a larger house than they required, |
the brother should join them, and they |
should all live together. To this the
brothermost gladly and joyfully assented,
and, adding that he must see his mother
hat night, or his anxiety would not suf-
Ter him to sleep, asked where she lived
Trimaldi gave him the address directly,
put, as he did not play in the afterpiece,
said that he had done for the night, and
that if he would wait while he changed
MS dress, he would 90 with him. His
brother was, of course, glad to hear
there was no necessity for them to |
seperate, and Grimali hurried away to |
his dressing-rOom, leaving him ON the |
stage. The agitation of his feelings, the |
of his brothers return, the |
good fortune which had attended him in |
his absence, the gentility of his appear
lnce, and his possession of so much /
money, altogether confused him so, that
he could scarcely use his hands. He
stood still every now and then, quite lost |
in wonder; and then, suddenly recollect-
ng that his brother was waiting, looked
over the room again and again for
articles Of dress that were lying before
lim.