Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-07-13
FOR HIS BROTHERS. SAKE.
The Truc history Of a I.irc Of selr.sncrInce.

The True History Ola Life Of self-sacrIflce.
Tho Governor pardoncd John Brisbcn. a
p'nttcmtiury convict to-day. lie was sent up
from bourbon for fifteen years for forgery
ana hhd ten years yet To serve. our readers
arc familiar with the history of this case aud
the humane action OF his ExCcllcncy will bc
man.
! read this little paragraph and nv
mind went back six years. knew
John Brisbcn, and | also knew his twin
brother Joseph. ! was familiar with the
details Of the action that placed John
Brisben in n fclon's cell, and now when
the sad affair l. brought back To mind so
wildly ! must write il out, for never be-
Tore have ! met, In prose or poetry, in
rear I've or IN romance, greater hero
than plain, mattcr-Of-fact John Brisben.
The Brisbens came of good stock.
think the great-grandfathcr 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 settle
ment ON the "dark and bloody ground. -
lie came from Upper Pennsylvania aud
located about five miles from the Ohio
River, ON Limestone Creek. He was AN
Industrious, strong-limbcd. lion-heartcd
old fellow, and in few years his sur
ruundings were Of the most comfortable
description. One Of his sons. Edward
Brisbyn. once represented Kentucky in
the Federal Congress. | think he
was the grandfather If John and
Joseph Brisbcn. Their fathers name
was Samuel, and he died when
they were little children. leaving his
widow an excellent bluegrass farm and
snug little fortune In stocks. bonds
and mortgages. The widow remained
n widow until her death. Mrs. Samuel
Brisbon Was good woman. and she
idOlized her twin BOYS. Like most
twins, the brothers rescmblcd each
other In striking manner. and even
intimate acquaintance could not tell
them apart. But although the phys
zeal resemblance was So strong there
was great dissimilarity i'm the dispusi-
lions Ot the twins. Joseph Brisbcn
was surlN AMI mOrpSc. sometimes cum
ming and rcvcngciul. lie was withal n
dreamer and nm enthusiast: n man well
learned I'm books, u brilliant. frothy
talker when he chose to be- sociablc.
(Which was seldOm). u splendid horse
man, and most excellent shot. John
Brisbcn, ON the contrary. was cheerful
and bright, honorable and forpiying.
He was u man IT high moral principle.
intensely practical and mcthodical
cared little for books. and. although he
said but little, was splendid compan-
ion. He was n poor horscman. and |
don't think he ever shot n GUN i'm his
life. He saw nothing of the poetry Of
ne and rs Tor sport, Eo enjoyed him
sell only when hard at work. lie loved
his brother, and when they were bows
together suffered punishment many
times. and uncomplainingly. that 10
die might ~ scot free. His life was.
therefore. one constant sacrifice. but the
object OF this loving alteration made
hut shabby returns for this unsclfsh de-
votion.
They were twenty years old when
their mother died very suddenly. .Io-
seph made n great prctcnsc OF grief.
and was sO hysteTical NJ the grave that
he had tO be- led away.
John. ON the contrary. never demon
strativc, took the great affection with
his customary GOODNESS He said but
little and she'd no tears.
The property left 20 the BOYS was con-
siderable. The day they we're twenty
one years old the trustees met and made
settlement. There was the bluegrass
farm valued No ESQ. 600. and SiOO. 600 i'm
well invested securities which could be
turned into money. Joseph demanded
division
"Iou can take the farm, Jack. -" he
said. Il was never cut ont for n
farmer. Give me $4,000 in money for
my share"
SO this sort Of n division was made
John continued on nc the homestead.
working Ina his plain. methodical wav.
and slowly adding To his share Of the
money what he could raise out Of the
profits Of the farm. Joseph. with his
newly-acquired wealth. set up an estab-
lshmcnt ut the nearest town and began
life OF Recommending Of the grosser
sort. His brother gave him no advice.
Z Tor he knew 10 was useless. Joseph
spent his money with great prodiCalitv.
and before he knew Il he was bcpgar.
Ia tho meantime Johns SOS. 600 had
doubled itself One day Joseph came
10 him with n full confession Of his pc
cuniary troubles.
"Jack." he said. 81 am not only a
bcgxar. but I am heavily In debt. Helm
me out like n good fellow. and viii
setti' down and begin life In sobef
earnest With my capacity for business
i can soon make money enough 20 re-
pay you. Ihave sown my Wild oats.
and with little help can soon re
cover all that I have squandercd 50
foolishly.n
For an answer John Brisben placed
hts name TO an order for the twenty-fiv
thousand dollars he had earned 80 Ia.
boriously.
"Wif that be enough. JodieP' he
asked. 'sbccause have a. much more.
which you can have II Il h necessary"
This viii Be sufficient, old fellow, -