Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1883-07-12
FOR HIS BROTHERS, SAKE.
The Trae History OF . Life Sf Self
70 a..ss3 sacrihce.s fa

tANe 1Fae Hsst0ry SOf Life 81 Self
70 ,oss4 Sacrifice. siia ).
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4 - BIZ COZ. GEORGE W. sYMoNDs.
fa '.The iGovernor pardoned Johr
Brisben, a penitentiary conyict to-day.
He was. sent up from Bourbon fol
fifteen years for forgery, and had ter
years yet to serve. Our readers am
familiar with the history Of this case
and the humane action of his Excel.
lency viii be generally commended. y
i,--Ffaakord (Ry.) Yeowasl. s,sii
| I read this little paragraph and NJ,
mind went back six years. knew
John Brisben, and l also knew his
twin brother Joseph. I was ifamilial
with the details Of the action tha,
placed John Brisben in q gfelon's cell
and now when the sad affair is brough,
back to mind 50 wildly / must write
il oats for never before. have ! met
in prose or poetry, in real life or. in
romance,, a greater hero than plain
matter-of-fact John Brisben.
| The Brisbens came Of good stock.
I think the great-grandfather Of; my
hero emigrated to Kentucky, swher
Kenton's Station, between the present
| City Of Maysville and the, historic Oh
Town Of Washington, was the prlnci.
pal settlement on the '.dark and
| bloody ground" Ne came from Up.
per Pennsylvania and located abou,
five miles from the Ohio River, or
Limestone Creek. He, was an indus.
trious, strong-limbed, lion hearted old
fellow, and in q few years his, ser.
roundings were of the most comfort.
able description. One, of his sons,
Edwin Brisben, once represented
Kentucky in the, Federal Congress. ]
think he was the grandfather of fJohr
and Joseph Brisben. Their fathers
name was Samuel, and he died wher
they were little children, leaving his
widow an excellent bluegrass farm
and snug little fortune in stocks
bonds and mortgages. The widow
remainela a widow until gher death
Mrs. Samuel Brisben was a good NO.
man, and she idolized her twin boys
Like most twins, the brothers resem
bled each other IN striking manner
and even intimate acquaintances coult
not tell them apart. But although
the physical resemblance was 81
strong there was great dissimilarity i,
1.-THE dispositions Of the twins. JOSEPH
Brisben was surly and morose, some
tunes cunning and revengeful. II,
twas withar a dreamer and an enthusi
last; aman well learned in books, !,
brilliant, frethy talker when he .chos,
to be sociable (which was seldom,
a splendid horseman, and a most ex
tceilent shot. John Brisben, on tn.
contrary, was cheerful and bright
honorable and forgiying. He was ,
man of high moral principle, intense
fly practical and methodicai, cared lit
ftfe for books, and, although. he sale
but little, was splendid companion
He was poor horseman,' and dom
think be ever shot q gun in his life
He saw nothing Of the poetry Of life
and as for sport, he enjoyed himself
only when hard at work. He loved
his brother, and when they were boys
together suffered punishment many
times, and y uncomplainingly,. tina
"Jodie'' might go scot free, His lifs
was therefore one constant sacrifice
but the object Of this loving ,adora.
ton made but shabby returns for thil
unselfish devotion. ..z..,.... -5.ssfx
They were 20 years old when theil
mother died very, suddenly. aJosepi
made q Great pretense of grief, ani
was so hysterical at the grave that b.
had to be led away. ..s,.. IA
John, on the contrary, never dem
onstratiye, took the great affiictior
with his customary GOODNESS. He sale
but little and shed no tears. fef a,saa
The property left to the boys wa,
considerable. The day they were 81
years old the trustees met and mad,
settlement. There was the blue-gra
farm valued at $50, 600, and 500, 90,
in well invested securities which couIt
be, turned into money! Joseph de
manded asdisision. 9sea,s.siz9 :, ,Ta'.s.
.You can take the farm, Jack, b
said. II was never. cut out for
farmer. Give me S75, 900 in none,
for my share. ''',s,, f 3Fsg l.ue -s7
| So this sort of division was made
John continued ON the old homestead
working in his plain, methodical way
and slowly adding to, his share Of tn
money by what be could raise out 0
the profits of the farm. Joseph, wit
this newly-acquired wealth, set up a
establishment at the nearest town ant
began d life Of pleasure-pleasure o
Che grosser sort. His brother CAV
him no advice, for he knew It wa
useless. Joseph spent his none,
|, with great prodigality and before b
. knew it he was d beggar. In th
meantime John's s75, 600 had double
itself. One day Joseph came to hil
WITH a full confession Of ffs pecuni.
|, lry sroublss:d a.st 10 5aa9rf9a ~ TX
!. s.ssJack, = he said, ia.f am not only
! beggar, but I am heavily III deb
: Help me out like d good fellow, an
/ will settle down and begin life |
sober earnest. With my capacity Il
n business i can soon make none
t-l x-A