The Penn's Grove record., 1883-10-06


For an answer, John placed his name
to an order for the $4,000 he had
earned 30 l~aboriously.
"Wil that be enough, Jodie," he
asked, ''because / have as much more,
which you eau have if it is necessary"
"This will be sufficient, olu fellow
was the reply. "In two years | will
pay it back"
, He went back to town, drew bis
money, paid his debts, sold some of his
horses and discharged several of his
servants. Twenty thousands dollars
was left out of the loan. He invested
this in business, and for a while seemed
to have really reformed. John was en-
couraged to say
"Jodie will come out all right. He
is smarter than l, and in five years will
be worth more money than / could
make in a lifetime"
In less than three years Joseph Bris-
ben's affairs were in the hands of cred
itors, and sheriff's officers closed out his
business. Again he turned to his broth
er for help and sympathy.
81 own that managed a tride care
lessly," he said by way of explanation.
Experience is a dear teacher, and the
lesson have learned | shall never forget.
; If you come to my assistance now can
soon recover myself"
Once more John Brisben placed his
name to a check payable to the order
of his brother, and Joseph entered into
business again. In two years he was a
bankrupt.
81 shall never succeed in business,
| jack" he said. "Help me out of this
trouble, and / will live with you on the
farm. / shall succeed as a farmer"
1t took all of John Brisben's hoard
to pay his brothers. debts, but he made
no complaint, uttered no reproach. He
said
81 am glad you are coming back to
| the farm, Jodie. You need not do any
work, and we shall be very happy to-
gether."
So Joseph took up his residence on
the farm, and remembering his broth
er's words, devoted his time principally
to hunting, fishing and riding about the
country.
In the meantime, John Drisben had
fallen in love, end the daughter of a
neighboring farmer, Compton by name,
was his promised wife. Being a man
If strict honor himself, and having full
confidence in his brother, he did not
| object when Joseph began to pay his
affianced very marked attention.
II am glad that he likes her, he
thought. II am so busy on the farm,
| that | have little time for pleasure, and
Alice is so fond Of amusement
One night Joseph came to him just as
the shadows of the evening were begin
ming to fall. There was a triumpant
ring in his voice as he spoke.
slack, old boy,'' he said, holding out
his hand, Congratulate me. | think
that from to-day I candateth beginning
of a new life. Alice Compton has prom
ised to be my wife"
He was too much engrossed with his
new happiness to see the effect OF this
announcement as portrayed on Johns
face he did not notice how the strong
mans hand trembled in his own.
SIS it true, faltered John at last"
"Why, of course it is. Are you not
glad? We love each other, and shall be
| very happy"
"We love each other and shall be very
| happy" repeated John mechanically,
| and all the sunshine of his life sunk be-
hind the heavy clouds of despair. "Yes,
, Jodie, / am glad, and l wish you long
| years of happiness"
! He turned away, and stagge red,
| rather than walked to his own room.
He did not stir all night. Once a deep,
sobbing groan struggled to his lips,
and the moonbeams struggling through
| the window fell full upon his face, and
| surprised two great tears stealing down
| his pale cheeks. He brushed away
| this evidence of weakness and sorrow
| and when the morrow came, no n
| looking into his calm, serene, eyes
would have guessed how hard was
the battle that had been fought and
won in that lonely chamber.
They were married, and the man re-
jected by the bride and supplanted by
| the groom was the first to congratulate
the newly married pair. A vacant
house ON the farm was fitted up for
| their reception and John Brisben's
money paid for their furnishing.
Hereafter, Jodie,n he said, we
will divide the profits of the farm. |
don't need much, and you shall have
the larger share"
Ten years passed away, and John
Brisben, an old man before his time,
still worked from dawn to dark that
his brother might play the gentleman
and keep in comfort the large family
which the years had drawn around
him. 1t had been necessary to mort
gage the old homestead to raise money
to pay Joseph's gambling debts, for
of late years he had played heavily,
and had invariably lost.
One day-it was in 1s71-a forged
check was presented at one of the
banks of the shire town by Joseph
Brisben, and the money for which
it called was unhesitatingly paid over
to him. He was under the influence of
liquor at the time, and deeply interested
in a game of cards for high stakes,
which was in progress. The check
was for $500, | think Before day.
light next morning, Joseph Brisben
had lost every dollar of it. To drown
his chagrin, he became beastly drunk,
- -i.f~ - @L.o condition M nffaar