The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-08-22
Joseph. with his newly acquire.

I Wedllil, sct up du totdOllSuIutut u
the nearest town, and began life o
pleasure of the grosser sort. Hi
brother gave him no advice, for b.
knew that it was useless. JOSEPH
spent his money with great prodi
gality and before he knew it he WEI
beggar.
In the meantime, Johns 25,OO(
had doubled itself. One day Joseph
came to him with full confession
of his pecuniary troubles.
Jack" he said, II am not only
a beggar, but am heavily in debt
Help me out, like gooG fellow, and
l will settle down and begin life in
sober earnest. With my capacity
for business l can soon make money
to repay you. l have sown my wild
oats, and with a little help 1 can
soon recover all that l have squan.
dered SO foolishly."
For an answer John Brisben
placed his name to an order for S25,-
600 he had earned SO laboriously.
"Will that be enough, 'Jodie % be
asked, because l have as much
more, which you can have if it is
necessary"
"This will be sufficient, old fellow,
was the reply. 'In two years l will
pay it back"
He went back to town, drew his
money, paid his debts, sold some OF
his horses and discharged several OF
his servants
Twenty thousand dollars was left
out of the loan. He invested this in
business, and for time seemed re-
ally to have reformed. John was
encouraged to say:
"Jodie will come outall right. He
is smarter than /, and in five years
viii be worth more money than l
could make in lifetime"
In less than three years Joseph
Brisben's affairs were in the hands
of his creditors, and a sheriff7s officer
closed out his business. Again he
turned to his brother for help and
sympathy.
81 own that l mgnaged a trifle
carelessly," he said by way of expla-
nation. Experience is a dear teach
er, and the lesson | have learned l
shall never forget you come to
my assistance now, | can soon re-
cover myself"
Once more John Brisben placed
his name to check, payable to the
order of his brother, and Joseph en-
tered into business again. In two
years he was bankrupt.
81 shall never succeed in business,
Jack" he said. Help me out of
this trouble and will live with you
on the farm. l 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 re-
proach. He said:
81 am glad you are coming back
to the farm, Jodie You need do no
work, and we will be very happy
together"
So Joseph took up his residence
at the farm, and remembering his
brothers words, devoted his time
principally to hunting, fishing and
riding about the country. In the
meantime John Brisben had fallen
in love, and the daughter of a neigh
boring farmer, Compton, by name,
was his promised wife. Being man
of strict honor himself, and having
full confidence in his brother, he
did not object when Joseph began to
paw his atiianced very marked at
tention.
81 am glad he likes her." he said.
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 evening were
beginning to fall. There was tri-
umphant ring in his voice when he
spoke.
Jack, old boy" he said, holding
out his hand, Congratulate me. l
think that from to-day l can date
the beginning of a new life. Alice
Compton has promised 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.
is that true?" faltered John at
last.
"Why, of course it is. Are you
not glad2 We love each other and
shall be very happy"
"We love each other and shall be
very happyl" repeated John mechan-
ically, and all the sunshine of his
life sunk behind the heavy clouds of
despair. "Yes, Jodie, l am glad,
and wish you long years of happi-
ness"
He turned away and staggered,
rather than walked, to his own
room. He did not stir all night.
Once deep, sobbing groan strug-
gled 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 one 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
rejected by the bride and supplant-
ed by the groom, was the first to
congratulate the newly married pair.
A vacant house on the farm was fit
ted up for their reception, and John
Brisben's money paid for the fur
nishing.
Hereafter, Jsdie," he said, 1--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
Z - L. Ss~,o