Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-03-05
FOR HIS BROTHERS. SAKE.

The True History OF "a Life az Self-Sacrifcc.
"The Governor pardoned John Brisbcn, q
penltentiary convict, today. lie was sent ur
from Bourbon for fifteen years for forgery
and had ten years yet 10 serve. Our readers
are familiar with the history of this case and
the humane action of his EXcellency will be
generally commended "-FTdihfOTt (kp) Yeo
man.
L read this little paragraph and my
mind went back six years. | knew
John Brisben, and also knew his twin
brother Joseph. | was familiar with the
details of the action that placed John
Brisben in q fclon's cell, and now when
the sad affair is brought back TO mind SO
wildly must write it out, for never be-
fore have i met, in prose or poetry, in
real life or in romance, q greater hero
than plain, matter-of-fact John Brisben.
The Brisbens came of good stock. |
think the great-grandfather of nv hero
emigrated to Kentucky when Kenton's
station, between the present city of
Maysvillc and the historic old town of
washington, was the principal settle
ment on the dark and bloody ground. p"
lie came from Upper Pennsylvania and
located about five miles from the Ohio
River, on Limestone Creek. He was an
industrious, strong-limbed, lion-hearted
old fellow, and in a few years his sur
toundings were of the most comfortable
description. One of his sons, Edward
Brisben, once represented kentucky in
The Federal Congress. / think he
was the grandfather 81 John and
Joseph Brisben. Their fathers 'name
was Samuel, and he died when
they were little children, leaving his
widow an excellent bluegrass fa rm and
snug little fortune in stocks. bonds
and mortgages. The widow r. manned
n widow until her death. Mrs. Samuel
Blisben was n good woman. and she
idolized her twin boys. / like most
twins. the brothers resem.,led each
ether in striking manner, and even
intimate acquaintance codl3 nct tell
them apart. But although the phys-
zeal resemblance was SO strong there
was great dissimilarity in the disposi-
tons OF the twins. Joseph Brisben
was surly and morose, sometimes cum
ming and revengeful. He was withal a
dreamer and an enthusiast; man well
learned in books, n brilliant. frothy
talker when he c'nose to be sociable.
(Which was seldo' m), splendid horse
man, ana mos excellent shot. John
Brlsben' ON the contrary, was cheerful
ana bright, honorable and forgiving.
lie was ms of high moral principle,
intensely practical and methodical,
cared llttiej for books, and, although he
said but little, was a splendid compan-
lon. lie was poor horseman, and j
don't tn ink he ever shot gun in his
life. IL g saw nothing of the poetry OF
life, ap d as for sport, he enjoyed him.
self or ly when hard at work. He loved
his br )thor, and when they were boys
togetb er suffered punishment many
times, and uncomplainingly, that "Jo-
die might go scot free. His life was,
therefore, one constant sacrifice, but the
object of this loving alteration made
but shabby returns for this unselfish de.
| votion.
They were twenty years old when
their mother died very suddenly. 10.
stsph made a great pretepse of grief
and was so hysterical at the grave thai
he had TO be led away.
John, on the contrary, never demon
strative, took the great affection with
his customary GOODNESS. He said bu
little and shed no tears.
The property left to the boys was con
siderable. The day they were twenty
one years old the trustees met and mad,
settlement. There was the bluegrass
farm valued at $50, 900, and 800, 900 il
well invested securities which could b,
turned into money. Joseph demanded
division.
"You can take the farm, Jack" h,
said Il was never cut out for
farmer. Give me $4,000 in money fol
my share"
So this sort of n division was made
John continued on at the homestead
working in his plain, methodical way
and slowly adding to his share of tb,
money what he could raise out of tn,
profits of the farm. Joseph, with hi
newly-acquired wealth, set up an estab
lishment ut the nearest town and begal
a life of pleasure-seeking of the crosse
sort His brother gave him no advice
for he knew IL was useless. JOSEPH
spent his money with great prodigality
and before he knew il he was beggar
In the meantime Johns $4,000 ha,
: doubled itself. One day Joseph cam
to him with full confession of his pc
cuniary troubles.
Jack" he said, 81 am not only
: beggar, but i am heavily in debt. Hell
me out like a good fellow, and / will
settle down and begin life in sobe
earnest. With my capacity for bushes
$ ] can soon make money enough to re
. pay you. Ihave sown my wild oats
and with little help / can soon re
I cover all that | have squandered s
. foolishly."
. For an answer John Brisben place,
! his name to an order for the twenfy-fv
! thousand dollars he had earned so la
i boriously.
!. "Will that be enough, Jodiep" h
= asked, because have rs much more
. which you can have IL 1t is necessary.
tThfQ will l,o s,,o,..o,k III