Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-15
TWO
TWO BROTHERS. DIVIDED
HOUSE.
A Fanciful Story from the Coast of New
Hampshire.
Rye Beach, N. H.. Letter to Chicago Inter

Fanciful Story from the Coast of New
Hampshire.
Rye Beach, ". H.. Letter to Chicaqo Inter
Ocean.
They are queer folks down here in New
Hampshire-hOnest, but eccentric. and
one has to be among them but little
while to obtain new glimpse of human
nature. The other day | was riding by
an old house, and inquired why half of it
was painted white and the other half red.
The two colors met at the middle of the
front door, and gave the building a most
striking and unique appearance.
That is an old story" said Uncle
John. SIN that house four or five genera
tions were born, married, and died, and,
so far as we know, lived happily enough.
The last sole owner was a man who had
two children, both sons. They grew up
together on the old farm, and were as af-
fectionate and kindly disposed as could
be. For 20 years they lived happily
together, married, and reared families,
and worked the farm, sharing the profits
without word of difference or doubt of
each others faith or honesty. The farm
was in the old mans name, and when he
died he left will, in which he said he
would not cause them sorrow or trouble
by dividing his property, but gave it to
them jointly, and trusted that they would
spend the remainder of their lives as they
had spent their childhood and manhood,
sharing each others joys and working the
farm together.
1.-The place, therefore, and all the old
man possessed was left them in common,
with things to 90 on as had been for
quarter of century. But the old man
was scarcely in his grave before the
elder of the brothers assumed a patri-
arch2l air and took the fathers place at
the head of the common table. This
would have been passed over and admit
ted as the honor of seniority had not the
elder brother also assumed to direct
things on the farm and about the house
hold as the old man had done.
"Then the row broke out, and il was
the most celebrated case in these parts
for many year. You know our people
look upon lawsuits as very disreputable.
Men have been turned out of the church
for hiring lawyers and going into court.
And man who sues, or is sued, loses his
standing in the community. There are
disputes, of course, time and again, but
they are always settled by arbitration.
One of the disputants selects friend, the
other selects one also. and the two arbi-
traitors chooses a third, usually a man
who is noted for his honesty and impair
TALLY. To this committee of neIghbors
differences are submitted and by them
settled, and for one to refuse to abide by
the result IS even worse than being par
ty to a lawsuit. The stigma of public
condemnation is forever upon him.
''The boys got into a wrangle, and nell
Their would give up. They couldn't agree
about anything, and the consequence was
that the neighbOrs interfered, and an arbi-
tratiOn was arranged. But neither of
them would accept the result of the arbi-
tration. 1t was the first case of the kind
on record. Usually, at least one party is
satisfied with the decision, but in this
case neither would agree to it, and the
only way that estate could be settled was
by dividing everything in halves and then
letting the brothers draw cuts for choice.
1t happened to be double house, so that
each could have half, and the barn was
divided in the same way. stone wall
was built through the middle of every
field, meadow, and pasture on the farm.
and it made queer work of them. Of
course, they couldn't cut the horses and
cattle in o,but drew cuts for the choice,
1.-The brothers lived along that way for
years, and are living so now. They do
not speak to each other, and while it is
mighty uncomfortable for both Of them, mel.
Their will sell out or move to spite the other.
Not long ago the old house needed paint
ing, and one of the brothers put on new
coat of white. The other, Just to be con-
trary, painted his half red, and that is the
reason it looks so funny"