Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-10-24
THE TWO BROTHERS.

IHE IWU BRUIHERS.
What had the most influence in Oey-
Winds mind at this time was the history of
the schoolmaster, which his mother told
him one evening as they sat by the chin
ney corner. This history grew into his
books, lay beneath every word the school
master said, and stole round the school
room when it was quiet. 1t inspired him
with obedience and reverence, and almost
an easier apprehension of everything
he was taught.
The history was as follows:
Baard was the schoolmaster's name, and
he had had a brother who was called An
ders. They were very fond Of each other;
both of them enlisted, lived together in
garrison, and took part in the war, where
they both became corporals in the same
company. When they came home again
after the war every one thought they were
two fine fellows. Then their father died;
he had much personal property, which it
was difficult to divide but they said, in
order that this should not make any dis
agreement between them, that they would
put the goods up at auction. But their
father had owned a large gold watch,
which was famous far and wide, for that
was the only gold watch people whereabouts
had seen, and when it was put up many
rich men wanted to get it, until both the
brothers began to bid too; then the others
left off. Now Baard expected that Anders
would let him get the watch, and Anders
expected the same of Baard; they bid each
in their turn to try the other and looked
over at each other while they were bidding.
When the watch got up to twenty dollars
T3sa nd tb011 rbt fbat bic bro bar
doing rightly, and bid on, until it was
nearly thirty dollars as Anders still kept
on Baard thought that Anders did not re-
member how kind he had always been to
him, and, besides that, he was the elder; SO
the watch went UP to over thirty dollars.
Anders kept on. Then Baard put the
watch up to forty dollars at once, and no
longer looked at his brother; it grew very
still in the auction room, no sound but the
auctioneer quietly naming the price.
Anders thought, as he stood there. that if
Baard could afford to give forty dollars he
could, too. Then he bid over That, Baard
thought, was the greatest disgrace that had
ever happened to him; he bid fifty dollars
in quite low tone. Many people stood
around, and Anders thought that his
brother could not SO insult him in the hear
ing of all; he bid over. Then Baard laughed.
"a hundred dollars, and my brothers
love into the bargain!" said he, and turned
and went out of the room. A while after
some one came out to him, as he was sad
ding the horse he had just bought.
1.-THE watch is yours" said the man.
"Anders gave up" At the moment Baard
heard that something like repentance
passed through him. He thought of his
brother, and not of the watch. The saddle
nj h11f hn StOnna6 with hiC hand
on the horses back, uncertain whether he
should ride off. Then many people came
out, Anders among them; and, as soon as
he saw his brother standing over by the
saddled horse, he did not imagine what
Baard was thinking about at that minute;
but he shouted over to him: "Thank you
for the watch, BaarG! You will not see it
go the day your brother dogs your heels!"
fsNor the day l ride to the farm again."
answered Baard, white in the face, and
swung into the saddle.
The house where they had lived together
with their father neither Of them entered
again.
A short time after Anders married into
a workman's family, but did not invite
Baard to the wedding; nor was Baard in
the church. The first year Anders was
married the only COW he owned was found
dead on the north side of the house, where
it had been tied to Craze, and no one could
tell of what she died. Several other mis-
fortunes occurred. and he was fast going
down hill; but the worst was when his
barn, with everything in it, burned down
in the middle of the winter; no one knew
how the fire had arisen.
'Some one has done that who wishes me
ILL.," said Anders, and he wept that night.
uo baoopoo NOR mar and lost all daSi1.Q
for work.
The next evening Baard stood in Anders'
room. Anders lay in bed when he entered,
but started up.
"What do you want here?" he asked,
but then stopped and stood staring at his
brother.
81 want to offer you help Anders; you
are not getting along WELL" Baard an
swered.
81 am getting along as you meant to
have me, Baard! Go from me, now, or
do not know whether I can govern my
selfp'
"You are mistaken, Anders; 1 repent
$50, Baard, or God have mercy on us
both!'
Now this is how it had been with Baard.
AS soon as he heard that his brother was
suffering his heart melted; but pride kept
him back Often he had come so far that
he could see Anders' house; but one time
some one came out of the door, another
time there was stranger there, or, again,
Anders was standing outside, chopping
wood; so there was always something in
the way But one Sunday, later in winter,
he was again in church, and then Anders
was there too Baard saw him; he had
grown pale and thin; he wore the same
,Io Of old wbnn thaU nSa6 tO he
together but now they were threadbare
and patched. During the sermon he looked
I'D at the clergyman and Baard thought
he looked good and kind, and remembered
the years of their childhood and what a
good boy he used to be.
Baard himself went to communion that
day, and he made his God the solemn
promise that he would be reconciled to his
brother come what would. This resolve
went through his soul as he drank the
wine; and when he rose he was going
straight over to him to sit down beside
him: but some one sat in the way and his
brother did not look up. After church
there was again something in the way,
there were too many people; he thought it
was best to go to his brothers. house and
talk seriously with him. When the even
ing came he did So He went straight to
the door of the cot and listened, and he
heard his own name spoken; it was by the
wife.
''He went to communion today" said
she; she certainly thought of you"
mo. he did not think of me-" said
Anders. II know him; he only thought
Of himself"
For a long time nothing was said; Baard
was wet with perspiration as he stood
there, although it was cold evening. The
wife insidewas busy with her kettle, which
sung on the hearth; little baby cried at
intervals and Anders rocked it. Then she
said:
ri believe you are both thinking of each
other without being willing to confess it"