The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-10
THE TWO BROTHERS.


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 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 tho 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 toe, then the others
! left of. Now Baard expected that Anders
/ would let nina 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
( Bard thought that his brother was not
! doing rightly, and bid on, until it was
nearly thirty dollars; as Anders still kept
J On, Baard thought that Anders did not re-
member how kind be 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 nc
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 a 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. Thea Baard laughed.
"a hundred dollars, and my brothers
love into the bargain said he, and turned
and went out of the room. & while after
some one came out to him, as he was sad
ding the horse he had just bought.
THE watch is yours" said the man.
'Anders gave up" AZ the moment Baard
heard that something like repentance
passed through him. BE thought of his
brother, and not of the watch The saddle
was put on, but he stopped with his hand
on the horses back, uncertain whether ha
should ride OF 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 heelsP'
Nor the day ride % tbs 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.
4 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 enc could
tell of what she died. Several other mis-
fortunes occurred. and lie was fast going
down hill; but tho 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
i'll, said Anders, and he wept that night.
He became a poor man, and lost all desire
for work.
The next evening Baard stood in Anders
room. Anlers 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,
AZ want TO offer you help Anders; you
swered.
Il am getting along as you meant to
have me, Baardl Go from me, now, or l
do not know whether l can govern my
self!'
You are mistaken, Anders; L repent
GO, Baard, or God have mercy on US
bothr'
Now this is how it had been with Bard.
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 4 stranger there, or, again,
Anders was standing outside, ohopping
wood; so there was always something in
the way. But one Sunday, Later in winter,
he was again IN church, and than Anders
was there too. Bard saw him; he had
grown pale and thin; he wore the same
clothes as of old, when they used TO be
together, but now they were thresdbare
and patched. During the sermon he looked
up at the clergyman and Bsard 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 70 communion that
day. and be made DIS God the solemn
promise that he would be reconciled to his
brother come what vould This resolve
went through his soul as be drank the
wine; and when he rose lie was going
straight over 10 him 20 sit down beside
him; but some one sat in the way and his
brother did not look MP After church
there WIS again something in the way,
there were too many people. he thought It
xss best 70 60 to his brothers house and
talk seriously with htn- When the even
Ing came he did so. He went straight e
the door Of the cot and listened, aud be
heard his own name spoken, it was by the
wife
He went - communion today" SAID
she. he certainly thought OF you"
No. he did not think OF re" said
Anders. II know him; he only thought
of himself"
For long time nothing was said; Bsard
IVES wet with preparation as ne stood
thsre, although it was cold evening. The
wife inside was busy with her kettle, which