The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-15

throughout
the civilized world that twins. apart from
any mere tial resemblance they may have
20 each other, are invariably strongly alike
IN mere emotional characteristics: that
they are hyttered by the same hopes and
fears. love 'the same sort Of woman and
be feve in ihe same things. In the gen
ertlity Of cases this belief may be a true
one but thet it does not always obtain this
history shall endeavor 10 prove.
in one OF the big towns in the Midlands
two boys WIRE born, more than half a cen
fury ago. % the same mother, within half
an hour of ieach other. RuInor has it that
they were so much alike physically that
their nurse. was compelled to make some
slight charges in their dress in order to
know which was James and which was
Robert; haq she been a woman Of a higher
order OF Intelligence she would have been
able to discover, even at that early age,
which was. which, by noticing the differ
ences in their dispositions.
James. even as a babe, was austere and
well conducted; he never gave trouble, and
ne took what ailments Providence sent him
in a gentlamanly fashion, without undue
fuss or noise. Robert, on the other hand,
rOared Justify the smallest provocation,
and caused many sleepless nights to those
most Interested in his welfare. Alas! It's
70 be feared that he caused more sleepless
nights still as the years went on.
1t is but just to their parents to state
that both boys had an equal chance-and
that chance a good one. Their father was
Il r com portable position. a good solid
hard-worklng man OF business and their
respective :stools were actually ready for
them. almost before they were out of the
nursery. I've are not all so fortunate as
10 have inches prepared for us in the big
temple of Life, but James and Robert jolly
had nothing TO complain Of in that respect;
there was every opportunity for them to do
well and to turn out respectable citizens.
AS regards James. 1t may be said at once
that there'was never any doubt in the mind
of any one but that he would prove a credit
TO those who had the honor to be connected
with him. 1t is safe to assert that he was
always az the top Of his class at school.
and that, upon entering his fathers Of
fee. he became at once a model to the es-
tabhshment and the pride of his good IA
theirs heart. Old clerks rubbed their hands
over him, and spoke in hushed voices of
his many virtues; young clerks were called
upon to take him as their pattern, and to
get as near to the original design as their
own shortcomings would permit. The big
Office clock never dared to strike before
ne entered the office. and he was always
the last TO leave.
But hil brother, Robert Jolly Che was
early christened Bob" by all who knew
HIND was quite another sort of fellow. For
him the Rig face of the office clock seemed
10 turn paler even than usual when it saw
him saunter in at 10 and even IL o'clock in
the morning; it is a wonder it did not stop
altOgether, in sheer horror, when ii saw
him depart hours before the actual work
of the office was done. Happy-go-lucky,
good-for- nothing. lazy BObi There was no
getting away from the fact that he was
bad lot, doomed from the beginning to be
a disappointment to those who put most
faith in Him, and to cause the shedding Of
many te&rs that never should have been
shed at all.
Yet, cl.riously enough, everyone liked
him: anc he certainly bore out his sur
name OF the meaning OF 1T, most con-
Scientifically He was Jolly" everywhere,
and to everyone; always in difficulties and
scrapes, and always gliding out Of them
with the greatest possible ease and with
many promises of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
which we're never kept.
Thus, while James prospered Robert went
rapidly down hill. Old Mr.. jolly died in
due course, and his last words were those
of admoiition and entreaty to his errant
son.
THE time will come, Bob" he whispered,
weakly. when your brother will be loved
and hon6red among men, and when your
name will be a by-word and a reprOach.
Unless You are careful, and take warning,
YOU will fall as rapidly as he will rise
your grave will be dishonored, or at best
unknown; his virtues Will live after him.
Yet the curious thing was that this
prophecy: was absolutely wrong, and was
never fUihIled. For the dying cannot al
ways SEQ so clearly into the future as they
imagine
BY street attention to business, and by
never losing a single opportunity (some un-
charitab.y said. by making those opportu-
mites at'the expense Of others James Jolly
grew to be rich. whilst his brother Bob got
into greater difficulties every day. James
neither smoked. drank nor gambled; Robert
did al three to an alarming extent. James
was conteuted with a modest establishment
and with a Spartan chop or steak Robert
lived luxuriously and entertained his
friends IN a shOckingly riOtous and waste
ful fashion. There could be but one ending
to it al: for both of them, and it came
sooner than many expected.
Bob was always in want of money; he had
not the least notion where it was coming
from, al he cared about was that 1t was
there when he liked to ask for it. At last
the time came when he went 10 his brother
with a smiling face and asked for $1,000.
Mr. james jolly, seated behind his stin
and formal desk in his private office. re-
ceived his brother with that courtesy which
always marked him; Bob. for his part, seat
ed himself on the edge of the desk. and
profTered his request in the most casual
fashion.
I say. Jimmy, old boy. I want you to
help me- I'm in bit OF a hole at the mo-
ment. and 1 shall be landed in worse one
IL can't get something to so on with /
know I've been having lot one way and
another but I daresay the business will
stand it-eh?'
My lear Robert" began the other Che
would not have called anyone by diminu-
tive il it had been 70 save his life, you
have certainly been drawing very large
sums recently. Fortunately. have kept
very accurate account OF everything ana L
know exactly how much you have mad