The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-07-06

est of welcomes to come ana visit MN.
The invitation was accepted, and some
thing over a week ago the long absent
soldier. now a bronzed veteran nearly
60 years old, came back to his natal vii
lage and the old homestead, wearing
the SLOUGH hat and button of the Grand
Army of the Republic. His home con-
ing was made the occasion OF unWonted
mirth and good will, the old homestead
was alight from cellar to garrett, while
many Of Roberts companions in his
youthful days were present with their
families to join in the welcome to the
wanderer.
After the first exuberance of the
brothers Joy at their reunion had
passed, it happened the subject of their
quarrel in the bayfield,, four decades
ago, was brought up. Robert wondered
If the jug were still in the bottom of
the pond, and the more the matter was
discussed the greater became his desire
to drain the pond and search for the re-
ceptacle. The next day, therefore, the
slash-boards at the end Of the pond were
raised. and without much trouble the
bottom of the pond soon lay exposed.
Nothing of the jug could be seen, but
Alexander. remembering the point
where their father stood when he con-
signed the Jug to its long resting place,
continued to dig about i'll the mud. His
perseverance was suddenly rewarded by
bringing the jug to light, but so incrust-
ed with sediment as hardly to be recog-
nizable. The receptacle was taken to
the pump. where it was washed Oft, and
its screw top unfastened. Greatly to
the establishment of the brothers, an
odor rivaling that of a moonshiner's
still issued from the mouth of the Jug
Further investigation proved the con-
tents to be well preserved, but SO aged
had the whisky become that it was
almost like oil.
The appetite of the two Scotchmen
for such good stuff had in no wise
diminished, despite the fathers lecture
and the intervening years. They drank
deep and heartily, and then, alas, the
fighting qualities of the old Scotch
liquor began to reassert themselves.
Robert waxed boastful of his army rec
ord, and cCntemptuous of the motives
that had impelled Alexander to stay at
home. In short, the old quarrel was re-
sumed exactly where it had been broken
off, and in the course of few moments
the family and the guests in the house
| were startled by fierce cries coming
from the direction of the barnyard,
and rushed out to find two angry men
pounding each other hammer and tongs.
| When the brothers were separated,
Alexander swearing vengence, saddled
horse and rode post-haste to Bath,
where he swore out a warrant for Rob-
ert's arrest, and the case was set for the
following day. An officer went out to
the farm after Robert while Alexander
remained in town over night.
| A nights sleep, however, dissipated
the fumes of the ancient liquor and
brought kindlier feelings to both broth
ers. When they faced each other in the
police court next morning, they looked
at each other sheepishly, then burst
into hearty laughter. With their mirth
vanished all resentment. The case was
quickly adjusted to the satisfaction OF
the court, and the brothers rode back
to the old homestead together the best
of friends, but with deeper respect for
the memory of their fathers temper
ance homily than they had ever had
before.