Norwich bulletin., 1909-11-27
AFTER FORTY-NINE YEARS
Brothers Reunited for Thanksgiving
 Dinner-Strange But True Tale.

Tuesdays Bridgeport Standard said
 Mir. and Mrs. Charles H. Lee of 1131 Noble avenue will have unusual cause for thanksgiving tomorrow. when they will be the guests in Medford, Mass, of William Nichols, Mir. Lees own brother, from whom he was separated for forty nine years by strange com bination of circumstances. There will be the happiest reunion imaginable, for neither of the brothers knew of the eX- istence of the other up to a short time ago.
 MT. Lee is 52 years old, the legally adopted son of George Lee of Broad street. His brother, William Nichols, is the adopted son of the late Dr. Will liam Nichols of Boston. When Mir. Lee and MT. Nichols were infants their father died at a time when the family treasury was depleted and the widowed mother arranged for the adoption of both children. This, of course, separated them and both grew into manhood and middle life without knowing that they were brothers or without having seen or even heard of each other.
 The family of pr. Nichols raised the son William like one of their own flesh and blood and the bond of af- lection became so strong that the adopted mother decided never to let her son know that he was an adopted child. So well did she cherish the secret that she gave away the adop- ton papers to friends to avoid their discovery among her effects upon her death. The son was kept in complete ignorance of his real identity.
 Meanwhile Charles Lee was brought up with the knowledge that he was an adopted son by George Lee of Hast ings, N. Y. A few years ago the fam fly moved to this city. The elder MT. Lee went into the employ of the War ner Brothers company, while Charles H. Lee became shipping clerk for George c. Bachelor & Co. MT. Nichols became a travelling salesman and is in comfortable circumstances.
 About a year ago the foster mother of MT. Nichols died in Boston at the age of S3 years. A short time before her death a cousin of the deceased who knew of MT. Nichols life story thought that he should know the facts and re- vealed to him the long kept secret He made a search for the adoption papers and was successful in obtain ing them, but he did not permit his mother to learn that her wishes had not been respected, and she died hap py in the thought that she had carried the secret with her to the grave.
 After obtaining the adoption papers he was informed that he had a sister living. His first thought was that his sister might need financial assistance, and, being comfortably situated he pushed the search with vigor. It took him into various parts of Massachu- setts. but for several months he had practically no encouragement to con- tinue the search, and he abandoned it. His wife advised him to persist in his search and it was renewed.
 Hundreds of letters were written by MT. Nichols and by comparing his let ters, getting little information here and there, he was finally led to Bridge port and a letter addressed to another Mir. Lee came to the factory of George O. Bachelor & Go. and it was opened before the error in the address was discovered, but the mistake was a very fortunate one. as the letter opened up correspondence and Mir. Nichols dis covered that he had brother instead of sister and Mfr. Lee found out for the first time in his life that he had brother living.