The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-09-10
] BROTHERS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BY LAzAR TALkfI.

BY LAZAR TALkI.
Years ago Aaron Sinkhovich made
MS departure from home leaving his
mother under the care OF his only
brother. David. He dearly loved both
his mother and brother but as he saw
no future for himself In Russia, he was
obliged to seek opportunity In another
country He went to Austria, as II was
nearest his home and in course OF time
he succeeded in establishing himself
nrmly in this new land, which he came
20 regard as his native country. Dur.
Ing these years he kept up his inter-
course with his old home. His brother
also succeeded In setting up home in
which he lived with his aged mother.
And II seemed that nothing in the
world would destroy the happiness Of
families which had preserved the ten
derest affection for each other, al
though separated-until the war broke
put and the two brothers were torn
away from their homes to join the
armies Of their respective countries.
There was small stream which
marked the boundary between the two
countries, Austria and Russia. Still
were flowing the clear waters OF this
little stream purling among the pebbles
pf Its bed. as though It were telling OF
nnumerable sufferings OF people 1t
had Witnessed crossing Its waters on
heir way to new countries far across
me broad ocean. Today this small
stream win witness tragedy far
yreater than all those IL has ever seen.
On both shores troops Of the two hos
ile countries are standing in battle
lrrny and soon the innocent stream
will become red with the blood OF thou
lands OF slain soldiers.
The day Is over. The battle Is I'm
shed. though no result has been at
aimed. Both armies have retreated to
,-4wrE Is.kf A
~ the shores are left piles Of dead and
wounded.
The night falls heavy upon the earth,
- though 1t would~r onceal beneath its
darkness the horrors OF the previous
lay. The waves OF the stream are
lowing on carving away the blood
with which II is tainted.
David. who is among the wounded
on the Russian side, is awakening from
the Inconsistencies into which he had
fallen He looks around him with a
BeDseless air. A long distance on both
sides Of the stream he sees only dead.
dead. dead He tries to rise, but q
sharp pain in his leg hinders him from
doing this. EfIs senses come back to
him and he only now sees what has
taken place. The pain reminds him Of
his own condition. He feels a terrible
thirst. He looks around him. There is
the clear stream which sparkled under
the rays OF the sun and seems to in
vite him with promise of relief
Creeping over to the stream he begins
TO drfng eagerly
Suddenly he perceives on the oppos-
lite shore a head which looks familiar.
without being able to think Of any
stream. KneeIing before the body he
raised ii carefully and looked into the
dead face. His eyes became wide with
terror. "Aaroni My brother!"
For moment he remained silent and
then he fell upon the body and burst
out weeping. his hot tears wetting the
dead face OF his brother. Thus he lay
for some time and when he rose his
face was deadly pale and the light Of
reason had gone from his eyes. He sat
down beside the dead body and MUIR
INJURED TO himself as though he was
continuing some interrupted CONVEX
aAnd I..will come home and my
mother will ask me: Hast thou seen
thy brother7' What shall reply then
to her? My brother is dead. And who
has slain hin7 Was not the bullet
which struck him dead from my rife7
I have, like Cain, slain my own
brother and like Cain, / shall wander
forever and never shall find place
TO lay my wearied head. And I shall
bear on my conscience the death OF my
brother"
He burst INTO tears AGAIN. reason
seemed TO be returning To him. He
rose, his eyes burning wildly, and his
lips uttering a curse, an inhuman
curse upon the heads OF all those who
send brothers against brothers.
And he again knelt beside his broth
or, took his head into his hands and
said:
mo, my brother, shall not live after
have slain thee. shall not bring ia
our mother the message of thy death"
picking up a bayonet he struck II
with all his might against his heart
Across the body of his brother he fell
heavily and mother In Russia was
left to pay the price OF emperor's fol-
lies