Year: 1873

The San Francisco Bulletin says -
Some ten years ago two brothers left their
home in Illinois and came to California
The elder was man OF the most steady
habits, who had received thorough bust
ness education in his native State, and
who had made up his mind to prosper in
the new country he had chosen. The
other was inclined to be dissipated, and
had figured in so many scrapes at home
that he stood in bad odor in his village
The brothers lived together for some time
in San Francisco. while both looked for
situations. The younger brother, how
ever, fell into bad company and bad habits,
and after few months they separated by
mutual consent The elder obtained
situation in a wholesale store as porter.
and by his diligence and steadiness soon
worked himself into confidence Of his EN-
ployer OF his brother he saw little.


One day note reached him from his
wild relative, who was then confined in
the city prison on charge of petit lar
ceuy He bailed him out and employed
counsel to defend him. Though circum
stautialy evident that the prisoner had
committed the crime alleged, yet the act
ual proof was so meagre that in his trial
at the Municipal Court he was acquitted
The elder brother now rennunced the
criminal altogether. and until Christmas
eve they had not met for nearly ten years
Advancing rapidly in the esteem of his
employers the industrious young man soon
found himself in the receipt of good
salary and gradually rose to partnership
in the firm in which he entered as store
porter


He purchased house on Bush street,
married lady with considerable for
tune of her own. and on last Christmas he
saw three beautiful children around him
| to enjoy the wonders of the Christmas
tree That night the family retired about
midnight. Towards two o'clock in the
morning the gentleman heard a noise be-
low stairs. and moving quietly out OF bed.
stood at the head of the stairs, to assure
himself that his suspicious of burglars be
| ing in the house were correct. The
gleam cf candle in the parlor assured
him, and returning to his bed room and
AMI arming himse he crept down $ airs
to capture the thief. He had pro
ceeded so cautiously that the burglar was
not aware of any Que stirring in the house
| hold, and when he reached the parlol
door he saw a man endeavoring to pry
open the buffet where he kept his silver.
Leveling his revolver at the thief, he
shouted, "stop. or you are dead man ,
and he had the burglar completely at hi:
mercy.


The Jimmy" dropped from his ner
vous hands, and the gentleman was ad
vanciug to secure him, when to his in
finite horror he perceived that it was his
younger brother whom he had thus de
tected in the act of crime. Both stood
motiouless for a moment, and then the
unfortunate wretch dropped on his knees
cried out: "As God is my judge, Bubert
| did not know that you lived here p
The other believed him, aud bidding him
sit down, asked what could have led to
the commission of such a crime. Twas
the old story. Liquor and evil compan
ions. That night the would be burglar
slept under the roof OF his forgiving broth
err, who, when he told this story to our
reporter, declared with tears, in his eyes
| that he intended to save him, is possible.
and was going to give him employment
| in his own store He said that if he
could only reclaim his errng brother it
would be the best aud dearest Christmas
present he could expect. The reckless
man appears to be truly penitent, and this
extraordinary meeting may be the means
OF saving him from the States prison or
even the galows