Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1880 — The Big Brother. [ARTICLE]

The Big Brother.

BY MARY DWINELL CHELLIS.

“Papa, where is my big brother? I told Terra Dunbar I wished I had a big brother, same as he has, and he said I’d Sot one. Where is he? Why don’t he ve here with you and mamma and me?” Mr. Arnott, to whom the above questions were addressed, looked at his wife, M his child, and then at the glass of wine before him, as though seeking some way of escape from the position m which he found himself. ■' “Terry Dunbar should not hare told JQU that,” he said at length. “But isn’t it true, papa? Isn’t it true, mamma!” asked Ernest eagerly. “I never had any baby but you,” replied hu mother. ’

But there was another lady lived hero with papa before you did, and didn’t ah* have a boy, and wouldn’t that makn.hft* mybrothet ?” he continued. - "Tea, it would, dear.* 1 1 u n>l ' “Well, where is he? His mamma loved him, same ae you lore me, didn’t Bhe, and oughtn’t papa to take ever so good care of him, ’cause his mamma cooldt stay with him?” * Mr. Arnott could bear no more. Without tasting his wine or speaking

a word, he left the room. The memory of his dead wife and es the boy she had given into hia charge quite overmastered MOV | T| . J - ; .4 , \ , In the veers since another had borne his name And made him again a father he cqqldmtt quite forget the boy Who had once shared his home, but whom-he hed long Ago disowned. Ii living, the boy bad gfojm to be a man, wandering,he knew not whiiher,; and all, because-of the drink I£ws' fi? ,225; but the father had taught him the habits which ruined h«i. Was not the father very guilty. Some influence had restrained himfrom putting me wine-cup tQ the lips of his darling younger son, and he questioned how itmightnave bees With the elder under like circumstances. His conscience accused him of having failed to perform his mostweerad duties. The boy must be

found and. reclaimed. t With his resolve Mr. Arnoti went to his wife, who gladly assented to the proposal, while Ernest listened with me deepest interest to all that was said. “You will find my big ' brother, and I’ll help make him good,” he exoiaimed joyfully. “I’U tell him how: bad it is for boys to drink anything that comes out of a bottle. It'an’t bad for mcn, is it papa? It does you it.” “I—l—think so,” was replied hesitatingly. “Well, mamma just told me, when yon was gone, she’d rather I’d die than drink wine, and I sha’nt ever make her feel so bad as that. I guess she feels bad because you do.” “She shall have no more res sop to feel bad on that account," responed the father, who* at that j moment would .facrifleed his entire wealth to be assured of the return and reform ot the son he had sternly banished from his presence.,,v, Frank Araott was , nearer home than ath g^^S i ned ; yet whsn.found he utterly Wqs&l to cross Jts ; threshold. He had been doomed to an outsast’s life, and an outi&Bt he would remain. All thht 'he could say bitterly, to the ‘ondjpan who had once shown aim no pky ; but When, ragged and dirty as ho Was, hia daintily "dressed young brother sprang into his amis kissing huh again and again, and begging him to come home, his defiance gave wmv , He was fiopnd and saved—saved to himselfandto the world; while Ernest glories hi thd big brother, good and strong, who “never, never drinks anything that can make the bad come into his heafft/’ 1 , ■■ i v*' ■ >.*, '* ,n - ,i! » ’■ There are many'families in our land from whom sons and brothers have gone out to shame and wretchedness. • ‘' 1 Who will find and save them? 1 - '• ”