General Bauer, of the Russian cavalry, had in early life wandered off
in the army, and the family supposed he was dead. After he gained a
fortune he encamped one day in Husam, his native place, and made a
banquet, and among the great military men who were to dine, he invited
a plain miller and his wife, who lived near by, and who, affrighted,
came, fearing some harm would be done them. The miller and his wife
were placed one on each side of the general at the table. The general
asked the miller all about his family, and the miller said that he had
two brothers and a sister. "No other brothers?" "My younger brother
went off with the army many years ago, and no doubt was long ago
killed." Then the general said: "Soldiers, I am this man's younger
brother whom he thought was dead." And how loud was the cheer, and how
warm was the embrace!
Brother and sister, you need as much of an introduction to each other
as they did. You do not know each other. You think your brother is
grouty and cross and queer, and he thinks you are selfish and proud
and unlovely. Both wrong! That brother will be a prince in some
woman's eyes, and that sister a queen in the estimation of some man.
That brother is a magnificent fellow, and that sister is a morning in
June. Come, let me introduce you: "Moses, this is Miriam." "Miriam,
this is Moses." Add seventy-five per cent to your present
appreciation of each other, and when you kiss good-morning; do not
stick up your cold cheek, wet from the recent washing, as though you
hated to touch each other's lips in affectionate caress. Let it have
all the fondness and cordiality of a loving sister's kiss.