SAMUEL BYRON BRITTAN, JR., U. S. N. TH BY A. ANGELO BRITTAN. "The good die first, While they whose hearts are dry as Summer dust, Burn to the socket." No. 3. HE true glory of life is perience of the world. Some men outlive their usefulness-live to hypothecate honor by fatal compromises with wrong. The crown of years may be tarnished, but the garlands won by the young are green and fresh with morning dews. It is not my purpose to make a long story of a short life; or to magnify the unselfish deeds of true patriotism and youthful ambition. I only ask the reader's indulgence while I reverently gather up the laurels a grateful people have offered, and of these weave a chaplet to the memory of my Brother, who, though he died young, lived long enough to make his name memorable; whose fine genius and pure love of country at once entitle him to not always found in a long ex "The patriot's honors, and the poet's bays." The "Young Hero of Fort Henry" was born in Bridge WOR 19 FEB 36 port, Conn., on the 17th of June, 1845. His peculiar temperament, and the rare combination of physical and mental qualities-so admirably blended in his constitution—are said to have been largely due to psychological causes; but of these it is not my province to treat. I could hardly expect to enlighten the readers of the JOURNAL on a subject at once so intricate and profound. But it seems possible that this psychological mystery may have had some connection with the surprising power he subsequently exercised among his young comrades, and especially over the animal creation. From early childhood my elder Brother is said to have exhibited those amiable qualities and noble attributes that everywhere inspire admiration and command respect. I have often heard my Father say that Samuel never gave him a disrespectful answer, and it is certain that he was always deferential in the presence of his superiors. His respect for parental authority was so sincere and strong that he rarely ever committed an act of wilful disobedience, even when exposed to great temptation. Only on one occasion in his life of which the writer has any knowledge-was he led to disregard the injunctions of his parents, and this was under peculiar circumstances. It was general training day in Connecticut, and the united efforts of several older boys induced him to leave his home and go to Norwalk, some fourteen miles from Bridgeport. He was then a mere child, and had no conception of the distance. Assured by his companions that he would soon be back, and that the family would never suspect his absence, he yielded to their entreaties. Some time during the day he was missed, and the other members of the household searched for him, without success. At length, when night came on, and still no tidings had been received of Samuel, very serious apprehensions were excited at home, and in fact there was general alarm in the neighborhood. It was feared that he might have fallen into the river, and the deep grief of the family was aggravated by the incidental circumstance of my Father's absence. At a late hour in the night the truant returned, utterly exhausted by his long journey. Weary and consciencestricken, he looked like a picture of mingled penitence and despair. His own fine sense of filial affection and obligation had been violated, and his instinctive recognition of the claims of justice admonished him that he deserved severe punishment. Falling on his knees before his mother, he begged that he might first be whipped, and then forgiven. In the tearful joy of that hour, Solomon's injunction was quite forgotten; but the prayer for forgiveness fell on a sensitive ear, and touched the heart of one to whom that appeal was never made in vain. The junior S. B. BRITTAN was a special favorite of the literary people who frequented my father's house. On one occasion, at a Valentine Party, he inspired the muse of a Lady of rare genius, and widely known through her varied. and elegant contributions to American literature. The following lines were then and there ADDRESSED TO SAMMIE. Sprig of mischief and delight, Now appears a cunning wight, With a bright and flashing eye, Like a sapphire from the sky, With a bright star shining through it— Ah, there's many a heart will rue it. Now it melts upon his mother, Through the light in which it dances; Can it be that any other Will absorb those radiant glances, That beam forth so clear and full, With affection beautiful? While those roguish features play, "One loves the girls, and I am he!" Samuel was constitutionally incapable of cruelty, but even in early childhood he possessed a masterly power over inferior creatures. This was often and strikingly illustrated, and the mysterious influence was not restricted to the domestic animals. Of this singular magnetic attraction, and domination of the human will over the functions of animals, I will relate a single example. It occurred when my brother was less than nine years old. He went one day to a grove in the neighborhood, where he discovered a large gray squirrel leaping about among the tree tops. He followed the movements of the animal, keeping his eyes steadily fixed on the object of interest, and with an intense desire to possess the game alive. After a while the squirrel began to descend to the lower branches of the trees. Very soon he manifested a disposition to reciprocate the attentions he was receiving, in a manner that evinced no little interest in the young detective, who by this time was growing wild with the enthusiasm of the chase. At length, having reached a branch but a few feet from the ground, the squirrel quietly assumed an easy posture and looked at his pursuer as if he had determined on a deliberate course of observation. "Powers there are That touch each other to the quick, in modes These mysterious powers were at work in the brain of the young charmer and along the nerves of his subject. The youth paused and silenty watched his object with a fixed attention. The little animal seemed spell-bound, and at length, yielding to this strange fascination, he leaped down |