The brother clerks

In Short

This narrative follows two brothers, Arthur and Gulian, who travel from their home to New Orleans to work as clerks. While the younger, Gulian, maintains his moral compass through faith and reflection, the older, Arthur, quickly succumbs to the pressures of a harsh employer, the allure of social vice, and the trap of his own pride. The book is a moralizing tale of the mid-nineteenth century, capturing the sensory details of the Crescent City while exploring the consequences of youthful recklessness and the redemptive power of endurance and eventual repentance.

The Story

Arthur and Gulian arrive in New Orleans as young men seeking their fortunes. Arthur, possessing a confident, masculine grace, is older, while Gulian is slender, delicate, and deeply intellectual. Upon securing positions as clerks, they are immediately confronted by their employer, Mr. Delancey, a man characterized by a cold, judgmental temperament and a rigid, unforgiving approach to his staff.

While Gulian navigates his new life with a steadfast, prayerful nature—often finding solace in his friendship with a kind, enslaved man named Jeff—Arthur’s experience turns dark. Stung by a public rebuke from his employer, Arthur’s pride becomes his downfall. He begins to neglect his duties, falls into the company of dissolute associates like Clinton and Quirk, and eventually finds himself embroiled in a store robbery, though he struggles to keep his involvement hidden.

The lives of the brothers become increasingly entangled with the local community, including the enigmatic Bernard Wilkins, a head clerk harboring his own secrets, and a beautiful young woman named Della. Wilkins lives in a state of moral turmoil, bound to a woman named Minny whose devotion to him is as fierce as it is tragic. Minny, desperate to protect Wilkins’ reputation and his relationship with Della, eventually suffers a fatal end in a shooting incident that the public deems an accident, though the truth of the event weighs heavily on those involved.

As the years pass, Arthur, burdened by the shame of his early failings, leaves New Orleans and spends a long, difficult period traveling abroad. During this time, he grapples with his past, eventually overcoming his pride and finding a renewed sense of purpose and faith. Gulian, meanwhile, remains in New Orleans, maturing into a man of noble character. He eventually marries Blanche, a woman he has long admired.

The story concludes with a joyful reunion at an old cathedral, where the brothers meet again after Arthur’s long absence. Arthur has returned as a successful, humble man, having re-purchased their family homestead for their mother. He settles into the role of a devoted uncle, finding peace in the domestic happiness of his brother’s life and the restoration of his own spirit. The narrative framing suggests that while the path of youth is fraught with shadows, a commitment to faith and personal integrity can ultimately lead to a prosperous and quiet life.

How It Unfolds

The arrival The two brothers step off a steamer into New Orleans, contrasting in appearance and temperament. They are immediately subjected to the harsh, scrutinizing gaze of their new employer, Mr. Delancey.

The descent Arthur, feeling insulted by his employer’s coldness, rebels against the rigid environment of the store. He seeks companionship in local saloons, finding himself drawn toward individuals who lead him into moral and social danger.

The spiritual counterweight Gulian remains a source of steadying influence, reading the Bible to his friend Jeff and maintaining his principles. He observes his brother’s downward trajectory with deep, quiet concern, struggling to offer guidance without being overbearing.

The crisis of secrets A robbery occurs at the store, and Arthur’s nervous behavior suggests his complicity. The tension deepens as the personal histories of the other clerks, particularly Wilkins and the tragic Minny, come to light.

The tragic turn The death of Minny marks a pivot point in the narrative, exposing the hidden lives and reckless choices of the characters. This event forces the survivors to confront their own actions and the fragility of their positions.

The long journey Arthur departs to wander the world, an exile from his own mistakes. He faces years of struggle, poverty, and isolation before finally conquering his pride and finding religious conversion.

The final harmony Arthur returns to his native land, transformed by his trials. He is reunited with Gulian at a wedding, and the brothers return to their childhood home, finding the redemption and peace they once lacked.

The People

Arthur is the older brother, defined by his "purplish black" hair and a physical grace that hides a fragile, prideful spirit. His inability to cope with harsh criticism leads him to abandon his morals, yet he eventually finds the strength to seek redemption through labor and faith.

Gulian serves as the moral anchor of the pair, described as having the "pureness of grace" and blue eyes that suggest an intellectual depth. He remains consistently devoted to his brother, acting as a quiet, watchful guardian who uses prayer and patience to cope with the "place of sin" in which they find themselves.

Mr. Delancey is the cold, authoritative merchant who serves as the catalyst for Arthur’s decline. His rigid, unfeeling treatment of his clerks exposes his lack of empathy, which he hides behind a mask of professional strictness.

Bernard Wilkins is a complex, flawed head clerk who manages his own moral contradictions. He is a man caught between his past and his desire for a stable future with Della, ultimately causing the tragedy that hangs over the final act of the story.

Jeff is an enslaved man of deep empathy and wisdom, acting as a spiritual guide to Gulian. He serves as a tragic figure, providing emotional support and insight that the white characters often fail to grasp.

In Its Own Voice

"The full broad forehead, shadowed by its dark locks, the clear black eye, the hue of health upon the check, and the smile upon the red lips as they parted over the snowy teeth, formed a picture of fresh and manly beauty over which the wing of this wicked world had as yet never hung darkly."

This description introduces Arthur as a young man of promise before he encounters the trials of city life.

"If all the sin, which his harshness and indifference has caused in others, were laid up against him, 'twould make a mighty pile."

Wilkins makes this observation to Gulian about their employer, highlighting the theme of moral culpability.

"The old times at No. -- Chartres-street hang over my manhood only as a finger of warning, and I have learned that they alone can tread a prosperous path in this life, who follow God's Guide-board, which is the Bible, and trust to His finger to point it out to them."

Arthur reflects on his past and his newfound faith upon reuniting with his brother.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an exploration of pride as a destructive force. It contrasts the vulnerability of a young, unseasoned spirit with the dangers of an environment that prizes productivity over humanity. The author argues that pride, when wounded, can drive a person toward corruption and isolation, whereas humility and a reliance on spiritual guidance offer the only true path to restoration. The book also implicitly critiques the rigid, hierarchical social structures of the time, suggesting that true authority should be grounded in compassion rather than the "cold, staring eyes" of a heartless employer. It asks whether a person can ever truly outrun their past, concluding that while consequences are inevitable, self-reflection and repentance can eventually lead to a state of grace.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy mid-nineteenth-century literature will find this book a fascinating window into the moral sensibilities and social atmosphere of New Orleans during that period. The prose is earnest and descriptive, capturing the city’s environment with a mix of romanticism and gritty urban reality. Those interested in the "brotherhood" trope will appreciate the tender, complex relationship between the two main characters, which provides the emotional pulse of the story.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the overt didacticism of the era; the book frequently pauses to impart moral lessons or religious reflections, which may feel heavy-handed to a contemporary audience. Additionally, the portrayals of enslaved characters—while intended to be sympathetic within the context of 1857—reflect the period's deeply ingrained racial attitudes and stereotypes, which can be jarring. Despite these difficulties, there is a genuine warmth in the writing and an intriguing, if melodramatic, plot that keeps the pages turning. The book remains a poignant study of the transition from the innocence of youth to the complicated, often painful realities of adulthood, and it leaves the reader with a lingering sense of how deeply early choices can echo throughout a lifetime.