Pair of cdv images

This is an interesting pair of carte de visites that tell a great story.

The first image that dates from the mid 1860s shows two young boys standing in front of Mom (hidden mother). The are identified as "Howard & Clarence" in period ink.

A second image shows Howard as a teenager and includes his full name and birth/ death dates. The image probably dates close to his time of death (1880). Photographer is Ellen out of Spring Valley, Minnesota.

I don't know the circumstances of young Howard's death, but the pair make for an interesting 19th century image pair.