The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-12-07
BENSON.

The battle was over and the day was
lost The fight had been terrible. The
dead and wounded lay thick on the field.
Shots were still dying, and shells scream
ing and bursting through our retreating
ranks.
..Comrade" called dying man. and
his feeble hand took hold of one Of the
retreating soldiers. "Comrade.' -
The soldier paused.
"Ah. Benson, God bless you, Take
my pay from this pocket and send it to
nv mother She needs it. Take her
letters, too give them to you. You
will find them a treasure. God reward
you
The wounded soldier lay back to die,
and his comrade passed on-a more
thoughsful man for that trust-for those
few diving words So much is sometimes
centered in so little.
Benson had been a reckless. desperate
man. An orphan from his birth, cast
loose upon the world to fight his way
through it among the base, the grasping,
the selfish, he had grown selfish and
fierce He had despised law, defied re
straint and followed his own strong will
without fear and without principle-a
reckless, dangerous man. But he was
man still Down below the roughness,
stains and crimes of years, lay tender
ness born Of gentle mother seldom
touched, but there. He had heart in
him that could he stirred by love. and
trust and confidence. The trust of that
diving man had moved him He had
trusted him with his last messages for
home had given him his letters of at
fection implored God 8 blessing on him.
That trust was not misplaced that con-
fdence will not be abused; that prayer
will not he unheard.
"Ah, Benson" shouted his fellows. as
he joined them, .'give us share How
much of haul this timet Fierce
enough for fight, but fiercer for plum
der"
.Plunder - repeated Benson. and his
eyes flashed. ..Plunder: Say that again
.'Blood's up, said one of the boldest;
and no further remark was ventured.
Benson walked on in silence. The
earnest imploring confiding look of the
diving man was before him his failing
voice still in his ears. his letters, his
money in his bosom. His thoughts went
forward to his own last hour Would a
comrade pause to hear his last words :
w hat would they be? For whom Who
would care when he should die p? Who
mourn for him? For whom had heiived =!
W hom had he blessed Could he call
on G cd for help in the final, fearful strug
gle i? How could he appear before God
N judgment?
The soldier at his side tried to rally
lim Whats the trouble, Benson
No answer.
Benson obeyed the request Of the dy
ng soldier. He delivered his last mes
sage remitted his pay. Remembering
he words, s'She needs it, spoken so
Ieelingly. he added to it his own pay
He had no need of it, clothed and fed as
ne was no mother. nor wife, nor child
% care for Let it GO to the bereaved
mother She may perhaps feel her loss
somewhat the less for it. Better so. far
better, than It should so in gambling or
n drink HIS letter closed-"dad | not
oeen motherless from birth, might per
laps have been worthy to fill the place
IF him YOU mourn. to be son to you,
put l have been too abandoned l can
,nly offer YOU respect, and contribute my
poor earnings for your comfort.
He read and re-read the letters given
him BY the departed son; SO pure, SO
ender. so elevating. He found them a
treasure as the son had found them
They awoke in him desire for purity:
hi aspiration for better thing. than he
had ever known 10 be q better man than
lie had ever been. They spoiled his
:as.e for gambling; they made him sbhor
Jiieness and carousing.
His comrades rallied him again and
again.
What ails you. Benson: Come, let's
rave hand at cards. Its month
since you have played
No WAS all his answer.
Drink with Us. You don tdEiuk now"
mo
WAY not? Guess you're getting
oious"
No answer; and they who knew him.
Knew better than to Jest when he was 81
ent.
A letter came 70. him; letter of
hanks from the bereaved mother 1t
vas full of gratitude and kindness
3enson's lip quivered. and he shaded his
yes with his hand, as he read:
Il shall regard you as my son. Your
your filial tenderness, your T
ense of unvorthiness, make YOU not un- !
Torthy in my eyes Ny prayers go up /
0 God for you. Ny blessing rests on .
ouE
Benson Was indeed another man He /
ad new relations, new hopes, and . new !
nsure. But will the change In him last?
vill he not shake of his new relations: :
: ill be not GO back to his old ways: /
Why should he? Were they the paths
{ ease and delight? Were they the