The Shasta courier., 1866-06-16

| MES Il can suffer If | am too great SIN
ner for Gods grace, to save; but Bennle
Bennie! have sat here all day, since the
news came, wondering, he was SO good a son.
and Mr.. Ovens voice grew almost IN
articulate in its emotion, such dear, pre-
cious, noble boy | thought when l gave
him to his country, that not a father IN all
this broad land made SO precious glft-no,
not one. God forgive me if my grief is sin.
Mr.. Allan, the dear boy only slept min
ute. just one little minute, at his post; |
know that was all, for Bennie never dozed
over duty. How prompt and reliable he
was !" and Mr.. Owens eye wandered out
over the brown field, with such perplexed
wondering look, ." know he only fell off
one little second he was so young, and not
strong. that boy OF. minel Why, he was as
tall as |, and only eighteen and now they
shoot him because he was found asleep while
doing sentinel duty" Mr.. Owen repeated
find out their true meaning; g twenty four
hours. Where is Bennie now?'
I'VE will hope with his heavenly Father, y
said Mr. Allan, soothingly
Yes. yes, let us hope; God is very mer-
mean holy:" he said, correcting himself
|
one,-but Jesus died for sinners. Mr.. AL.
Ian. tell me that. Oh, Bennie! Bennie ~
The mother raised herself as she heard
smile, Don't talk so loud, father, Bennie
is not far off; he will come soon"
God laid his hand on them both you
see.' said Mr.. Owen, pointing to her, with
out making any direct reply. She has not
been justly herself since. 1t is il merciful
thing she is sort of stunned, it seems to me /:
she makes no wall Poor mother! if my
heart was not broken it would almost kill me
to see her SO. Bennie was her idol. told
her often, God has said, Thou shalt have
no other Gods before me- -
| Mr.. Allan looked in astonishment at the
bowed man as he came now and stood before
him. These few hours had done the work of
| years. The sinewy frame was tottering,
the eyes were dimmed, and sudden sorrow
had written itself in deep wrinkles all over
his manly face. He recognized the powers
of the great. kind heart, simple and almost
child-like in its Innocent, clinging affection );
how could this be reconciled to the stern.
strong head-the head that no common OBJ
server outlined the character of the man p
| "God have mercy on you; he is trying you
| in furnace seven times heated" he ex
claimed almost Involuntary
g | should be ashamed, father" he said,
"when | am man, to think | never used
this great right arm, land he held it out so
proudly before me-" for my country, when
she needed it. Palsy it, rather than keep it
at the plow!
8 Go. then, Bennie, go, my boy" | said,
and God keep you. God has kept him, |
think, Mr.. Allan !" and the farmer repeat
ed these last words slowly, as if in spite Of
his head, his heart doubted them.
Blossom had sat near them, listening with
| blanched cheek. She had not shed a tear
that day, and the terror in her face had been
SO very still no one had noticed it. She had
occupied herself mechanically in the house
hold duties, which her mothers condition
| devolved entirely upon her. Now she an
swered a gentle tap at the kitchen door, OPP
| ening it to receive from neighbors hand
letter.
:" 1t is from HIM." was all she said
Twas message from the dead. Mr. Ow-
en- could not break the seal for his trembling
| fingers, and held it toward Mr.. Allan, with
the helplessness of child.
The minister opened it, and obedient to a
motion from the father, read as follows:
| DEAR FATHER When this reaches you
| shall be in eternity. At first, it seemed
awful to me- but have thought about it so
much now that it has no terror. They say
thev will not bind me, nor blind me, but
they will let me meet my fate like man. [
thought, father, that it might have been on
the field Of battle, for my country, and that
when | fell, it would be fighting gloriously ;
but to be shot down ike dog for nearly be-
traying it. to die for neglect of duty !-oh,
father, | wonder that the very thought does
not kill me. But shall not disgrace you.
| am going to write you all about it; when |
am gone, you may tell my comrades, | can't
now.
| You know. l promised Jenny Carr's
mother, would look after her boy, and when
he fell sick did all I could for him. lie
was not strong when he was ordered back
into the ranks, and that day befure that night
carried all his luggage, besides my own,
on our march. Toward nj ght we went in on
double quick, and though the luggage began
to feel very heavy, everybody else was tired
too, and as for Jenny if had not lent him
an arm now and then, he would have drop
ped by the way. l was all tired out when
we came into camp, and then it was Jem
my's turn to be sentry, and would take his
place, but | was too tired, father. | could
not have kept awake, if | had gun at my
head, but did not know it until-well
until it was too late"
"God be thanked" interrupted Mr.. Ow
en-, fervently. q know Bennie was not the
boy to sleep at his post"
"They tell me to-day that ] have short
reprieye, given to me by circumstances
time to write to you, our good Colonel says
Forgive him, father, he only does his duty
he would gladly save me if he could and
don't lay my death up against Jenny. The
poor boy is broken-hearted, and does moth
ing but beg and entreat them to let him die
in my stead.
| | can't bear to think of mother and Bios
som. Comfort them, father. Tell them
di. as brave boy should, and that when
the war is over they will not be ashamed OF
me: it is very hard to bear. Good bye,
father. God seems near and dear to me
not At all as if he wished me to perish for
ever. but as if he felt sorry for his poor, sin
fnI. broken.hearte child. and would take
him TO be with him and my Savior, in bet
ter life"
4 A great sob burst from Mr.. Ovens heart.
&c Amen !"- he said, solemnly, Amen r.
/ ..To.night in the early twilight, | shall
see the cows all coming home from pasture
Daisy and Brindle and Bet, old Billy, too
ill neigh to me from his stall, and pretty
little Blossom stand on the back stoop wait