The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-02-14
CADIz, OHIO, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY IA, 1866.

"Oh, don't tell me that; can't bear
| God is too wise; He knows hundred sue
! souls as mine are not worth one of my Be-
| MES | ran suffer if | am to great a sim,
for Gods grace to save, but Bennie! Be-
nie' | have sat here all day, since the new
came; wondering, wondering; he. was sue
a good son, and Mr.. Owens voice gre
almost inarticulate in its emotion, such
dear, precious, noble boyl ! Thought whc
| gave Rim to his country, that not tathe
IN all this broad land made so precious
gift,--no not one God forgive me If N
grief is a sin. Mr.. Allen, the dear boy onl
slept minute, just one little minute, 4
his post; know that was all, for Bcnni
never dozed over duty. How proinpt an
reliable he was" and Mr.. Owens ey
wandered over the brown fields, with such
perplcxed, wondering look. ~ know h
only fell off one little second; he was $
young, that boy of mine! Why, he was a
tall as |, and only eighteen! and now the
shoot him because he was found asleep whel
doing sentinel duty" Mr.. Owen rcpeate,
those words very slowly, as if endeavorin
to find out their true meaning: Twenty
four hours the telegraph said, only twenty
four hours. Where is Bennic now?" F".. =
I'VE will hope, with his Heavenly Faith
er. said MIR. Allen, soothingly.
. Yes. yes let us hope; God is very mcr
clful, and Bennie was so good-I do no
mean holy" he said correcting himsel
sharply; there is none holy--no, not one, -
but Jesus died for sinners. Mr.. Allan tel
mic that. OH Bennie, Bennie >.
The mother raised herself as if she heard
his nane called and turning said with q
smile: Don't call 30 loud, father. Ben.
ME is not FAR off; he will come soon"
God laid his upon ttcpi both, you sec,''
said Mr.. Owen, pointing to her, without
making any direct reply. ''Shc has not
been justly herself since. 1t is a mercifuI
thing SHE is fort of stunned, it seems TO me-
she makes no wall Poor mother! if nv
heart was not broken it would almost xiii
me to see her 80. Bonnic was her idol. T
told her often God had said, Thou shalt
have no Gods before me. ," ~
Mr. Allen looked i'll astonishmcnt at the
bowed man as he came now and stood be-
fore him. These few hours had done the
work OF years. The Sinewy frame was tot
terlng, the eyes were dimmcd, and the sud
den sorrow had written itself in deep
all over his manly free. lie recog-
nizcd the power of the great, kind heart,
simple and almost child-fike in its innocent,
cllnglng affection; how could this be recoil-
I'd with the stern, strong hcad-the head
that to common observers outlines the char
acter OF the man? God have mercy on
you: lie is trying you in furnace seven
lines heated" he exclaimed, almost invol-
lntarily. .E "-, lt.. ......' '..TI
II should be ashamed, father" he said
when | am a man, and he held it out so
proudly before me, FER my country, when
t needed it. Palsy it, rather, than keep it
1t the plough. !" sa,..' -s' Sa~.
Go, Benuic, then, co. my boy I said,
aud liod keep you.'' God has kept him,
think, Mr.. A lan!'' and the farmer repeat
d these last words slowly, as if, in spite of
lis head his heart doubted them. i.
Like the apple Of his eye, Mr., Owen,
|oubt it not!" l...a '.,, ..'T'
Blossom had sat near them listening, with |
'lanched check. She had not shed a tear
o-day. and the terror in her face had been
o very still no one had noticed it. She had
cenpcd herself mechanically in the house
odd cares, which her mother s condition de-
olved entirely upon her. Now she answer
d gentle tap at the kitchen door, opening
to receive from u neighbours hand a
'tter. 1T was from him, was all she
aid.
Twas like message from the dead. ~
ir. Owen could not break the seal for his
'cmblng fingers, and held it toward Mr.. |
Ian, with the hclplessness Of Il child.
The minister opened it. and ohedient TO
motion from the father, read as fol-
iws: ~, .. t
Dear Eather:-When this reaches you
shall be in eternity At first, it seemed
wtul to me- but | have thought about it so
luch now that it has no terror. They say
icy will rot bind me, or blind me, but that
may meet my death like man. thought
ther, it might have been on the battle
ED, for my country, and that, when fell,
would be. fighting glor;ousy; but to be
lot down like Q dog for nearly hctraying it,
} die for neglect Of duty oh, father, |
onder the very thought does not xiii me.
ut | shall not disgrace you. / am going
write You all about it, and, when am
me, you may tell my comrades. can
Ow,.- --.-. .-.-
You know, I promised Jenny Cars
other, ! would look after her boy, and
hen he fell sick, / did all could for him.
e was not strong, when he was ordered
'ck into the ranks, and the day beftrs
at night, | car. led all his luggage, beside
y own, on our march. Toward night We
ent in on double quick, and though the
ggage began to feel very heavy, everybody
Sc was tired too, and as for Jenny. if /
Id not lent him an arm, now and then, he
ou!d haye dropped by the way. ! was all
'ed ont when we came into camp, and
en It was Jemmy's turn to be sentry, and
would take his place, but | was too tired,
ther. L could not have kept awake. if |
I'd, gun at my head, but | did not know
until-well, it was too latc.'
God be thanked, " interrupted Mr.. Ow- >
( revercntly. Il knew Brnhie was not :
g boy to sleep carelessly at his post
''They tell me to-day that | have short !
prieve, given to me by circumstances. ,
ME to,wlite to you our Colonel says /
'rgive hlm, father, he only docs his duty;
would gladly save me, if he could, and +
mt lay my death up against Jenny :
'e poor 10y is broken-hearted. and does :
thing but big and ontreat them to let ,
n die IN my stead. y r"fl .a
II cant bear to think of mother and ;
ossom. Comfort them, father! Tell f.
am die as n brave boy should and that t
len the war is over they may not he
named of me as they must be now. God | =
lp me, it is very hard to bear. Good bye. /
her, God seems near and dear to me, not =
all, as if he wished me to perish forever. =
t as if he felt sorry for his poor. sinful :
ken hearted child, and would take him !,
4 my Savior, in better-better life." q
4 great sob burst from Mr.. Owens q
art. w s& @ ~ =
'Amenl' he said s,lemnly. "Amepl" !
Tonight in the early twilight see the =
Us all coming home from pasture. Daisv, u
Brindle and Bet; old Billy too. will "
gh to me from his stall, and preciou. II. y
Blossom stand on, the bank stoop waiting t. t,
meIout shall neycr--never come Il
d bless you all; forgive your poor Ben e. q
late that night the door Of the 'bacl y, y
op' opened softly and a little fpura ol;J- - -