The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-02-09
Mistellaneons.
THE PURITAN OF 1868.

the Utter Irtck lay spreau out DeIote h'h' h'
any other time no would have stopped to admire
its gentle undulations its great flower garden
OF forest trees, rich in every color and hue; its
silver threads winding their way to the waters
| of tho Champlain, and the glorious autumn
light which lay like agolden martle over them
J all. But this afternoon he seemed oppressed
bv the beauty which surrounded him. lilo
looked upon it with eyes misty from tcars.
"a weight which even the long, fcrvcnt pray.
ers that he had uttered so increasingly since
noon had failed 10 move. Between him and
that landscape, we might almost say, between
him aud tha mercy seat, there moved u slight,
tall boy, with laughing blue eye, clustering
brown hair. and lips always ready with q plea
SAINT word. To-day, there was Bennc, nut
TIM. under the bare, brawny arms OF the but
t.rnut tree throwing bis line into the little
brooks, that came babbling down from the
the narrow foot. path standing with blossom
under the bright maple, and shouting with
pride and joy as sho wrcathed her pretty face
in the gay leaves.
"Oh, Bennie Bcnnio!" Mr. Allan hard.
" knew he was calling the name, until it came
back To him with such an empty, mOcking
sound the beartiess echo "almost"-Alr. AL
Ian thought, startling himself by tho seeming
impiety OF the words--''almost us ii there were
no great kind Father over us all.
IS nc came near Farmer Owens house, he
aw his oxen yokcd to the plough. lilo knew
they had been there since the telegram came.
Mr. Owen had read 1t in tho field, gone to the
house and forgotten them, and no one had dar-
Cd put them up. lie was man fully capable
OF taking care Of his own affairs under any cir
cumstanccs, never having been known before to
forget
Mr. Allan bcckoncd to an Irishman who was
passing, and asked him TO take care Of them.
Tho man camc with an awcd look upon his face
as il even there he stood in tho presence OF u
great sorrow, and without the least noise obey
cd.
Mr.. Allan walked on slowly toward tho
house. He had known MIR. Owen for many
years, and he knew him well. Indeed there
was peculiar bond Of sympathy between the
two men. In all his large parish, there was
not one upon whom tho minister relied as he
did upnn this strong, sturdy farmer. Many
and many an hour he had walked by his side
when he was upturning tho brown earth, and
had discussed with him on topics which would
have sounded harsh and rcpulsvc to common
cars, but which were lraught with deep and vi
tai interest to them. Mr.. Owen was u direct
descendant Of tn Puritans, and every drop OF
blood in his veins was tinged with ~ strong
and true "a 'bluo," as il he himself had land
cd in tho Mayllowcr. lie took naturally tn
tho s,crner doctrines Of religion, while Mr.. Al
Ian, vcrscd ia all the modern lore, questioned
and doubted Tho keystone of Mr.. Owens
theology was the sovereignty OF God--"Shall
not the Judge Of all the earth do right?' This
was the man upon whom God had now lald his
hand 50 heavily and Mr.. Allan felt that il tho
trial brought no murmur, no rebellion against
that Mighty Sovereign, tho stern old lalth were
indeed rich ono in which to live and die
lilo knew that ono element in this war was Pu-
rtan. Sons OF the Roundhcads filled up the
ranks of tho Northern army. They marched
to battle to strains Of the old tunes that had
fingered in tho nursery and the sanctuary from
the day that Cromwell and his soldiers chant
cd them On Marstou Mour. All down the
aisles of Tune cimo tramping to the music
mailed men, bcarin. on their shields tho two
words Liberty and Equality. They trcmblcd
on Mr.. Owens lips with his parting blessing
to his hoy. Would be remember them, aud
would they comfort and give him strength
now?
Where there is allliction in house, the min
knocking, and made his way to the largo old
fashioned kitchen in which he was sure Of find
ing the family.
There, by table, with his arms folded and
laid heavily upon it. sat Mr.. Owen. Ills wife
was in small rocking-chair by the fro, and
Blossom, young girl sat between thcm.
Mr.. Owen rose to welcome him; 50 did Bios
som but the wife did not notice him,--shc
sat still rocking herself to and fro, looking at
the blazing wood.
Mr. Allan put his hand in the brawny one
that was held out toward him, and laid his
other on Mr.. Owens great heaying breast.
"My friend" he said, "how is it with the
dccrces OF Godr
"Just and true arc all thy ways, thou King
Of Saints" altered tho iuan.
There was something strange in his voice.
a thin, womanly sound. so unlike the deep,
stentoran tones in which he had always spok
en- before. Mr.. Allan, when he heard ii, almost
fcl, rs IL he had dealt him blow.
THANK God lIc has not, then, lorsakcn
YOU, and from tho depths Of this deep trouble
YOU can still say, The Maker dOcth all things
well'"
"Ycs, yes, and for an instant there Glim.
mcrCd from his dull eye spark of the old con.
trOycrsiil iirc-"You don't tsuppose have held
ON to that anchor when the skies were cloud
less, and the little waves rocked my bark, to
let alone OF it now-now, when the great
waves and billows are going over me, do you?
I've planted it firm, il don't yield no 1T don't
Weld but the strain is terrible. God send 1t
may carry me into port oh, Mr.. Allan say II
will. Ii has seemed to mo to-day 80 dark, SO
wonderful, 50 inscru,ablc, that hc-My Ben
Mo Mr.. Allan, there is good, wise purpose
behind it all. Can You see tT'
$40 bring you nearer tho Kingdom" said
tho minister.
=" Oh. don't tell mo that, can'tbear 1t.
God is too wise; ho knows hundred such
souls ae mine, arc not worth one OF my Ben
MICS. can suffer il am too great sinner
for Gods grace to save, but Bennc! Bennic
| have sat here all day, since the news came,
wondering, wondering he was so good ason,
and Mr.. Owens voice grew almost inarticu-
late in it's emotion, n,-"such dear precious,
noble boy thought, when gave him to his
country. that not iathcr i'm all this broad
God forgive me il my grei is sin. Mr.. Al
Ian. the dear boy only slept minute, ut his
post, know that was oil, for Bennle never do
zcd over duty. How reliable ho was!" and
Mr.. Owens eye wandered out over the brown
fields. with such perplcxsd, wondering look.
al know he only fell oa ono little second he
was SO young, and not strong, that boy OF
mine Why, hc was Us tall us L, and only
eighteen and now they will shoot him be.
cause he was found asleep when doing sentinel
duty."-Mr. Owen repeated these words very
slowly, rs il endeayouring to find out their true
meaning -" Twenty four hours tho tele.
graph said.-only twcnty.four hours. Whee
is Bennic now ?"
I'VE will hope, with his Heavenly Father,
said Mr.. Allan, soothingly.