The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-16

lows are going over me, do you? Eve
planted it firm, and it don't yield: no, ii
don't yield, but the strain is terrible. Goo
send it may carry me into port oh, Mr.
Allan, say it will. 1t has seemed to me
to-day so dark, so wonderful, so inscruta.
ble, that he-my Bennie! Mr.. Allan
there is a good, wise purpose behind it ALL
Can you see it q
! ''Io bring you nearer the kingdom, .
said the minister.
"Oh, don't tell me that | can't bear
it. God is too wise: He knows a hun
dred such souls as mine are not worth one
of my Bennie'S. can suffer if | am too
great sinner for Gods grace TO save, but
Bennle q. Bennie. | have sat here all
day, since the news came, wondering,
wondering, he was so good n,"-and
MIR. Owens voice grew almost inarticu-
late in its emotion, such dear, prec-
ious, noble boy. | thought, when | gave
him to his country, that not a father in
all this broad land made SO precious a gift
no, not one. God forgive me il my
griefi is sin. Mr.. Allan, the dear boy
only slept a minute, just one little minute,
at his post l know that was all, for
Bennie never dozed over duty. How
prompt and reliable he was :" and Mr..
Owens eve wandered out over the brown
fields with such a perplexed, wondering
look. II know he only fell off one little
second he was so Young and not strong,
that boy of mine Why, he was as tall
as |, and only eighteen and now they
shoot him because he was found asleep
when doing sentinel duty" Mr.. Owen
repeated these words slowly, as if endeav-
oring to lind out their true meaning
'TNcntv-tour hours, the telegraph said
only twcnly-four hours Where is Benni(
now -
"We will hope, with his Heavenly Fa
ther," said Mr.. Allan, soothingly.
''leS, yes, let us hope God is very
mercitul. and Bennie was so good-I dc
not mean holy" he said correcting him
self sharply ''there is none holy-no, no
one-but Jesus died for sinners Mr. AL
ian. tell me that Oh, Bennie, Bennie :.
The mother raised herself as she hear,
his name called, and, turning, said, will
a smile: Don't call so loud. father. Ben
ME is not far Oft : he will come soon"
''God laid his hand on them both, yol
: sce.'' said MIR. Owen, pointing to her
without making any direct reply. ssh
has not been Justly herself since. 1t is
, mcrcitul thing she is sort of stunned. /
seems to me she makes no wall. Poo
, mother if my heart was not broken /
y would almost kill me to see her so. Ben
ME was her IDOL. told her often, Go
c had said. Thou shalt have no gods bcior
+ me-"
= Mr.. Allan looked in a>toniShmcnt 4
the bowed man as he came now and stoo
5 before him. These few hours had done tin
/ work of years. The Sincwy frame wa
9 tottcring, the ewes were dimmed, and tn
/, sudden sorrow had written itself in dee
l wrinkles all over his manly face He +,
| cognlzed the power OF the great, kin
4 heart. simple and almost childlike in ii
> innocent, cllnging affection; how coul
t this be reconciled with the stern. stron
:. head-the head that to the common OF
: server outlined the character of the man
; ''God have mercy on you He is tryin
a YOU in furnace seven times heated. n
e Icxclaimed, almost involuntarilv.
e 81 should be ashamed, father y h
:. said, when am 4 man, to think | nevC
: used this GREAT right arm, and he held
If out so proudly before me,-'tor my coul
y Try when it needed it. Palsy it, rather
e than keep it at the plow'
= $50, Bennie, then 90, my boy | SUI
o and God keep you God has kept hin
e | think Mr. Allan ~ and the farmer +,
II peated these last words slowly, as il,
n spite OF his head, his heart doubted then
h Like the apple Of his eye, Mr.. Over
: doubt it hot -
IF Blossom had sat near them liStenin:
e with hlanched cheek She had not shed
'e tear to-day, and the terror in her face ha
r been so very still 10 one had noticed /
II She had occupied herself mechanically
RS the household cares, which her mother
IL condition d,volved entirely upon her
% Now she answered a gentle tap at Il
If kitchen door, openinsit to receive from
l. neiohbors hand letter. 1T is from hin
Is was aIl she said
V. Twas like message from the dea
Id Mr. Owen could not break the seal for h
i! trembling fingers, and held it toward NJ
le Allan with the helplessness OF Il child.
,d The minister opened it, and, obedient
to a motion from the father, read as tl
.h lows:
"DEAE FATHER when this reach
ed you shall be in eternity. At first,
n, seemed awful to me but have thoug
~ about it So much now that it has no te
e. ror. They say they will not bind me, n
blind me, but that may meet my dea
id like man. | thought, father, it mig
IN have been on the battle field, for my cou
o, try, and that, when fell, it would
fighting gloriously but to be shot dov
ny like a dog for nearly betraying it, to q
nd for neglect of duty oh, father, Iwond
v the very thought does not kill me. But
wv shall not disgrace you. l am going
write you all about it, and, when l {
ou gone, you may tell my comrades. | Cal
now.
nis "You know | promised Jenny Car
Ike mother | would look after her boy, a
ad when he fell sick. | did all could for hi