Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-17

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Tonight in the early twilight shall
see the cows all coming home from pas
ture. Daisy, and Brindle and Bet: old
Billy too will neigh to me from his
stall, and precious little Blossom stand
on the back stoop waiting for me-but
L shall never-never come. God bless
you all: forgive your poor Bonnie"
Late that night the door of the shack
stoop" opened softly and little figure
glided out, and down the footpath that
led to the road by the mill. She SEEM
ed rather flying, than walking, turning
neither to the right nor left; starting
not as the full moon stretched queer,
fantastic shapes all around her, looking
only now and then to Heaven, and fold
ing her hands as if in prayer.
Two hours later, the same young girl
stood at the Mill Depot, watching the
coming of the night train, and the con-
ductor, as he reached down to lift her
in, wondered at the sweet, tear-stained
face that was upturned toward the dim
lantern he held in his hand
A few questions and ready answered
told him all, and no father could have
cared more tenderly for his only child,
than he, for our little Blossom.
She was on her way to Washington to
ask President Lincoln for her brothers
life. She had stolen away leaving only
note to tell her father why, she had
gone. She had brought Bennie's letter
with her; no good kind heart like the
Presidents, could refuse to be melted
by it.
| The next morning they reached New
York, and the conductor found suitable
company for Blossom, and hurried her
on to Washington. Every minute now,
might be year in her brothers life.
| And so in an incredibly short time,
Blossom reached the Capital and was
hurried at once to the White House.
The President had but just seated
himself to his mornings task, of over
looking and signing important papers,
when, without one word of announce
ment, the door softly opened, and
Blossom, with her eyes downcast and
folded hands stood before him.
"Well, my child" he said in his
pleasant, CHEEKY tones, ''what do you
want so bright and early in the morn
ing ?"
"Bennie's life, please, SIR" faltered
out Blossom.
"Bennie ? Who is Bonnie ?"
"My brother, sir. They are going to
shoot him for sleeping at his post
"Oh, yes" said Mr.. Lincoln, as he
ran his eye over the papers before him,
81 remember. 1t was fatal Sleep
You see my child, it was at time of
special danger. Thousands of lives
might have been lost for his culpable
1 yligence."
$50 my father said," said Blossom,
very gravely, "but poor Bonnie was so
tired, sir, and Jenny so weak. He did
the work of two, sir, and it was Jem-
my's night, not his, but he was too
tired, and Bonnie never thought about
himself, that he was too tired"
"What is this you say, my child
come here. / don't understand" and
the kind man caught eagerly, as ever,
at what seemed to be paliation of an
offense.
Blossom went to him; he put his
hand tenderly on her shoulder, and
turned up her pale, anxious face toward
his. How tall he seemed, and he was
President of the United States, too
A dim thought of this kind passed, for
moment through Blossoms mind, but
she told her story, now, simply and
straight forward, and handed Mr.. Lin
coin, Bennie's letter to read.
He read it carefully, then taking up
his pen wrote few hasty lines and rang
his bell
Blossom heard this order given ''send
this dispatch at once"
The President then Turned to the girl
and said:
$50 home, my child, and tell that
father of yours, who could approve his
country's sentence, even when it took
the life of a child like that, that Abra-
ham Lincoln thinks the life too precious
to be lost Go back, or-wait until to-
morrow; Bonnie will need change after
be has so bravely faced death, he shall
go with you
"God bless you, sir" said Blossom;
and who shall doubt that God heard
and registered the request.
Two days after this interview the
young soldier came to the White House
with his little sister. He was called into
the Presidents private room, and a
strap fastened upon the shoulder"
sick comrades baggage and die for it so
uncOmDialDlDgly. linen DollHl6 anu
Blossom took their way to their Green
Mountain home, and crowd gathered
at the Mill Depot to welcome them
back, and farmer Ovens tall head tow
cred above them all, and as his hand
grasped that of his boy, Mr.. Allan heard
him say fervently, as the hottest blessing
he could pronounce upon his child:
Just and true are all thy ways. thou
King of Saints"
That night, Daisy and Brindle and
Bet came lowing home from pasture, for
they hear well-known voice calling
them at the gate; and Bonnie pats his pets
and looks lovingly in their great brown
eyes, catches through the still evening
air his Puritan fathers voice as he re-
peats to his happy mother these jubi-
liant words: "Fear not, I am with thee;
/ will bring thy seed from the East. and
gather thee from the West; I will say
to the North give, and to the South,
keep not back; bring my sons from far,
and daughters from the ends of the
earth, every one that is called by my
name, for / have created him for my
glory; have formed him, yes, 1 have
made him.
aa"tn Laurie
This lovely song, admired, the world
over, for the beauty and simplicity of
its words, its easy, flowing. and express
L Ia i