Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-04-25


I "Oh, don't tell me that; l can't bea
it. God is too wise; He knows that
hundred such souls as mine are not wortl
lone of my Bennie's. l can suffer, if
am too great a sinner for Gods mercy t.
save-but Bennie Bennie u l haves a
here all day, since the news came, won
dering. wondering; he was so good SOM
and Mr.. Ovens voice grew almost inar
ticulate in its emotion ''such q dear
precious, noble boy l thought, wheI
l gave him to his country, that not q
father in all this broad land made Sc
precious gift-no, not one. God forgive
me If my grief is sin. Mr.. Allen. the
dear boy only slept minute at his post
| know that was all, for Bennie never
dozed over duty. How prompt and reli.
able he was % and Mr.. Ovens eye wan.
dered out over the brown fields with such
a perplexed look. al 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 very
slowly, as if endeavoring to find out their
true meaning:-"Twenty- -four hours the
telegraph said-only twenty-four hours.
Where is Bennie now ?"
1--WE will hope with his heavenly Faith
er," said Mr.. Allen, soothingly.
Eyes, let us hope; God is very merci
full, and Bennie was SO good-I do not
mean holy" he said, correcting himself
sharply "there is none holy, no not one
but Jesus died for sinners. Mr.. Allen,
tell me that. o Bennie, Bennie ?"
The mother raised herself as she heard
his name called, and turning, said with a
smile: "Don't call so loud, father-Ben-
ME is not far off; he will come soon"
"God laid his hand on them both, you
see," said Mr.. Owen, pointing to her,
without making any direct reply. " She
has not been just herself since. 1t is a
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. Ben
ME was her idol. l told her often God
had said, thou shalt have no other Gods
before me-"
Mr.. Allen looked in astonishment at
the bowed man as he came and stood be-
fore 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 power of the great, kind
heart, simple and almost childlike in its
innocent affection; how could this be rec
onciled with the stern, strong head; the
head that TO common observers outlined
the character of the man? "God have
mercy on you. He is trying you in a fur
mace seven times heated" exclaimed al
most involuutarily.
81 should be ashamed, father" he said,
"when l am a man, to think never used
this great right ARMAND he held it out
so proudly before me" for my country
when it needed it. Palsy it, rather than
keep it at the plow."
" Go, Bennie, then; go, my boy" l
said, ''and God keep you.' God has kept
him, think, Mr.. Allen !" and the far
mer repeated these last words slowly, as
if, in spite of his head, his heart doubted
them.
Like the apple of his eye, Mr.. Owen,
doubt it not"
with blanched cheek. She had not shed
a tear to-day, and the terror in her face
had been so still, no one had noticed it.
She had occupied herself mechanically
in the household cares, which, in conse-
quence of her mothers condition, de-
volVed entirely upon her. Now she an
swered gentle tap as the door, opening
it to receive from a neighbor's hand a
letter. 1t is from him." was all she
said.
Twas like a message from the dead
Mr.. Owen could not break the seal for
his trembling fingers, and held it towards
Mr.. Allen, with the helplessness of a
child.
The minister opened it, and at a mo-
ton from the father, read as follows:
DEAR FATHER When this reaches
you shall be in eternity. At first it
seemed awful to me, but l have thought
so much about it now that it has no ter
ror. They say that they will not bind
me nor blind me, but that l may meet
my death like a man. thought, father,
it might have been on the battle field,
for my country, and that, when l fell, it
would be fighting gloriously but to be
shot down like dog, for nearly betray
ing it, to die for neglect of duty 0 faith
er, l wonder the very thought of it does
not kill me. But l shall not disgrace you.
am going to write you all about it, and
when | am gone you may tell my COM
rades. Ican't now. ..-.1
you knowI promised Jenny Carr's
mother would look after her boy, and
when he fell sick did all could for him.
He was not strong when he was ordered
back in the ranks, and the day before
that night carried all his luggage besides
my own, on our march. Towards night
we went on double quick, and though
the luggage began to feel very heavy,
every body else was tired too, and as for
Jenny, if l had not lent him an arm
now and then, he would have dropped by
the way. l was all tired out when we
came into camp, and then twas Jemmy's s
turn to be sentry, and | would take his
place, but l was too tired, father.
could not have kept awake if had had
a gun at my head, but did not know it
until-well, until it was too late"
God be thanked interrupted Mr..
Owen, reTerendy; 1 knew Bennie was
not the boy to sleep carelessly at his post.
They tell me to-day that Ihave ashort
reprieve, 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 nothing but beg and entreat
them to let him die in my stead.
L can't bear TO think of mother and
Blossom. Comfort them, father! Tell
them die As brave boy should, and
that when the war is over they will no t
be ashamed of me, as they must be now
God help 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 forever, but as if he felt sorry
for his poor, sinful broken hearted child,
and would take him to be with him and
my Saviour in better-better life.'
A great sob burst from Mr.. Ovens
heart. Amen he said solemnly. Amen
Tonight in the early twilight, l shall
see the COWS coming home from pasture,
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 shall never
never come. God bless YOU all, forgive