Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-03-16
ELLSWORTH, MAINE, FRIDAY, MARCH, l6, 1865.
"God be thanked" interrupted Mr.. Ow-

| en-, reVerently, II knew Dennlc WAS not
the boy to sleep carelcssly on his post"
"They tell me to-day that have a short
reprieve given to me by the circumstances,
"time to write you," our good Colonel gays,
Forgive him, father, he only does his duty,
he would gladly save me if he could, and
don't lay my death up againut Jenny
The poor boy is broken hearted, and does
nothing but beg and entrcat them to let
him die in my stead,
II can't bear to think of mother and
Blossom. Comfort them, father! Tell
them die as q brave boy should, and that
when the war is over, they will not be as
shamed Ut 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, br0ken-hearted child, and would
take him to be with Him and my Savior,
in a better-better lfe."
A great sob burst from Mr.. Owens
heart. "Amen he said solernnly. Amen"
Tonight in the early twilight r shall
see the cows all coming home from pas
old Billy too, will neigh to lie 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 your poor Bennie.''
Late that night the door of the "back
stoOp" opened softly and little figure
glided out, and down the foot-path that
led to the road by the mill. She seemed
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 folding 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. tcar-stained face
that was upturned toward the dim lantern
he held in his hand.
A few questions and ready answers told
him all, and no father could have cared
more tenderlv 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 a note
telling her father why she had gone. She
\
rood. kind heart like the Presidents could
refuse 10 be melted BY it.
The next morning they reached New
York, and the conductor faund suitable
company for Blossom, and hurried her on
to Washington. Every minute now might
be Year in her brothers life.
| And so in an incredible short time Bios
SOM reached the Capitol and was hurried
at once to the White House.
The President had Just seated himself
to his morning task of looking over and
signing important papers, when, without
one word of announcement. the door soft
" opened, and Blossom, with her eyes
down cast and folded hands stood before
him.
"Wcll, my child" he ssia, in his pleas
ant, CHEEKY tones, what do vou want ~
bright aud early in the morning :"
"Bennie's life, please, SIR" fa,tered out
Blossom.
..Bcnnie Who is BcnEie !"
MY brother, sir. They are going tc
shoot him for sleeping at his post"
}, "Qh. yes," said Mr.. Lincoln, as he rar
his eye over the papers before him. "l
, remember. 1t was a fatal sleep. Yo,
see my child, it was at time of specia
, danger. Thousands of lives might hav.
} been lost through his culpablc ncgh
gence"
$50 nv father said" said Blossom yer,
: gravelv, but poor Bcnnie was so tired
: s-, aud Jenny so weak. He did III,
work of two, sir, and it was Jenny sht
| not his was too tired"
: What is this you say, child! com,
l here. don't understand" and the kim
man caught eagerly. as ever at what seem
ed to be Il Justification of an offence
Blossom went to hin. he nut his hant
| tenderly on her shoulder and turned II,
D the pale anxious face toward his. HOY
! tall he seemed, and he was President o
t the United States, too A dim thought o
this kind. passed for a m.ment througl
. Blossoms mind, but she told her stor,
| now simply and straight forward anl
= handed Mr. Lincoln Bcnnes letter t.
S read.
He read it carefully, then taking up hi
pen wrote few hasty lines and rang hi
bell.
, Blossom heard this order given Sen,
:, this dispatch at once"
The President then turned to the cir
| and said +: "Go home. my child, and tel
that father of yours, who could approx
s his couutry's sentence, even when it toe
the life of child like that, that Ab'ahar
q Lincoln thinks the life far too precious
s he lost. Go back, Or-wat until o-mor
1 row; BenSie will need change after h
has 80 bravely faced death; he shall 6
III