The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1866-05-17
Upton, IOWA, MAY II, 1866

laid the other on Mr. Owens heaving
breast. "My friend" he said, chow is it
with the DEGREES Of God?"
s."Just and true are all thy ways, thou
King Of Saints" faltered out the man.
There was something strange in his
voice--a thin, womanly sound, SO un-
like the deep stentorian tones in which
he had always spoken before. Mr.. AL
len when he heard it, almost felt as if he
had dealt him blow.
"Thank God, he has not then forsaken
you, and from the depths of this deep
trouble you can still say, '"The Maker Of
all doeth WELL"
Eyes, sand for an instant there
glimmered from his dull eyes spark Of
the old controversial fire-'you don't
suppose have held on to that anchor
when the skies were cloudless, and the
little waves just rocked my bark, to
let go of it now-now, when the great
waves and pillows are going over me-do
you? I've planted it firm and it don't
yield, but the strain is terrible. God
send it may bring me safely into port;
oh! Mr.. Allan, say it will. 1t seems to
me to-day, so dark, so wonderful, SO in
scrutable, that he-my Bennie! Mr.. AL
Ian, there is good, wise purpose behind
it all. Can you see it?'
"To bring you nearer the kingdom" :"
said the minister.
30 don't tell me that; I can't hear it,
God is to wise; he knows hundred sucl,
souls as mine is not worth one like my
Bennie's. can suffer if am too great
sinner for Gods grace to save; but
Bennie! Bennic! have sat here all day,
since the news came, wondering, Won
dering; he was SO good on,-and Mr..
Owens voice grew almost inarticulate
in its EMOTION a dear, precious,
noble boy! 1 thought when gave him
to his country, that not a father in this
broad land made so precious a gift-no
not one. God forgive me if my grief is
a sin. Mr.. Allan, the dear boy only
slept minute, just one little minute at
his post. know that was all, for Bennie
never dozed over duty. How prompt
and reliable he was!" and Mr.. Owens
eye wandered out over the Brown field
with such perplexed, wondering look,
know he only fell off one little, Sec
ond; he was SO young, and not strong,
that boy Of mine! why he was tall as I,
and only eighteen, and now they shot
him for sleeping at his post" Mr..
Owen repeated these words very slowly,
as if endeavoring to find out their true
meaning; twenty-four hours. Where
is Benny now?'' 1--WE will hope with
his heavenly father, said Mr.. Allan
soothingly.
eyes, yes, let us hope God is very
merciful and Bonnie was SO good!-I
don't mean holy" he said correcting
himself sharply. "therc is no one holy,
no, not ne,-but Jesus died for sinners,
Mr.. Allan tell me that. Oh, Bennie!
Bennie!"
The mother raised herself Us she heard
his name CALLED, and turning, said with
a smile, don't talk so loud father; Ben
nie's 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 justly 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. Bcnnie was her idol. / told
her often, God has said, Thou shalt
have no other Gods before me-"
Mr.. Allan looked in astonishment at
the bowed man as he came now and
stood before him. Those few hours had
done the work of years. The sinewy
frame was tottering, the eyes were dim
med, and sudden sorrow had written
itself in deep wrinkles all over his man
ly face. He recognized the powers of the
great, kind heart, simple and almost
childlike in its innocent, clinging affec-
ton; how could this be reconciled to the
stern. strong head-the head that no
common observer outlined the character
of the man? ''God have mercy on you:
He is trying you in furnace seven
times heated" he exclaimed almost in
voluntarily.
should be ashamed, father" he said,
"when am man to think l never
used this great right arm," and he held
it out so proudly before me-"for my
country when she needed it. Palsy it,
rather than keep it at the plow?
"Go, then, Bennie, go, my boy" I
said, "and God keep you. God has Kept
him, think Mr. Allan! and the father
repeated these words slowly, as if in
spite of his head, his heart doubted
them
Blossom had sat near them listening
with blanched cheek. She had not shed