Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-01-18

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 may not be asham-
ed Of me as they must be now. God help
me, it is very hard to bear. Goodbye,
father, God seems near aud 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, aud would take him
and my Savior, in better--better life. f"
A great sob burst from Mr.. Ovens heart
Amenl" he said solemnly' Amen "
Tonight in the early twilight | shall see
the cows all coming home from pasture.
Daisy, and Brinde and Bet; old Billy too,
will neigh to me from his stall, and precious
little Blossom stand on the back stoop wait.
ing for me-but | shall never--never come.
God bless you all: forgive your poor Ben
Die. "
Late that night the door of the "back
stoop" opened softly and little figure
glided out, and down the footpath that led
to the road by the mill. She seemed rather
flying, than walking, turning her head neith-
er to the right nor to the 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 conductor, 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 answers 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 whore, and why, she had
gone. She had brought Bennie's letter
with her no good kind heart like the Presi.
dents could refuse to be melted by it.
The next morning they reached New York,
and the conductor found suitable company
fer Blossom, and hurried her on to Wash
ton. Every minute now, might be year
in her brothers life.
And SO in an incredibly short time, Bios
som reached the Capitol and was hurried at
once to the White House.
The President had but Just seated him
self to his mornings task, OF overlooking
and signing important papers, when, with
out one word of announcement, the door
softly opened, and Blossom, with eyes down
cast and folded hands stood before him.
SWELL my child, he said in his pleas
ant, CHEEKY tones, "what do you want so
bright and early in the morning ?"
" Bennie's life, please, sir, fa!tered out
Blossom.
"Bennie? Who is Bennie?"
"My brother, sir. They are going to
shoot him for sleeping at his post -
"Oh yes, d." and Mr.. Lincoln ran his eye
over the papers before him. Il remember.
1t was fatal sleep. You see: child, it was
at time of special danger. Thousands Of
lives might have been lost for his culpable
negligence. -. .,,,
ly, "but poor Bennie was so tired, sir and
Jenny so weak. He did the work. of two.
sir, and it was Jemmy's night. not his, but
j Jenny was too tired, and Bannie never
thought about himself, and he was too
tired "
"What is this you say, child? come here,
l don't understand, and the kind man
caught eagerly, as ever, al what seemed to
be a justification of an offence.
Blossom went to him; he put his hand
tenderly on her shoulder and turned up the
pale, anxious face toward his. How tall he
seemed, aud he was President of the Uni
ted States, too A dim thought of this
kind, passed for a moment through Bios
SONS mind, but she told her story now
simply and straightforward, and handed
Mr.. Lincoln Bennio'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: Go home, my child, and tell that
father of yours, who could approve his coun-
try's sentence, even when it took the life
Of child like that, that Abraham Lincoln
thinks the life far too precious to be lost. !
Go back, or-wait until tomorrow; Ben
ME will need change after he has so braveiy |
faced death, he shall go with you. "
"God bless you, sir, " said Blossom and
who shall doubt that God heard and regis
tered the request.
Two days after this interview the young
soldier came to the White House with his
little sister. He was called into the Presi.
dents private room, and strap fastened
g upon the shoulder" Mr.. Lincoln said,
that could carry sick comrades baggage
and die for the good act so uncomplaining-
|y." Then Bennie and Blossom took their
way to their Green Mountain home, and a
crowd gathered at the Mill Depot to wei,
come them back, and farmer Ovens tall
head lowered above them all, and as his
hand grasped that of his boy, Mr.. Allan
heard him say fervently, as the holiest bless
ing 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
heard a we'll known voice calling them at the
gate and Bennie as he pats his old pets and
looks lovingly in their great brown eyes,
catches through the still evening air his
Puritan father voice as he repeats to his
happy mother these jubilant words: =" Fear
not for l am with thee will bring thy
seed from the East, and gather thee from
the West will say to the North give, and
to the South, keep not back; bring my sons
from far, and my 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, yea. have made him."