The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-01-25

mOACuuI SHIHS sue lS SOr6 OF stunned, IL
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 I told her often, God
had said, Thou shalt have no gods be-
| fore me-
Mr.. Allan looked in astcEishment at
the bowed man as he came now and stood
before him. These few hours had done
the work of years The sinewy frame
was tottering, the eyes were dimmed, and
the 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, clinging affection; how could
this be reconciled 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
furnace seven times heated" he ex-
claimed, almost involuntary. ~
"I should be ashamed father y he
said I-when am man, to think [ never
used this great right arm, and he held
it out SO proudly before me- for my
country, when it needed it. Palsy it,
rather, than keep it at the plough
"' Go, Bennie, then go, my boy said,
and God keep you God has kept him.
/ think, Mr.. Allanl'' and the farmer re-
peated these words slowly, as if, in spite
of his head, his heart doubted them.
+" Like the apple of his eye, Mr.. Owen,
doubt it rot ~
Blossom had sat near them listening,
with blanched cheek. She had not shed
a tear to-day, and the terror in her face
had been so very still no one had noticed
lit. She ha0 occupied herself mechanic
ally in the household cares, which her
mothers condition devolved entirely upon
her. Now she answered gentle tap at
the kitchen door, opening it to receive
letter '"Is is from him." was ali she
Twas like message from the dead.
Mr. Owen could not break the seal for his
trembling fingers, and held it toward Mr..
Allan, with the helrlessness of child.
The minister opened it, and, obedIent
to motion from the father, read as fol-
lows: aa
"Dear Father When this reaches you, I
will be in eternity. At irst, it seemed awful
to me; but have thought about it so much
now that it has no terror They say they
will not bind me, nor bind me, but that
may meet my death like man. l thought,
father, it might have been on the battlefield,
for my country, and that, when i fell, it
would be fighting gloriously; but to be shot
down like a dog for nearly betraying it, to
die for neglect of duty oh, father, l won
der the very thought 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 comrades. can't now.
''You know, l promised Jenny Carr3s
I cto,,
he fell sick, ] did all could for him. He
! was not strong, when he was ordered back
into the ranks, and the day before that night
1 carried all his luggage, beside my own, on
our march. Toward night we went in on
double quick, and though the luggage began
to feel very heavy, everybody else was tired
too and as for Jenny, if had not lent him
! an arm, now and then,y he would have drop
; ped by the way. l was all tired out when we
| came into camp, and then 1T was Jenny
turn to be sentry, and L would take his place
J but [ was too tired, father. l could not have
kept awake if had gun at my head, but
. did not know it until-well, until it wac toe
!. late"
"God be thanked" interrupted Mr.
Owen reverentiy, "I knew Beanie was moi
the boy to sleep carelessly at his post
ss1hey tell me to-day that have short
reprieve, given to me by circumstances, time
, |
give 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 aud entreat them to let him die in my
stead. se4 ser
ssI cart bear to think of mother and Bios
SON.. Comfort them, father Tell them
die as brave boy should, and that when the
war is over, they will not be ashamed of me
| as they must be now. God help me, it is very
hard to bear. Goodbye, father, God seems
near and dear to me, not at al as if He wish
ed me to perish forever, but as if He fell
sorry for his poor, sinful, broken hearted
child, and would take him to be with Hin
and my Saviour, in a better, better life"
A great sob burst from Mr.. Owen;
, heart. "Amen !" he said solcmnly.-
s1Amenw sb ~
eTo-night in the early twilight shall SEE
the cows all coming home from pasture
Daisy, and Brindle, and Bet, old Billy, too
/ will neigh to me from his stall, and preciou;
little Blossom stand on the back s:oop wait
J ing for me-but shall never-neyer come
God bless you all forgive your poor
, Late that night the door of the e5acl
: stoop" opened softly and little figure gil
ded out and down the footpath that led t.
the road by the mill. She seemed rather
! flying than walking, turning her head
p neither to the right nor the left; starting
not. as the full moon stretched queer
J, 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 CIR
stood at the Mill Depot, watching thu
oor,;nf, re ,ha NIGHT train and the con