The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-02-07

uIOppcu DY lUc way L WIS dli llIc'l OuI
when we came into camp, and then it was
.Iemmy's turn to be sentry, and | would
take his place, but ! was too tired, father
I ! could not have kept awake if ! had Il
gun at nv head. but | did not know it
until-wcll, until it was too late"
"God be thanked" interrupted Mr..
Owen. revcrcntly, 81 knew Bcnnie was
rot the boy to sleep carelcssly at his
, post"
'cThey tell me to-day that l have a
short rsnrieve, given to me by circum-
stances, time to write you ou. good col
oncl says. Forgive him, father he only
does hi, duty; he would gladly save me
if he could, ard don't lay my death up
against Jenny. The poor boy Is broken
hearted. and does Nothing but beg and
entreat them to ,et I'm die in my stead.
IL can't bear to 60 link Of mother and
Blossom. Comfort thero, father . Tell
them | die as brave boy should, and
that when the war j. OVER they Will not
be ashamed of me as they must be now.
God help me, it is very hard to bear.
GoOdbve, father, God seems nca- ana
dear TO me, not at all as if he ishc' me
to perish forever, but as If he telt sorry
for his poor, sinful, broken hearted child
and would take him 10 be with him and
my Savionr, in Il better-better lite.
\ great sob burst from Mr. Owens
heart. Amen. " he said solemnly.
Amen J!
"lo-night in the early twilight shall
see all the cows coming home from the
pasture. Daisy and l'rlndle and Bot.
old Billy too. will neigh to me from his
stall, and precious little Blossom stand on
the back Stoop waiting for me-bnt |
shall never-neccr come. God bless you
all; forgive your poor Benni'."
Late that night the door OF the "back
stoop' opened softly and a little figure
gIld"d out and down the tooipath that
led to the road by the mll. She seemed
rather lying than walking, turning her
head neither to the right nor lett stmt-
lnG MT, as the tull 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 tine same young girl
stood at the Mill Depot, watching the
coming OF the night train, and the con-
ductor' as he reached down to lit her in,
wondered at the teiT-stmned lace that
was npturned toward the dim lantern he
held IN his hand.
few questions and ready answers
told him all, and no father could have
cured more tendcrly for his only child
than he, tor 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 where and why
she bad gone. She had brought Bcnnes
letter with her; no kind, GOOD heart like
the Presidents could refuse to be melted
by IT.
The next morning they reached New
York, and the conductor found suitable
company for Blossom, and hurried her
on to Washington, Every minute now,
might be year in her brothers life.
And So IN an Incredibly short time,
Blossom reached the capltal and was hur-
ned at once to the White House.
The President had just seated himself
to his mornings task, OF overlooking and
signing important papers, when, without
one word of announcement, the door
softly opened, and Blossom, with eyes
doHncast and folded hands stood before
him
''Well, my ch,id,' he SAID in his pleas
ant, CHEEKY tones, ''what do YOU want SO
bright and early in the morning ~
'Bennle's lite. please sir, taltered out
Blossom.
'l}ennie : Who Is Bcnnie ~
"My brother, sir. They are going to
shout him for sleeping at his post"
son, yes, and Mr Lincoln ran his
eye over the papers before him. II re-
member. 1t was a fatal sleep. Hou see,
child, II was at time of special danger
Thousands of lives might have been lost
for his culpable negligence"
$50 my father said said blossom.
grayely. shut poor Bennie was so tired.
sir and Jenny was so weak. He did
the work of two, sir, and it was Jemmy'e
night not his, but Jenny was too tired,
auI Bennie never thought about himself,
that he was too tired"
"What is this Won say child como