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

There was something strange In his voice
"a thin, womanly sound, so unlike tn,
deep, stentorian tones in which be had al
ways spoken before. Mr.. Allan, when b,
heard it, almost felt as if it had dealt him I
blow.
i" Thank God lie has not, then, forsaker
you, and from the depths of this deep trou
BILE you can still say, The Maker Of all doetf
we'll. I"
Yes, yes, and for an instant there
glmmered from his dull eye spark of the
old controversial 6re--"yo don't suppose
l have held on to that anchor when the
skies we're cloudless, and the little waves
just rocked my bark, to let alone Of it now
now, when the great waves and billows are
going over me, do your I've planted il
firm, and it don't yield; no, 10 don't yield,
but the strain is terrible. God send it may
carry me into port oh, Mr.. Allan, say it
will. 1t has seemed to me to-day so dark,
SO wonderful, SO inscrutable, that he-my
Bennie Mr.. Allan, there is a good, wise
purpose behind it all Can you see it?"
TO bring you nearer the Kingdom, said
the minister.
"Oh, don't tell mo that; l can't bear it.
God is too wise; He knows hundred such
souls as mine are not worth one of my Ben
MES. can suffer if am too great sin
ner for Gods grace to save, but Bennie |
Bennie l have sat here all day, since the
news came, wondering, wondering; he was
so good a son, land Mr.. Ovens voice
grew almost inarticulate in its emotion -
such dear, precious, noble boy tho't,
when gave him to his country, that not a
father in all this broad land made so pre-
cious gift no not one. God forgive me
if my grief is sin. Mr.. Allan, the dear boy
only slept minute, just one little minute,
at his post; know that was all, for Benne
never dozed over duty. How prompt and
reliable he was |" and Mr. Ovens eye waa-
dered over the brown fields, with such a
wondering look. II know he
only fell off one little second; he was so
young, that boy of mine Why, he was as
tall as 1, and only eighteen and new they
shoot him because he was found asleep when
doing sentinel duty" Mr. Owen repeated
these words very slowly, as if endeavoring
to find out thcir true meaning: Twenty
four hours, the telegraph said, only TWEEN.
ty four hours. Where is Bennie now?"
"We will hope, with his Heavenly Faith.
er, " said Mr.. Allan. soothingly.
/" Yes, yes let us hope; Ged is very mer-
ciful, and Bennie was so good do not
mean holy" he said, correcting himself
sharply; there is none holy-no, not one,
but Jesus died for sinners. Mr.. Allen,
tell me that. Oh, Bennie, Benne"
The mother raised herself as if she heard
his name called, and, turning, said, with a
smile Don't call so loud, father. Bennie
is not far off he will come soon. :"
God laid hi. hand upon them both,
you sec," said Mr.. Owen, pointing to her,
without making any direct reply. "She
has not been justly herself since. 1t is
merciful thing she is sort of stunned. it
seems to me; she makes no wall. Poor
mother ifmy heart was not broken it would
almost kill me to see her so. Bennie was
her idol. told her often, God had said,
; Thou shalt have no gods before me. ,"
Mr. Allan looked in astonishment at the
bowel man as he came now and stood be,
fore him. These few hours had done the
work OF years. The snewy frame was tot
ering. the eyes were dimmed and the sud
den sorrow had written itself in deep wrink-
les all over his manly face. He recognized
the power of the great, kind heart, simple
and almost childlikc in its innocent clnging
affection; how could this be reconciled with
the stern, strong hsad--the head that to
common observers outlined the character of
the man? God have mercy on you; He
is trying you in furnace seven time heat
I'd, " he exclaimed, almost involuntarily.
"' | should be ashamed father!' he said,
when am man, to think l never used
this great right arm, and he held it out
80 proudly before me,-'for my country,
when it needed it. Palsy it, rather, than
Keep it at the plough.
eco, Bennie, then go, my boy said,
and God keep YOU God has kept him.
[ think, Mr.. Allan! " and the farmer re-
peated these last words slowly, as if, in spite
Of his head, his heart doubted them.
Like the apple of his eye, Mr.. Owen,
loubt it not
Blossom had sat near them listening, with
Dlanched cheek. She had not shed tear
.o-day, aud the terror in her face had been
20 very still no one had noticed it. She had
occupied herself mechanically in the house
nald cares, which her mothers condition de.
volved entirely upon her. Now she answer
ID gentle tap at the kitchen door, opening
i to receive from neighbor' hand letter.
g 1t is from him., was all she said.
Twas like massage from the dead. Mr..
Owen could not break the seal for his tremb-
ling fingers, and held it toward Mr.. Allan,
with the helplessness of child.
The minister opened it, and obedient to
motion from the father, read as follows:
" Dear Father When this reaches you
shall be in eternity. At first, it seemed
awful to me; but | have thought about it
30 much now that it has no terror. They
say they will not bind me, nor blind me, but
that may meet my death like man. l
thought, father, it might have been on the
battle field, for my country, and that when
[ fell, it would be fighting gloriously; but
TO be shot down like dog for nearly be-
traying it, to die for neglect Of duty !-oh,
father, / wonder the very thought does not
kill me. But shall not disgrace you. |
am going to write you all about it, and,
when am gone, you may tell my comrades.
| cant now.
You know, I promised Jenny Carr's
mother, would look after her boy, and
when 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, carried all his luggage, beside my
ewn, 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 l had
not lent him an arm. now and then, he
would have dropped by the way. was