Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-01-25

Jenny, if / had not lent him an arm,
now and then, he would dropped by
the way. was all tired out when we
came into camp, and then it was JerH
my's turn to be sentry, and ! would
take his place, but | was too tired,
father could not have kept awake,
If had a gun at my head, but.I did
not know it until-well, until it was
too late"
God be thanked, y interrupted Mr..
Owen reverentlv, II knew Bennie was
not the boy 10 sleep carelessly at his
post"
" They tell me to-day that I have a
short Rprieve, given to me by circum-
stancess' time to write to you,' our
good lSlonel says Forgive him, fa-
ther, hs only does his duty; he would
gladly save me, if he could, and don't
lay my deah. up against Jenny The
poor boy is broksJn hearted, and does
nothing but beg and entreat them to
let him die in my stead. a#E}
al can't bear to think of mother
and Blossom. Comfort them, father Z.
Tell them / die as brave boy Mould,
and that when the war is over, Aey
will not be ashamed of me as they
must be now. God help me, it is hard
to bear. Goodbye, father, God seems
near and dear to me, not at all, as if
he wished me to perish forever, but as
if he felt sorry for his poor, sinful, bro
ken hearted child, and would take him
to be with him and my Savior, in bet
ter--better lifc."
A great sob burst from Mr.. Owcn's
heart. "Amen /" he said soletnr
Amen Z"
Tonight in the early twilig.,
shall see the cows all coming hom
from pasture Daisy, and Brindle al,
Bet ; old Billy too, will neigh to u.
from his stall, and precious little Bio
som stand on the back stoop waiting
for me-but | shall never-come
God bless you all +: forgive your poor
Bennie." t-..
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 SEEM
ed rather flying, than walking, turning
her head neither to the right nor the
left starting not, as the full moon
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
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 broth
er's life. She had stolen away, leax-
ing only note to tell her father wbe,ie
and why she had gone. She had
brought Bennie's letter with hen; no
good kind heart like the Presidents
could refuse to be melted by it.u .ad
The next morning they reached New
ork, and the conductor found suitable
for Blossom, and hurried her
on to Washington. Every minute now
might be a year in her brothers life.
And SO in an incredibly short time,
reached the Capital and was
lurried to the White House.
The President had but Just seated
himself to his mornings task, of look
ing and signing important papers,
when, without one word of announce
ment, the door softly opened, and Bios
som, with eyes downcast and folded
hands stood before him. a
Well, my child" he said in his
pleasant, CHEEKY tones, "what do you
want so bright and early in the MORN
ing?" s.a
Bennie's life, please, SIR faltered
out Blossom. -.a-
Bennie1 Who is Bennie ~
"My brother, sir They are going
to shoot him for sleeping at his post.~
"Oh yes,' and Mr.. Lincoln ran his
eye over the papers before him. Il re-
member, 1t was fatal sleep. Ion
see, child, it was at time of speeia.
danger Thousands of lives miSn
have been lost for his culpable neYs
gence' -
$50 my father said," said Blossy
gravely, but poor Bennie was
tired, sir, and Jenny was SO weaa
He did the work of two, sir. and it ,vt-.
Jemmy's night, not his, but Jemips
was too tired, and Bennie neye
thought about himself, that he was too
tired
"What is this you say, child ?~come
here, | dou't understand" and the kind
man caught eagerly, as ever, at what
seemed to be justification Of an of
fence
Blossom went to him he pnt his
hand tenderly on her shoulder and
turned up the pale, anxious face to-
ward his. How tall he seem ed, and
he was President of the United States,
too! a dim thought of this kind pas
sed for moment through Blossoms
mind, but she told her story now sim
ply and straightforward, and handed
Mr. Lincoln, Bennie's letter to read.
He read it carefully, then taking up
his pen wrote few haasty lines and
rang his bell.
Blossom heard this order given :
!" Send Mis dispatch al ;oaoe"
The President then turned to the girl
and said: Go home, my child, and
tell that father of yours, who could ap-
prove his country's sentiments even
when it took the life of child like
that. that Abraham Lincoln thinks the
life far to precious to be lost Go back
or--wait until tomorrow Bennie viii
need change after he has SO bravelN
faced death, he shall go with you.".
"God bless you, sir,s said Blossom
and who shall doubt that God hear,
and registered the request.
Two days after this interview Til
young soldier came to the White Hous
with his little sister. He was calle
into the Presidents private room. an