National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-08-02

anu cDITtdU luclu W lCJ Hllu ule | 4
stead ofmc'
Il can't bear to think of mother
and Blossom. Comfort them, father.
Tell them die as a 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. 1t is
very hard to bear! Goodbye faith
er! God seems very near and dear
to me not at all as if he wished me
to perish forever, but as if he felt
sorry ~tor his poor, sinful broken
hearted child, and would take me to
be with him and my Savior, in a
better life
A great sob burst from Mr.. Owens
heart. amen he said solemnly.
'Amenr
Tonight In the early twilight,
shall see the COWS all coming
home from pasture, Daisy, Brindle
and Bet old Billy, too, VIII neigh
f1om his stall, and precious little
Blossom standing waiting for me,
but | never shall cone. God bless
you all forgive your poor Bennie =
Late that night the door opened
softly, a little figure glided out and
down the tootpath that led to the
road by the mill, She seemed rath-
ct flying titan walking, turning her
head neither to tie right nor left
starting not us the full moon stretch
ed 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 ut the 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 lantern he held in his
hand.
\ few questions and ready an,
swcrs told him all, and 10 father
could have cared more tenderly for
his own child than he for our little
/ blossom,
She wds on her way to Washing
ton to ask President Lincoln tor her
brothers life. She had stolen away
leaving only a note to tell her father
where and why she had gone. She
had brought Bennie's letter with her;
no good kind heart like tue Presi-
dents could refuse to bo 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 a year in her
brothers lite.
So in an incredible short thfo
Blossom reached the Capital and vas
/ hurried at once to the White House.
The President had Just seated him
self to his morning task ofoverlook
ing and signing important papers,
when without q word Of announce
ment, opened the door softly, and
Blossom with eyes downcast and
folded hands stood before him.
'Wcll, NY child he said in his
pleasant CHEEKY tones, what do You
want so bright and early this NOR
ninge
! 'Bennic's life please, sir faltered
out Blossom.
'Bennie Who is Bcnnie"
My brother sir, They are going
to shoot him for sleep4i.G aS his post.
'Oh, yes and Mr.. Lincoln ran his
eye over the papers before him: i
remember It was 4 fatal sic ,. You
see child it was a time of special dan
ger. Thousands oflives might hav,
been lost for this culpable negligence
so my iather said,' said Blossom
, gravely. But poor Bcnnie was 81
tired, sir, and Jenny, was so weak
lie did the work of two, and it wa'
Jemmy's night, not his; but Jcmlry
, was too tired.
. sWhat is that yen say. chud
, Come here don't understand
!. and the kind man caught eagerly Il
, ever ut what seemed to be iuStltic1
!, tion of All offence.
i Blossom went to him he put III
-" hand tcnderly on her shoulder, an
. turned up the pale anxious face t.
- wards his. How tall he seemed an
>, he President of the United States
II too. \ dim thought of this KIN
~ passed through Blossom mind, br
I she told her story simply n
II straightforward, and gave Mr. LII
coin Bennic's letter to read.
~ lie read it cartully; and then tai
~ ing up his pen, wrote Il few lines
il and rang the door bell
A. Blossom heard this ORDER give'
4 SEND THIS DESPATCH AT oNCl
., The President turned to the sil
80 ard said;
~. Go home my child, and tell th
lc. father of yours, who could approx
,o. his country's sentence, even wh'
iv he took the life ola child like thi
m. that Abraham Lincoln thinks I
m life far to precious to be lost I
-. back or wait untiltomorrow' Be
MT ME will need change after he has
it bravcly faced death he shall
nd with YOU .,
ms God bless you, sir said Blosso
We and who shall doubt that God hci'
nv and registered that request
J. Two days after this interview,
Young soldier came to tue VIII
fir. House with his little sister: lie "
mic called into the Presidents privi
at room and q strap fastened upon
| La. n.I