The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-07-19

stances-time to write to you, our
good Colonel says Forgive him, faith
CT, he only knows bis duty; he would
gladly save me if he could. And don't
lay my death against Jenny. The
poor boy is broken-hearted, and does
nothing but beg and ontreat them to
let him die instead of me.
IL can't bear to think Of mother and
Blossom. Comfort them, father Tell
them die rs 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, father God
seems very near and dear to me; not
at all as if he wished me to perish for
ever, but as if he felt sorry for his
poor, sinful broken hearted child, and
would take me to be with him and my
Saviour, in d better life
! A great sob burst from Mr.. Owens
heart. "Amen," he said solemnly.
"Amen !"
Tonight in the early twilight,
shall see the COWS all coming home
from pasture, Daisy, Brindle and Bet;
old Billy, too, will neigh from his stall,
and precious little Blossom standing
waiting for me, but l shall never come.
God bless you all forgive your poor
Bonnie -
Late that night the door opened
softly u little figure glded out and
down the footpath that led to the road
by The mill. She seemed rather fying
than walking, turning her head Meth
CT to the right nor left starting not as
the full moon stretched queer fantastic
shapes all around her, looking only
now and then to heaven and folding
her hands as if i'll prayer
Two hours later the same young
girl stood at the Mill 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 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 own child
than he for our little Blossom.
She was on her way to Washington
to ask President Lincoln for her broth
ers life She had stolen away, leav-
ing only note to tell her father where
and why She lad gone. She had
brought Bennie's letter with her; no
good kind heart like the President S
could refuse to be melted by it. The
next morning they reached New York,
and the conductor found suitable com
pany for Blossom and hurried her on
to Washington. Every minute now
might be a year in her brothers life
SO in an increditable short time
Blossom reached the Capital and was
hurried at once to the White House.
The President had just seated himself
to his morning task Of overlooking and
signing important papers, wheE with.
out word of announcement, opened
the door softly, and Blossom with eyes
downcast and folded hands stood be-
fore him.
"Weu, my child" he said in his
pleasant CHEEKY tones, "what DO you
want SO bright and early this morn
ing r
pennies life please, sir" faltered
out Blossom.
"Bennie? Who is Bonnie ?"
"My brother SIR. They are going to
shoot him for sleeping at his post"
ooh, yes, and Mr. Lincoln ran his
eye over the papers before him. 81 re-
member it was fatal sleep. You see
child it was Il time Of special danger
Thousands of lives might have been
lost for his culpable negligence"
80 my father said, said Blossom
grayely. But poor Bonnie was so
tired, sir, and Jenny, was so weak.
He did the work of two, and it was
Jemmy's night, not his; but Jenny
was too tired.
"What is that you say, child Come
here; | don't understands" and the
kind man caught eagerly as ever at
what seemed to be a Justification of an
offence,
Blossom went to him; he put his
hand tenderly on her shoulder, and
turned up the pale anxious face to-
wards his How tall he seemed and
he was President Of the United States,
too A dim thought of this kind
passed through Blossoms mind, but
she told her story simply and straight
forward, and handed Mr.. Lincoln Ben
MES letter to read.
He read it carefully; and then taxi
ing up his pen, wrote few lines, and
rang the door bell
Blossom heard this order given;
"Send this despatch at once"
The President then turned to The
girl, and said:
eco home, my child, and tell that
father of yours, who could approve his
country sentence, even when he took
the life of child like that, that Abra-
ham Lincoln thinks the life fan to pre-
cious to be lost. Go back, or wait
until tomorrow. Bonnie will need
change after he has SO bravely faced
death; he shall go with you"
God bless you, sir, said Blossom;
and who shall doubt that God heard
and registered that request?
Two days after this interview, the
young soldier came to the White
House with his little sister. He was
called into the Presidents private
A