Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1868-06-12

not lar OIL ne Will come soon,
"God laid his hand on them both, you
see,' said Mr. Owen, pointing 10 her with,
ont 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. wai!'
Mr.. Allan looked in astonishment at the
bowed man, as he came now and stood be-
lore him. These few hours had done the
work Of years. Sinewy frame was totter>
ing, the eyes we're dimmed, and the sudden
sorrow had written itself in deep wrinkles
oil over his manly face. God have mercy
on you; he is trying you in furnace seven
times heated!'' he exclaimed, almost in>
voluntarily.
The daughter, . fair young girl-Blossom,
Is they called her-hsd sat near them lis
sening With blanched cheek. She had not
shed tear to-day, and the terror in her face
had been 30 very still, that not one had no>
ticed il. She bad occupied herself meehan>
ically in the hon .ehold carl ., which her
mothers condition descl-sAas ely spon
her. Nov, she answe - :. - q ~
kitchen door openihx !. y receive fto0 .
nsighboas's hand . lsster. ST is from Aa,~
ives all she said.
Twas like message from the dead. Mr..
Owen could not break the seal for his trcm>
hing fingers, aad held it towards NJ. Allan
With the helplessness Of child.
The minister opened il, and obedient to
. motion from the father, read as follows:
Dear Fdtker-When this reaches you ]
shall bs in eternity. At first it seemed aw>
fal 70 oe; hss have thought about il so
much new, that il has no terror. They say
shsy viii not bind me, nor blind me, but that
l NAY meet my death like man. ! thought,
father, Il might have been on the battle.
6eId for my country, and that when ieil Il
vosld Be fighting gloriously but to Be shos
down like . dog for nearly tetnying ito
die for seglect of duty! o, father, won>
der the very thought does not kill me! But
shall NOT disgrace yUw. am going 10
write you oil about il, and when 1 aa gose
yoa NAV ten ny comrades. eaa't nov.
You know l promised Jsmmy Cars moth.
er vsuld look after her boy, and when he
fell sick did al could for him. He was
not strong when hs was ordered back into
the ranks, and the day before that night I
carried I'll his luggage besides my own, %
our march. Toward night ve went ea
double quick. aud thosgh she luggage began
to feel very heavy, every body else was tired
too; and - for Jenny, If had nos heat
him an arm now and then, be would have
dropped BY the way. / was all tired out
when came into camp, and then il was
Jemmy's turn 70 be sentry, and would take
his place but was too tired, father.
could not have kept awake if had bad .
gun At my head bat did moi know il until
we'll, until it vas too late r.
"God be thanked i'interrupsed Mr., Owen,
reverently, II knew Bennie vas not The boy
to sleep csriessiy u bis post"
"They tell me to-day that have . short
reprieve given to me By circumstances
'time TO write to you'a aEour good colonel nys.
Forgive him, father, be only does h;s dssy !;
he would gladly ssvs ~, Y be cosA. And
don't lay my death against Jenny. The
poor boy is broken-hearea, and does moth
ing but beg and enireat them to let him die
in my stead. ! can't bear to think Of moth>
er and Blossom. Comfort them, father. Tell
them die - brave boy should, and that
when the war is over, they will not be ashsm.
ed Of me, - they must be now. God help
me! it is very hard to bear. Goodbye, ,faih-
er! God seens near and dear to me not
at all as if he wished me to perish for ever,
but rs If he felt sorry for his poor, sinful,
broken hearted child, and would take me 10
be with him ard be my Saviour, in better,
better life.'
A great sob burst from Mr. Owens heart
"Amen y be said solemnly. "AmenlA
"To>night, in the early twilight, ! shall
see the cows all coming home from pasture,
Daisy, and Brindls, and Bet; old Billy, too,
will neigh from his stall, and precious little
blossom stand waiting for me, but / shall
never, never come. God bless you al for.
give your poor Bennie!'
Late that night the door opened softly, and
little figure glided out and down the foot,
path that led to the road by the mill. She
seemed rather flying than walking, turning
her head neither to the right nor the left |;
ste ring not as the full moon stretched queer
fantastic shapes all around her, looking only
nov and then to heaven, and folding her
hands, as il in prayer.
Two hours later the same yosng girl stood
At the Mill Depot. watching the coming Of
the night train, and the conductor, - be
reached down to lift her in. wondered at
the sweet, tsar>stained face that vas up
turned toward The dim lantern be held in his
hand.
A few questions and ready answers ted
him all, aud no father could have cared more
tenderly fog his own child than be for our
little Blossom.
She WAS on her way TO Washington to
ask President Lincoln for her brother's Efe.
She had stolen away, leaving only . note to
tell her father where and Why - - gone.
She bed brought Bennis's letter With her |;
% esea, kina hsast, like the Presidents
could ssfass 10 be melted BY il.
Ths aext morning they reached New
Yosk, and he conductor found suitable COM
pany for Blesson, aad hurried Der on to
Washineses. Every miasie now might BE-
. year ia hsr bcosher's life.
And 90 in IN Incredibly short time Blos>
SON reached The Capital, and vas hurried st
once TO The White House. The President
bad Just seated AioseM 70 his mornings
task OF overlooking and sigaiag Important
papers, wheu without 0ae word Of aanopce>
ment, de door seilly spewed, sad Blossom.
With eyes dovncast and folded hands, stood
before him. s as-ssel .s~ea
"Wcil, my child r. he saia h his pleasant,
CHEEKY tones, "what DO Won want - bright
and early in the noraiaey'
"Beuais's life plsan, sirr' faltssed e
Blossom. -
sBennie I Who i Beanier'
any brother, sir. They sss going 70 shsos
him for sleeping q ~ rust.n
80, YES I" and NJ. Liassla nm his eye
over ths papers bsfoss hin, II remeabef.
Il vas fatal sleep Yoa -, child, il vas
time Of special danger. TAeusands Of lives
might have been lost foe bic culpabls aegli>
gence.'
$50 my father said," said Blossom grave
'. "But poor Beanie vas 50 tired, cir, and
Jenny 90 weak. He did the work Of tvo.
and il was JeuAmy's night, a04 his: but Jem>
my was too tired, and Bennis never thought
shout himself shat he was too tired
what Is this you say, child! Cone
here. ] don't understand ]" and the kind
man caught eagerly - ever 1t what seemed
10 Be : justification al ~ offence.
Blossom vent 10 him be put his hand
tsnderly on her shoulder. and turned up the
pale, anxious face towards his. How tall
he seemed; end b ~ Presidsst Of the
United 0eaAes, tool \ dim thought of this
kisd passsd To- uoment through Bles.
sons miad, but she told her story now sim-
ply and straightforward, and handed Nj.
Lincoln 18ennie's letter 10 read.
He read il carefaliy; then taking up lis
pen, wross Few haasy lines, and rang the
bell.
Blossom heard this order given:
= = = n "a