Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1868-01-09

AWAKE IL 4 uoSA uoet a VII az Al ACo,t,
but / did not know i. until-well un-
til it was too latel
God be thankedr interrupted Mr..
Owen, reverently. i knew Bonnie
was not the boy to sleep carelessly
at his post
They tell me to- day that / have a
short reprieye, given me by circum
stances-time to write to you-our
good Colonel says. Forgive him,
father, he only done his 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 entreat them to let him die in my
stead.
Il can't bear to think Of mother
and Blossom. Comfort them, faith
err. Tell them / die as brave boy
should, md 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! Good
bye 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 broken
hearted child, and would take me to
be with him and my savior, in bet
ter, 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 the pasture-Daisy, and Brin-
die and pet, old Billy, too, will neigh
from his stall, and precious little
Blossom shall stand waiting for me,
but / shall never, never come. God
bless you all! Forgive your poor
"BENNIE."
4
Late that night the door opened
very 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 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 in prayer.
Two hours later the same young
girl stood at the Mill Depot, watch
ing the coming of the night train,
and the conductor as he reached
down to lift her ia wondered at the
sweet tear stained face that was up
turned 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 did he for our little Bios
som.
She was on her way to Washing
ton to ask President Lincoln for 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 the Presi-
dents could refuse to be 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 year in
her brothers life.
And. so in an incredible short
time Blossom reached the Capitol
and was hurried at once to the White
House.
The President had just seated him
self to his morning task Of overlook
ing and signing important papers,
when, without one word ofannouuce-
ment, the door softly opened and
Blossom with eyes downcast and
folded hands, stood before him.
well, my child he said in his
pleasant CHEEKY tones; what do you
want so bright and early in the morn
ing.
pennies life! please sir, faltered
out Blossom.
Bonnie. who is Bennie?
My brother, sir. They are going
to shoot him for sleeping on his
post
oh yes and Mr.. Lincoln ran his
eyes over the paper before him; 1 re-
member it was a fatal sleep. You
see, child, it was a time of special
danger. Thousands of lives might
have been lost for his culpable negli-
gence.
so my father said,' said Blossom,
gravely, But poor Bennie was too
tired, sir, and Jenny SO weak He
did the work of two, and it was Jem-
my's night, not his, but Jenny was
too tired, and Bonnie never thought
about himself that he was too tired
What is this you say, child? Come
here / don't understand and the |
kind man caught eagerly as ever at
what did seem to be justification
Of an offense.
Blossom went to him; he put his |
hand tenderly on her shoulder, and
turned up the pale, anxious face to-
ward his. How tall he seemed; and
he was President Of the United
States, too! "A dim thought of this
kind passed for moment through
Blossoms mind, but she told her
story now simply and straightfor-
ward, and handed Mr.. Lincoln Ben