Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-03-24
Vol. G4.-325S. No. 90

land made 20 precious giit-no not one.
God forgive me if my grief is a sin. Mr..
Allan the dear boy only slept a minute at
his post know that was all, for Bennie
never dozcd over a duty. How prompt and
reliable he was :" and Mr. Ovens eye wan
dered out over the brown fields, with such
porpcxed wondering look. II know he only
fell of one little second he was 20 young,
aud not strong, that boy of mine Why. he
was tall as |, and only eighteen and now
they shoot him because he was found asleep
when doing duty" Mr. Owen repeated these
words very slowly as if endcayoring to find
out their meaning. Tweny-lour hours, the
telegraph said -- only twenty-four hours
Where is Bennic now2"
We will hope, with his Heavenly Father"
said Mr. Allan, soothingly.
Yes, yes let MS hope; God is very mer-
ciiul, and Bonnie was so good do not mean
holy" he said, correcting himself sharply;
" there is none hOly-no, not one--but Jesus
died for sinners, Mr. Allan, tell me that. o,
Bennic, Benuie 90
The mother raised herself as she heard his
name called, and, turning, said with a smile
" don't call so loud father. Bennie is not
far Of, he will come SOON"
God laid His hand on them both, you
see" said Mr.. Owen, pointing to her, without
making any direct reply. She has not been
justly herself since. 1t is a merciful thing
She is sort of stunned, it seems to me she
makes no wall Poor mother if my heart
was not broken it would almost kill me to
see her so. Bennie was her idol | told her
often God had said, Thou shalt have no 9th.
er gods before me-
Mr.. Allen looked in astonishment at the
bowed man, as he came now and stood before
him. Those low hours had doue the work Of
years The sinewy frame was tottering, the
eyes were dimmed, and the sudden sorrow had
written itself in deep wrinkles all over his
manly face. He recognized the power Of the
great, kind heart, simple and almost childlike
in its innocent cinging affection; how could
this be reconciled with the stern, strong head
the head that TO common observers outlined
the character Of the man ? "God have mercy
on you; He is trying you in furnace seven
times heated he exclaimed almost involun-
tarily.
" should be ashamed, father he said,
"wheu | am a man. to think | never used this
great right arm" and he held it out so proud
| ly before me, "ior my country when it need
Ou rv' "iaJ ~ lathVI 1hdu hoeP IL az eho
plough"
Go, Beunie, then go, my boy, said,
and God keep you God has kept him, |
think, Mr.. Allan ~ and the farmer repeated
these last words slowly, as if, in spite of his
head, his heart doubted them.
Like the apple of his eye, Mr.. Owen
doubt it not"
Blossom had sat near them listening, with
blanched check. She had not shed a tear to-
day, and the terror in her face had been so
very still no one had noticed it. She had oc-
cupicd herself mechanically in the household
cares, which her mothers condition devoved
entirely upon her Now she answered gen.
tie tap at the kitchen door, opening it to re-
coive from a neghbor's hand a letter. sit
is from him." was all she said
Twas like message from the dead. Mr..
Owen could not break the seal for his trem-
bling fingers, and held it toward Mr.. Allan,
with the helplessness of a child
The minister opened it, and, obedient to a
I motion from the father, read as follows:
DEAR FATHER When this reaches you
| shall be in eternity At first, it seemed
awful to me but have thought about it so
much now that it has no terror. They say
they will not bind me, nor blind me, but that
| may meet my death like man. thought,
father, it might have been on the battlefield,
for my country, and that, when fell, it would
be fighting gloriously but TO be shot down
like Il dog for nearly betraying it, to die for
neglect of duty Oh, father, | wonder the
very thought does not kill me. But | shall
not disgrace you. | am going to write you
all about it, and, when | am gone, you may
tell my comrades. can't now.
" You know, | promised Jenny Carrs
mother, | would look after her boy, and when
he fell sick, | did all could for him. lie
was not strong, when he was ordered back
into the ranks, and the day before that night,
| carried all his luggage, besides my OWE, on
our march. Toward night we went IN on
double quick and though the luggage began
to feel very heavy, everybody else was tired
too, and as for Jenny, If had not lent him
f my arm, now and then, he would have drop
ped by the way. was all tired out when
we came into camp, aud then it was Jemmy's
turn to be sentry, and | would take his place,
but | was too tired, father. l could not have
, kept awake, if | had gun at my head, but l
did not know it until-well, until it was too
late
" GOd be thanked, Interrupted Mr.. owen
reverently " knew Bennie was not the boy
to sleep careessly at his post"
They tell me to-day that have short
> reprieye, given to me by circumstance, time
to write to YOU our good Colonel says. For
D give him, father he only does his duty he
would gladly save me, if he could, and don't
lay my death up against Jenny. The poor
boy is broken hearted, and does nothing but
beg and entreat them to let him die in my
| stead.
81 can't bear to think of mother and Bios
som. 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, it is
yerv hard 10 bear. Good bye. father, God
4 seems near and dear TO me. not at all as if
5 he wished me to perish forever. but as if he