Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-05-17
SAVED BY HIS SISTER.

Mr.. Owen, a pious farmer of Ver-
mont, gave his eldest son, Benjamin, as
a soldier in the Northern Federal army
in the late American civil war of 1861
90. One day message arrived which
fell like thunderbolt upon the anxious
yet hopeful family. The lad had been
found asleep at his post as sentinel, and
was condemned to be shot.
The terrible news soon spread in the
village, and the good minister, Mr..
Allen, came at once to see if it were
possible to administer consolation to
the heart-broken parents.
'Oh, SIR" cried the sorrowlny uld
man, "such dear, precious, noble boy!
thought, when gave him to his coun-
try, that not a father in all this broad
land made so precious gift-no, not
one. God forgive me if my grief is a
sin. Mr.. Allen, the dear old boy only
slept minute, just one little minute,
at his post; l know that was all, for
Bennie never dozed over a duty. How
prompt and reliable he wasr and Mr..
OWENS eyes wandered out over the
brown fields with such a perplexed,
wondering look.
81 know he only fell off one little
second; hewas so young and not strong,
that boy of mine! Why, he was as tall
as |, and only eighteen; and now they
shoot him because he was found asleep
while doing sentinelr Mr. Owen re-
peated these words very slowly, as if to
find out their true meaning. Given
ty-four hours-the telegraph said only
twenty-four. Where is Bennie nowPr
with his heavenly Father, we will
hope" said Mr.. Allen, soothingly.
Yes, yes, let us hope. God is very
merciful?' he said, land Jesus died
for sinners who trust in Him. o
Bennie, Bennier'
The mother raised herself as she
heard his name called, and, turning,
said with smile: "Don't call so loud,
father; Bennie is not far off; he will
come soon.n
"God has 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 merciful thing she is sort of
stunned, it seems to me; she makes no
wail.n
Mr.. Allen looked in astonishment at
the bowed man, as he came now and
stood before him. These few hours
had done 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. "God have mercy
on you; He is trying you in furnace
seven times heatedr' he exclaimed al
most involuntarily.
The daughter, a fair, young girl
Blossom, as they called her-had sat
near them, listening with blanched
cheek. She had not shed a tear that
day, and the terror in her face had been
so very still that no one noticed it.
She had occupied herself mechanically
in the household cares, which her moth
er's condition devolved entirely upon
her. Now she answered a gentle tap
at the kitchen door, opening it to re-
celye from a neighbours hand letter,
" IL is from him" was all she said.
Twas like message from the dead.
Mr.. Owen could not break the seal for
his trembling fingers, and held it to-
ward Mr.. Allen with the helplessness of
a little child. The minister opened it,
and, obedient TO motion from the
father, read as follows:
"DEAR FATHER-When this reaches
you l shall be in eternity. At first it
seemed awful TO me, but have thought
about IT so much now that it has no