The Newtown bee., 1878-11-07
BENNIE AND BLOSSOM.

"I thought, Mr Allan, when I garo my Bennie to his country that not Q father in all this broad land made so precious g 5ift-no not ono. The dear boy only ,lept d minute, just one little minute, at his post; I know that was aIl-for Ben nie never dozed overa duty. How prompt and reliable he was know he only fell asleep one little sccond- he was SC
 oung, and not strong, that boy of mine Why, he was as tall as l, and only eiBh- .een and now they shoot him because ne was found as]eop when doing sentinel luty. Twenty-four hours, the telegram ,aid-only tWcnty-four hours. Where is Bennie noW?"
 I've will hope with his Heavenly Faith ar," said Mr. Allan, soothingly.
 "Ies, yes; let Us hope, God is very norcifuI."
 # I should lc ashamed, fat':cr, BeNnic aid, when am man. to think never lssd this great right armand he held it ,ut so proudly before me-'for my coun- ry, when it needed it. Palsy it rather han keep 1t at the plow.'"
 "Go, then-go my boy" I said, land Tod keep you! God has kept him, l link. Mir. Allan, and the farmer repeat d these last words slowly, as if, in spite ,f his reason. his heart doubted them.
 Like the apple ef his eye, Mir. Owen i; toubt it not"
 Blossom sat near them listening. with t.lanched cheek. She had not shed tear. Ter anxiety had been so concealed that 70 one had noticed it. She had occupied erself mechanically i'll the household ares. Now she answered l gentle tap at he kitchen door, opening it to receive rom a neighbors hand letter. Tt is rom him, :" was all she said.
 It was like message from the dead. Ir. Owen took tie letter, but could not ,rcak the envelope OE account of his remblng fingers, and held it out toward Ir. Allan with the helplessnoss of a child.
 The minister opened it and read as fol- iows:
 DEAR FATHER When this reaches YOU I shall te in eternity. At first it -eened awful to mo; but l have thought lbout it 50 much now, that it has no ter TOT They said they will not bind me, nor blind me. but that 1 may meet my .lcatb like d man. thought, father, it anight have been on the battlefield for nv country and that when fell it would De fighting gl0rously; but to he shot Town like dog for nearly betraying it 70 die for neglect of duty! Oh, father, 1 wonder the very thought does not kill .ne But I shall not disgrace you. l am ,ong to write you all about it; and when am gone you may tell my comrades. l cannot now
 You know promised Jcmmic Carr's mother I would look after her boy; and when he fell sick did all l could for him. He was not strong when he Wgs ordered back into the ranks, and the day before that night l calrieI all his luggage, iesites my own, on our march. Towards night we went ill on double-quiclI, though the luggage began to feel very heavy ; everybody else was tired too; and as for Temmie, if I had not lent him an arm row and then, he would have dropped by :he way. I was all tired out when we came into camp, and then it was Jemmie' s turn to be sentry, and l would take his place: but I was too tired, father. could not have kept awake if a gun had been pointed at my head; but did not inow it untiI-well, until it was too late. ,
 "God be thanked!'' p interrupted Mr. Owen reverently. T knew Bennie was not the boy to sleep carolessIy at his ,ost."
 "T,hey tell me to-day that I have 8 short reprieve given to lhe by cireum- stances time to write to you, our good colonel says. Forgive him, father, he only does his duty; he would gladly save me if he could; and do not lay my death up against Jennie. The poor boy is broken-hearted. and does nothing but ber and entreat them to let him die iis my stead.
 q can't bear to think of mother and Blossom. Comfort them, father. Tell them die as brave boy should, and that when the war is over they will not le ashamed uf me, as they must be now. God help me: it is very hard to bear Gnod-l,ve, fatheri God seems near ana dear to me. not at all as if he felt sorry for his poor, sinful broken-hearted child. and woni,l take me to he with him and my Savior in a better, better life. :.
 4 deep sigh burst from Mr. Owens heart. ..Amen. he said solemnly = Amen
 ..To-night in the early twilight shall see the cows all coming home from pas ture. and precious little Blossom stand on the back stoop waiting for me; but l shall never, never coniel God bless you aIil Forsiye your poor Bennie.
 Lats that sight the door of the ''back stoopr opened softly. and little figure glided out. and down ths footpath that led 10 the road by ths mill. She seemed rather flying than walking. turning her lrsad neither to the right nor so the left,
 AL.