South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-06-07

Va great SOD burst from Mr.. Owens
heart. "Amen!' he said. solemnly !;
"Amcnr')
10 night, in the early twilight, /
shall imagine l see the cows all coming
home from pasture-Daisy and Brindle
and Bet, old Billy, too, will neigh from
his stall, and precious little BLOSSOM
stand waiting for me. but l shall never.
never como. God bless you all forgive
your poor Bonnie -
Late that night the door opened softly
and little figure glided out and down
the footpath that led to the road by the
mill. She seemed rather flying than
walking, turning her head neither 70 the
right nor 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 tho Same young girl
stood at the Mill Depot. watchin: the
coming Of the night train. and the con.
ductor. as he reached down to lift her
in, wondered at the sweet, tear stained
face that was upLurned toward tho dim
lantern he held in his hand.
a few questions and ready answers
told him all. and no father could have
cared more tendcrly for his own child
than he did for our little Blossom.
She was on her way TO Washington TO
ask President Lincoln for her brothers.
lie. She had stolen away. leaving only
note TO tell her father where and why
she had gone. She had brought Ben
MES letter with her, believing that no
kind heart like the Presidents could re.
fuse TO be melted by it.
The next morning they reached New
York, and the conductor found suita-
BILE company for Blossom and hurried
her on 10 Washington. Every minute
now might be year in her brothers
life.
And so, in an incredibly short time,
Blossom reached tho capital. and was
hurried to the White House. The Pres
ident had just seated himself to his
morning task Of overlooking and sign
ing, important papers when. without
one word of announcement, the door
softly opened, and Blossom, with eyes
downcast and folded hands, stood be.
fore him.
"Well, my child" lie said, in lis
pleasant CHEEKY tones, what do you
want so bright and ea:ly in tho morn
ing?"
PENNIES life, please sirr' faltered
out Blossom.
''Bennie? Who is Bennie2'
My brother. sir. They arc going to
shoot him for sleeping at lis post"
80 yes" and Mr.. Lincoln ran his eye
over the papers before him; Il rcmem-
Der. 1t was n fatal sleep. You see,
child, it was time Of special danger
Thousands Of lives might have been
lost by his culpable negligence"
80 my father said" said Blossom,
gravely. "But poor Bonnie was so tir-
ed, sir. and Jenny so weak. He did
the work for two, and it was Jcmmy's
night, not his; but Jenny was too sir
cd, and Bennie never thought about
himself that he was too tired"
"W hat is that you say, child? Come
here-I don't understand - and the
President caught eagerly as ever ut
what seemed to De a Justification OF an
ofense.
Blossom went to him he put his hand
tenderly on her shouldo,, and she turn
cd up her pale, anxious face toward his.
How tall he seemed: and he was Presi-
dent of the United States, too A dim
thought Of this kind passed for n mo-
ment through Blossoms mind but she
told her story simply and straightfor-
ward, and handed Mr.. Lincoln Bennic's
letter TO read.
lie read it carefully; then taking up
his pen, wrote few hasty lines and
rang the bell. Blossom heard this or
der given:
Send this dispatch at once"
The President then turned 10 tie girl
and said:
Go home, my child, and tell that
father or yours, who could approve bis
country's sentence even whom il took
the life of n child like that, that Abra-
ham lincoln thinks the life too precious
to be lost Go back-or wait until to-
morrow. Bonnie will need Change az.
ter he has so bravely faced death he
shall go with you"
God bless you, sir :" said blossom.
After the President had sent the or
der he was afraid OF 8 slight delay So
with his heart full Of sympathy for the
family, he AZ once ordered his carriage,
giving the driver orders TO drive as fast
"a The weather would permit-for il was
one OF those August days Of hest and
dust Just short time before the
Colonel gave mis- orders 20 fire. cloud
of dust vas seen in Che distance. then
a carriage driven furiously. and quickly.
President Lincoln alightcd, ard, seeing
tall Bonnie ready for the summons.
said "That boys life must be saved !;
and also let him have a few days fur.
Tough"
Two days after this interview the
young soldier went TO the Write House
with his little sister lie was called
into the President private room, and
strap Of promotion fastened upon
tho shoulder" Mr.. Lincoln said. Chat
could carry n sick comrades baggage.
and die for the good act5o uncomplain.
ingiy."
Then Bonnie ard Blossom took their
way 70 their Green Mountain home. and
crowd gathered at the Mill Depot TO
welcome them back and Farmer Ovens
head lowered above them all and NJ