Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1879-07-31
MEXICO, COUNTY, THURSDAY JULY 81 1879

NA uOWH Iuc lOOJ-pdtu tndI lcO
to the road by the mill. She seemed
rather flying than walking, turning
her head neither to the left or right
starting as the full moon stretched
qaeer and fantastic shapes all around
her, looking only now and then tc
Heaven, and folding her hands as il
in prayer.
Two hours later the same young
glrl stood at the Mill Depot, watching
tae coming of the night train, and
the conductor, as he reached down
to lift her in, wondered at the sweet
tear-stained face upturned toward the
dim lantern he held in his hand.
A few questions and steady an
swers told him all, and no father
could have cared more carefully fol
his own child than he did for oul
Blossom.
She was on her way to Washington
to ask President Lincoln for her
brcther's life. She had stolen away
leaving only note to tell her father
where she had gone. She had brought
Bennie's letter with her; no good,
kind heart like the presidents could
refuse to be melted by it.
The next morning she reached New
York and the conductor found suit,
able company for Blossom, and hur
ried her on to Washington. Every
minute might now he year in hel
brothers life.
And 50, in an Incredibly short
time Blossom reached the capital, and
WAS hurried at once to the White
House. The president had just seat
ed himself to his morning task OF
overlooking and signing important
papers when, without one word OF
announcement, the door softly open
ed, and Blossom, with eyes cast down
and folded hands, stood before him.
"Well, my child" he said In g
pleasant, checrly tone, what do you
want so bright and early in the morn
ing""
''Bennie's life, please sir" falter.
ell out Blossom.
"Bennie? Who is Bcnnie?''
my brother, sir. They are going
to shoot him for sleeping at his post "
so, yes" and Mr.. Lincoln ran
his eye over the papers before him
II remember, it WAS a fatal sleep.
You see, child, it was time of special
danger. Thousands of lives might
have been lost for his culpable negli-
gence.''
$50 my father said," said Bios
som, gravely, "but my brother Ben
nie was 50 tired, sir, and Jenny SO
very weak. He aid the work of two
and it was Jemmy's night, not his.
But Jenny was too tired; and Ben
ME never thought about himself, that
he was also too tired"
''Nhat is that you say, my child
Come here, l don't understand" and
the kind man caught eagerly as ever
at what seemed to be a justification
of al ottensc.
Blossom went to him; he put his
hand tenderly on her shoulder, and
turned up the pale, serious face to-
wards his. How toll ho oocnod lao
was the president of the United
States too. 4 dim thought of this
kind passed Tor Il moment through
Blossom mind; but she told her
story simply and straightforward, land
handed Mir. Lincoln Bennie's letter
to read.
He read it carefully; then taking
up his pen, wrote Il few hasty lines,
and rang the bell.
Blossom heard this order given:
"sEND THIS DESPATCH AT ONCE
The president then turned to the
little girl and said:
go home my child and tell that
father Of yours who could approve his
country's sentence, even when it took
the lie of child, that Abraham
Lincoln also thinks the life too
precious to be lost. Go back; or
wait till tomorrow. Bennie will
need 4 change after he has SO bravely
faced death. Wait and he will go
with YOU.
"God bless you SIR said Bios
som; and WHO shall doubt that God
heard and registered that request?
Two days after this interview the
young soldier came to the White
House with his sister. lie was call
ed into the private room, and strap
fastened upon his shoulder, Mr.. Lin
coln said, THAT could carry sick
comrades baggage, and die for the
good act uncomplainingly.'
Then Bcnme and Blossom took
their way to the Green Mountain
home, and II crowd gathered at the
Mill Depot to welcome them home,
ami farmer Ovens head lowered
above all, and as his hand grasped
that of his boy, Mr.. Allen heard him
say frequently, as the best blessing
he could nronouce upon his child:
"Just and true are thy ways, thou
King of saints -
That night Daisy and Brindle and
DIT SStilC btlioNihS hoLhS iiohA NhS
pasture, for they heard a well-known
voice calling them at the gate, and
Bennie, as he pats his old pets and
looks lovingly in their great brown
eyes, catches through the still evening
air his Puritan fathers voice, as he
repeats to his happy mother these
jubilant words: "Fear not, for am
with thee: l bring thy seed from the
east. will say to the north, give up,
and to the south, keep not back ;bring
my sons from afar, and my daughters
from the ends of the earth; even
every one that is called by my name,
for L have created him for my glory,
l have formed hlm, yea, l have made
him.
"Wbere Is He?" is a new play to
be produced at Wallack's. Well, if
he's single man you'll probably
find HIM sitting on somebody's front
stoop chewing taffy with some silly
girl about sixteen years of age; buG
if he's a married man you'll find him
down town playing poker, and trying
TO bluff the cross-eyed man opposite
on two nine spots and one ace.-El-