Daily Republican., 1879-02-14
ASLEEP on PICK EFT.

ASLEEP on PICKET.
Mr.. Owen, u pious farmer in YER
mont, gave his eldest son, Benjamin,
to the Union cause, in the late fearful
struggle. One day a message arrived,
which fell like a thuAderbolt upon the
anxious yet hopeful family. The lad
had been found asleep at his post, and
was condemned to b. shst.
The terrible news spread in the vii
lage, and the good minister. Mr.. Allen,
came at once to see II 1t was possible to
administer consolation to the heart
broken parents.
"Oh, SIR" sad the sorrowing old
man, "suoh dear, precious, noble
boy"
81 thought when gave him to my
country, that no! father in all this
broad land had mad. 30 precious a gift
no not one-God forgive me II my
grief is sin. Mr. Allen, the boy only
slept = minute at his post. ! know
that was all, for Bonnie never dozed
over duty. How prompt and reliable
he was - and Mr.. Ovens eyes looked
out upon the brown fields, with such a
perplsxed. wandering gaze.
81 know he fell OF only one little
second; he was 10 yonng and not strong
that boy Of mine. Why he was as tall
as /, and only eighteen, and now they
shoot him, becsuse he was found
asleep when doing duty"
Mr.. Owen repeated these words very
slowly a. II -ndeavoring to lind out
their true meaning.
Twenty. -four hours-the telegraph
said, only twenty -FOUR hours. Where ia
Bonnie now :"
"Ws will hope with his Heavenly
Father" said Mr.. Allen soothingly.
The mother raised herself and turn
ing, said with smile: Don't call 81
loud, father, Benny is not 30 far of; he
will come soon"
"God has laid his hand ON them
both, you .er," said Mr.. Owen, with
out making any direct reply. "she has
not been herself since. 1t il a merci-
tul thing she il sort Of stunned, it seems
TO me. She wakes no wall"
Mr.. Allen looked in establishment: a,
the bowed mai, as he now came and
stood before him. These few days had
done the work of years. The sinewy
frame was tottering now, the eyes were
dimmed and the sudden sorrow had
written itself In deep wrinkles all over
his manly face. "God have mercy Oh
You, he is trying you in furnace seven
times heated" he exclaimed, almost
involuntarily.
The daughter, a fair girl-Blostom
they called her-had sat near them,
listening with blanched cheeks. She
had not shed tear that day, and her
terror had been so very still that no
one noticed 1t. She had occupied her
self mechanically in the household du-
ties; which in her mothers condition
devolved entirely upon her. Now she
answered gentle tap at the kitchen
door, opening it to receive from neigh
boris hand a letter.
at is from him." was all she said.
Twas like a message from the dead.
Mr.. Owen could not break the seal for
his trembling fears, and :eld it to
wards Mr.. Allen with the helplessness
of child.
The minister opened 1t, and obedisnt
to a motion from the father, read as fol-
lows:
DEAR FATHRR:--When this reaches
you | shall be in eternity. At first it
seemed awful to me but havs thought
about it so much that now it has no
terror. They say they will not bind
me nor blind me, but that may meet
my death like a man. thought, father,
it might BIZ on the battle field for my
country. and that when / fell 1t would
be fighting gloriously; but to be shot
down like dog for nearly bstraying
ito die for neglect Of duty . Faith
er! wonder the very thought does
not kill me- But shall not disgrace
you. Pm going to write you about it,
and when am gone you may tell my
comrades. | can't now.
"You know promised Jem Cars
mother | would look after her boy, and
when h. fell sick did all | could for
him. liz was not strong when he was
ordered back into the ranks, and the
day before that night l carried all his
luggage beside my own, on our march.
Towards night We went in on the dou.
bl. quick. and though the luggage be-
gan to feel very heavy, everybody else
was tired too; and as for Jenny, If !
had not lent him an arm now AID then
he would have dropped by the way. !
was no tired out when went into camp
and then it was Jemmy's turn to be
sentry, and | would take his place but
II was too tired, father. could not
have kept awake if had gun al my
head. But did not know it until
we'll, it was too latr!'
Good BIZ thanked" interrupted Mr..
Owen, rpverently. ~ knew Bonnie
was not the boy to sleep carelessly at
his post.
"rhpy tell me to day, that have
short reprisve given to Inc by clrcum,
stano.s-time t, write to you, our good
Colonel says. Forgive him father--he
only does his duty
81 can't bear to think Of mother and
Blossom. Comfort them, father. Tell
them | die as q brave boy should, and
that when the war ia over they will not
be ashamed Of me as thsy must be now.
God help me; It is very hard to bear.
A great sob burst from Mr.. Owens
heart.
Tonight, in early twilight, l shall
nee the COWS all coming home from pas
...-naiav and Reindle and Rat: