Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1879-07-31
ASLEEP AT HIS POST.
An Incident OftEe Late War.

mont, gave his eldest son, Benjamin,
to the union cause, in the late fearful
struggle. One day message arriv-
ed which fell like a thunderbolt upon
the anxious yet hopeful family. The
| lad had been found asleep at his post,
and was condemned to be shot.
The terrible news spread through
the village, and the good minister,
Mr.. Allen, Came ut once to see if it
were not possible to administer con-
ISOLATION to the hcart-broken parents.
go! SIR cried the sorrowing old
man, ''such q dear, precious, noble
boy! / thought when l gave him TO
his country, that not father in all
this broad land made so precious Il
gitt-no, not one. God forgive me
If my grief is sin. Mr.. Allen, the
dear boy only slept minute, just
one little minute at his post. Iknow
that was all, for Bcnnie never dozed
over a duty. How prompt and re-
liable he was!" and Mr.. Owens eyes
wandered over the brown fields with
a perpleXed, wandering look.
II know he only fell Off one little
second; he was so young, and not
strong, that boy OF mine. Why, he
was as tall as l, and only eighteen,
and now they shoot him because he
was found asleep when doing duty"
Mr.. Owen repeated these words
very slowly, as if endcavoring to find
out their true meaning.
"Iwenty-fOur hOurs-the telegraph
said, only twenty-fOur. Where is
| Bennie now?'
"We will hope with his Heavenly
Father" said Mr.. Allen, soothingly.
''Ies, yes let us hope. God is
very merciful, and Bonnie was 50
good do not mean holy" SAID he,
correcting himself sharply-''there is
none holy, no, not one; but Jesus
died for sinners. Mr.. Allen, tell Inc
that. O 3ennie! Bennie.''
| 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.
God has laid his hand on them
both, you see," said Mr.. Owen,
without making any direct reply.
''She has not been just herself since =.
1t Is a merciful thing she is sort of
stunned, it seems to me. She makes
no walls
| Mr.. Allen looked in astOnishment
at the bowed man, as he now came
and stood before him. These few
| hours had done the work of years.
The sincwy frame was totterng now,
the eyes were dimmcd, ana the sud
den sorrow had written itself in deep
wrinkles all over his manly face.
God have mercy on you; he is try
ing you in furnace seven times heat
ed" he exclaimed, almost involun-
| tarily.
The daughter, fair young girl
Blossom, they called her--had sat
near them, listening with bIanchcd
checks. She had not shed Il tear
that day, and the terror in her checks
had been SO very still that no one
had noticed it. She had occupied
herself mechanically in the household
duties; which her mothers condition
devolvco entirely upon her. Now
she answered gentle tap at the
kitchen door, opening it to receive
from neighbours hand letter. at
Is from him." was all she said.
Twas like message from the
dead. Mr.. Owen could not break
the seal for his trembling fears, and
held it towards Mr.. Allen with the
'nlpIcssness of a child.
The minister opened it, and obcdi-
ent TO Il motion from The father, read
as follows:
Dear Father-When this reaches
you l shall be i'll eternity. At first
it seemed awful to me, but | have
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 man. |
thought, father, it might have been
OH the battle field for my country,
and that when fell it would be fight
ing glorinusIy; but to be shot down
like II dog for nearly betraying Ito
die for neglect Of my duty! o! faith
er! wonder the very thought does
not kill mel But l shall not dis
grace you; | am going to write you
all about it, and when am gone you
may tell my comrades. L cam now.
"You know l promised Jenny
Cars mother / would look after her
boy, and when he fell sick [ did all |
could for him. He was not strong
when he was ordered back into the
ranks, and the day before that night
| carried all his luggage, besides my
own, on our march. Towards night
we went in on double quick, and
though the luggage began to feel very
heavy, everybody else was tired, too,
and as for Jenny, if had not lent
him an arm now and then, he would
have dropped by the way. L was
tired out when | went into camp, and
then it was Jemmy's turn to be SEN
try, and I-would take his place but
l was too tired, father. l could not
have kept awake if had had q gun
at my head. Butt did hot know it
until-well, it was too late !"
"God be thanked!" interrupted
Mr.. Owen reyently, 81 knew Bennie
was not the boy to sleep carelessly at
his post
''They tell me to-day that have
short reprieve given to me by circum-
stance-time to 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 l died as q brave boy
should, and that when the war is over
they will not be ashamed of me as
they must be now. God help me, 1t
is very hard to bear. Good bye,
father. God seems near and dear to
me-not at all as if He wished me to
perish forever, but as if He felt sorry
for His poor sinful child, and would
take me with Him and my Savior,
in better, better life-"
A great sob burst from Mr.. Ow-
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