West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-05-18

oAs viz hoe hHOW III I'M
til-well-until it was too late"
God be thanked!n said Mr.
Owen. Il knew Bonnie was not
the boy to sleep carelessly at his
post"
"They tell me to-day, that | have
ashort reprieve-'time to write to
you, our good colonel SAYS. For
give him, father, he only does his
duty; he would gladly save if he
could. And do not lay nv death
against Jimmie. The poor boy is
broken-hearted, and does nothing
but beg and entreat them to let
him die in my stead.
81 can't bear to think of mother
and Blossom. Comfort them. faith
er. Tell them | die as brave bow
should, and that, when the war is
over, they'll not be ashamed of me.
as they must be now. God help
me; it is very hard to bear. Good
bye, father. God seems near and
dear to me, as if he felt sorry for his
poor, broken-hearted child, and
would take me to be with Hmm
a better life.
Tonight l shall see the cows
coming home from pasture, and
precious little Blossom standing on
the stoop, waiting for me, butt
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. God
bless you all. Forgive your poor
Bennie."
Late that night little figure
gllded down the foot-path towards
the railway station. The guard, as
he reached down to lift her into the
carriage, wondered at the tear-stain-
ed face that was upturned toward
the dim lantern he held in his
hand.
A few questions and ready an
swers told him all, and no father
could have cared more tenderly for
his only child than he for our little
Blossom. She was on her way to
Washington to ask President Lin
coin for her brothers life She had
brought Bennie's letter with her /;
no good, kind heart, like the Pres
ident's, could refuse to be melted
by it.
The next morning they reached
New York, and the guard hurried
her to Washington. Every minute
now might be the means of saving
her brothers life. The President
had just seated himself to his even
ing's task, when the door softly
opened, and Blossom, with down
cast eyes and folded hands, stood be-
fore him.
"Well, my child" he said, in his
pleasant, cheerful tones, what do
you want %
pennies life, please sir" falter-
ed Blossom.
"Bennie! who is Bennie?"
"My brother, sir They are going
to shoot him for sleeping at his
post"
ooh, yes; remember. 1t was a
fatal sleep. You see, child, it was
time of special danger. Thous-
ands of lives might have been lost
by his negligence"
$50 my father said" replied Bios
som, gravely. "But poor Bonnie
wasso tired, sir, and Jimmie so
weak. He had the work of two,
sir, and it was Jimmie's night, not
his; but Jimmie was too tired, and
Bonnie never thought about him
self that he was tired too"
"What is this you say, child?
Come here; | do not understand"
And the kind man, as ever, caught
eagerly at what seemed to be
justification of an offense.
Blossom went to him. He put
his hand tenderly on her shoulder,
and turned up the pale, anxious
face towards his. How tall he
seemed! And he was President of
the United States, too. A dim
thought of this kind passed for a
moment through little Blossoms
mind; but she told her simple
straightforward story, and handed
Bennie's story to Mr.. Lincoln to
read.
He read it carefully; then, tax
ing up pen, wrote a few hasty
lines and rang his bell. Blossom
heard this order given: "Send this