Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-07-25

mn
mother / would look after har - Naf5s
EheH he fell sick, d46 all I oonl5 and
de was not strong when he Nc .o' ain
oaoA into the RANK and the DAY 49,. -.
thst nlght carried all his luggage bssiS''
my own on our march. ToSa75s 'ssloss
We went Ia on double quicA, and thos-I
1he luggage began to fee very $50
ever oody else was so tired too; and 40
Jennie, II l had not lent HIN An az.
now ana then' he would have dropnsS -
the way. | was all tired out wbs1 =!
came into camp, and then it was Jar,..;s,s
turn TO be sertry, and | would tau ~,
place; but l was so tired, father. To,s
not nave kept awake if a gun had e'
pointed at my head; but did not t De'a
1t until-well, until it was too late
God be thanked" interruptad NJ
Owen, reverently. az knew Benpis &
not the boy to sleep carelessly at his ,o' "as
They tell me today that have a -.
reprleve, given to me by circumstap,as
time to write You, our good colonel so-,
Forgive him, father, be only does his dn..,
be would gladly save mo if he coDld ~
DO not lay my death up against Jemris
The poor boy is broken-hesrted ana a.,
nothing but beg and entreat them h H..
him die in my stead.
81 cannot bear to think of rnotbs, H.,
Blossom. Comfort them, fatherl nm
them die as brave boy should sr5
that, when the war ia over, they will NJ.
be ashamed OF me, as they must he now
God help me; il ia very hard ia Moo,
Goodby, father! God seems near and
dear 20 me; not at all as if he wished nv
D To- Tsh Ff.- e l.
his poor, sinful, broken-hearted child. ana
would take me to be with Him and nv
Savior in a better, better life"
A deep sigh burst from Mr.. Ovens heart
amen" he said solemnly," Amen"
Tonight, in the early twilight, / shall
see the COWS all coming home from past
ure, and precious little Blossom stand on
the back stoOp, waiting for me; bat I
shall never, never oOmel God bless Won
all! Forgive your poor Bonnie"
Late that night the door of the back
stoop" 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 to the right nor the left.
looking only now and then to heaven, and
folding her hands as if in prayer. Two
hours later the same young gitl stood al
the mill depot, watching the coming OF
the night train; and the conductor, as he
reached down o lift her into the car,
wondered at the tear-stained face that
was upturned toward the bright lantern he
held in his hand. A few questions and
ready answers told him all. She was on
her way to Washington to ask President
Lincoln for her brothers. life. She had
stolen away, leaving only note to tell
where and why she had gone. She had
brought Bennie's letter with her; no good
kind heart like the presidents could re.
fuse 10 be melted by it. Inc next morning
they reached New York, ard the conduc-
tor hurried her on to Washington. Every
minute, now, might be the means OF saw
ing her brothers life. Aud so IN an in
| credi5ly short time, Blossom reached the
capital, and fastened Immediately to the
White House.
The President had but Just seated him
self TO the task of overlooking important
papers, when, without one word of an
nouncement, the door softly opened aud
Blossom, with downcast eyes and folded
hands, stood before him,
"Wel, my child,n he sRid, IN his pleas
ant, cheerful tones, "what do you wantP
"Bennie'5 lfe, please, sir!' faltered
Blossom.
"Bennie? Who is Beunie?"
Only brother, sir. They are going to
shoot him for ieeping at his post.
"OA, yes and Mr.. Lincoln ran his eye
over the paper before him. II remember.
1t was fatal sleep. You see, child, it
was at time of special danger. Thous-
apds of lives might have been lost for his
lpable negligence"
go my father said" replied Blossom,
grayely, "but poor Bonnie was so tired,
sir, aud Jennie so weak. He tried to do
the work of two, sir, and he vast strong
enough, and it was Jemmie's night, not
his; bat Jennie was too tired, and Ben
ME never thought about himself, that he
was tired too"
"What is this you say, childY Come
here; l do not understand and the kind
man caught eagerly az ever At what seem
ed to be a justification 81 Oh offence. Bios
som went 10 him; he put his hand tender
ly on her shoulder, and turned up the pale,
anxious face towards his. How tall ne
seemed! and he was president of the
United States, too.
dim thought of this kind passed for
moment through BlOssom's nina oat she
told her sim ole and straightforward story,
and handed Mr.. Lincoln Bennie's letter
TO read.
He read it carefully; then, taking up
his pen, wrote a few hasty lines, AID rang
his bell.
Blossom heard this order given: Send
this dispatch At once"
The President then turned to the girl
and said; go home, my child, and tell
that father of yours who could approve
his country's sentence, even when it took
thehfe of a child like that, that Abraham
Lincoln thinks the life far too precious TO
be lost, Go back, or wait until tomorrow
Bonnie will need a change after he has so
bravely faced death; he shall go with YOU
God bless you, SIR said Blossom; and
who shall doubt that God heard and regis
tered the request?
Two days after this interview the young
soldier came TO the White House with his
little sister. he was called into the pres
dents private room, and a strap fastened
upcu his shoulder. Mr.. Lincoln then
said: "Tne soldier that could carry sick