St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-13

An put his arm around me lovingly:
l couldn't help 1t, dad he said, an then
He smiled that boyish smile of his again
Jest saying, as he turned once more, You
see
I've had my chance to strike for liberty!
Don't tell the folks. at home 1 beg an pray.
An then between the guards he marched
away.
That TIT Tf Rt %,s uss begged plead swore
But there he was before us, we'll as ever,
He'd never been so bright. I reckon, never.
Maybe it was the shock; but, anyhow,
He stood before the court, his boyish brow
Hair hid by curls, an less affected when
The sentence came than any of the men.
II didn't know jest what to say or do,
They gave me leave of absence, an / drew
My scanty pay. an started, whittier bent
l didn't try to realize-jest intent
On getting help somewhere; letters I bore
To the commanding general of the corps,
To senators an governors; an one
Addressed to 'Abram Lincoln. Washington
with fainting heart 1 sought each man
whose name
Was said to make or mar hero's fame;
They kindly spoke-told me to wait; they sent
My papers to those near the president;
But one by one they all came back, no sign
OF hope to me in any cruel line,
Only the words that showed no heart was
The sentence Of the court has been approved
II wrote his mother, an I said My dear,
God has forsaken us an ours fear
Weary an sick an growing gray an bent,
m going to try y seel the president,
An then l give II up, an you an 1
Had better lay our old bones down an de-
* 81
They wouldn't let me- in, although told
My story to them, men are mighty cold
When griefs are common, as they were jest
An all sought faNorsssf the tongue or pen;
But l was watching. an one pleasant day
l saw the Lincoln carriage drive away
An in an hour returnt at rapid rate
An turn in quickly at the White house gate.
An he stepped out, his eyes upon the floor;
His lips were moving as if in his mind
Some question he debated, but his kind
An gentle face-walli it invited me,
An l was starting forward eagerly,
When jest as 1 had almost reached his side
They roughly called to me stand aside.
He glanced down at the officer so grim,
While looked up beseechingly at him
Then said :. Who is the man? What would
he do?
Only soldier said they, after an inter-
view ssr..-s-..=-
Only SOLDIER said he. musingly,
'Periling his life for liberty!
Only a soldier, Marching near an far
Fighting the battles of this awful war;
Come in, man! Thank God, to speak to me
You need i, no g. other name or pedigree.
While ministers an generals waited there.
81 told him. with the sobs half choking me.
The story of my grief an misery.
His face was sad an furrowed with care
That had never seen a mortal wear;
But still he listened. an he bowed his head
Sometimes at what felt. or what said.
He looked my papers over carefully
Then turned an, smiling, gently said to me:
They say we must be stern if we would win;
That pardons the death of dscipline
But still think the country would survive
With that boy loose an running round alive.
So fairs our mems concerned, why, heaven
willing, u
Well let the other fellows do the killing.
You tell him. though, / count on him to fight,
An prove that they were wrong and I was
right - y
To brayely serve, to die, too, If need be,
For Gods great boon Nof human liberty
An then he wrote: ['This sentence disprovedp
While [ sat there an hardly breathed or
moved
An then saw him add my old eyes glinkin',
Restored to his. .canlnany.s5-A. Lincoln