Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-08-03
no one with him. TIL come 70 yva
father. later-at Wizards"

no n Win MIN. III come 10 y1u
father. later-at Wizards"
And so it happens that. riding at
the earliest dawn TO catch the division.
Benton passes a carriage at the out
skirts of Georgetown, preceded by q
cavalry sergeant who speaks q word
to sentries or patrols OF the provost
guard to the end that the vehicle, with
It's attendant brace of troopers, meets
no detention, whereas he, an aide-de-
camp going on duty. has to account for
himself every few blocks. Some be-
lated general" thinks he as, once clear
of the streets, he spurs swiftly up the
Rockville pike. Just as the pSilid light
is creeping into the eastward sky Ben
ton reins in at the challenge of a
sentry and the sight of a tented field,
Behind him, in the lower ground,
feebly glow the night lights of George
town. Beyond them lies the great,
struggling city. Here, close at hand.
a sentry PAGES slowly by the roadway.
recognizes the aide-de-camp at once
and bids him advance. A dim light
burns in a nearby wall tent. "Yes,
sir, the colonel got back oon after
three" is the answer TO his question,
as, swinging out of saddle, Benton
throws the reins over a fence post and
scratches at the tent flap.
"'Tis /, colonel-only Benton: !
stopped to see"
But the tent flap is thrown back
from within and a voice bids him en-
ter. 1--WE been writing tony poor
motherless babies" chokes the colonel,
and then at last breaks down, bows
his humbled head upon his arm on the
rude camp table that shakes with the
sobs wrung from an almost bursting
heart. Who can picture, much less
soothe, a grief like this? Benton has
seen him time and again, ever alert
ready, vigorous Of the march, CHEEKY
and cordial in all Of wind and
weather, inspiring, commanding, mag
nificent in battle, God-like, almost, ir
his superb dominion over men. But
it is the strong and soldierly and virilt
that love the deepest and that suffel
most when robbed of the hearts lido
and delight. THE bravest are the
tenderest. The loving are the daring
And in wordless sympathy Benton
can only lay his hand upon the massive
shoulder while the teardrops well from
his own brimming eyes.
And then there are voices, low ant
deep, without the tent and then a foot.
fall close at hand, and a tall, darl
form, enveloped in a cloak, looms be
tween them and the gathering dawn
and Benton, staring and only hal
credulous, stammers the question
Who is it?" Then both men stan(
erect and face the newcomer at thu
first sound of his deep yet trembling
voice.
1T is Abraham Lincoln" (Can il
ever be written save in reverence?l
II have come to you because-al
night long since you lett coul(
think of nothing else. I have no
slept. | have been pacing the floor un
til | could stand it no longer. Yol
came to me last night in your sorrow
and treated you like a dog. For
give me, colonel. Take her back tt
your children, and when you have lai(
her away and comforted them-ther
return to us. Go, sir-it is my order
and, wringing the soldiers hands, thu
president turns again to the cares ant
trials, the cruel ~anXieties of another
day, but the deep-lined face, upliftet
to the glory Of the dawn, shines trans
figured with a radiance indescribable-
with who can say what infinite chez
and comfort and blessing from on high