The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-02-01
heart. "Amen!' he said solemnly.

heart. "Amen!'', he said solemnly.
I''Amen!" -.
Tonight in the early twilight shall
see the cows all coming home from pas
ture and precious little Blossom stand
Ing on the back stoop waiting for me;
but shall never, never come! God
bless you all! Forgive your poor Ben
MEL"
| Late that night the door Of the back
stoop" opened softly, and a 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 to the
| left. looking only now and then to heav-
en- and folding her hands as If in pray
er. Two hours later the same young
girl stood at the Mill depot watching
| the coming OF the night train, and the
conductor as he reached down to lift
her into the car wondered at the tear
| stained face that was upturned toward
| the dim lantern he held in his hand. A
| few questions and ready answers 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 Presi-
| dent 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 President
could refuse to be melted by it. The
next morning they reached New York,
and the conductor hurried her on to
| Washington. Every minute now might
| be- the means of saving her brother s
life. And SO, in an incredibly short time
| Blossom reached the Capital and has
tened Immediately to the White House.
The President had but just seated
himself to his mornings task of over
| looking and signing important papers,
when, without one word Of announce
ment, the door softly opened and Bios
som, with downcast eyes and folded
hands. stood before him.
| well, my child" he said In his
pleasant, cheerful tones. what do you
want. SO bright and early in the morn
ing?"
| Blossom.
"Bennie? Who is Bennie?"
| my brother, sir. They are going to
shoot him for sleeping at his post
| 80, yes" and Mr.. Lincoln ran his eye
over the papers before him. Il remem-
Der. 1t was a fatal sleep. You see,
child, it was at a time of special dan
ger. Thousands of lives might have
been lost for his culpable negligence
| $50 my father said" replied Blossom
gravely, "but poor Bonnie was so tired
sir, and Jennie was so weak. He did
the work Of two, sir, and it was Jem-
mics night, not his. But Jennie was
about himself, that he was tired, too
What is this you say, child? Come
here; I do not understand and the
kind man caught eagerly. as ever. a,
what seemed to be a justification OF an
| offense.
Blossom went to him; he put his hand
tenderly on her shoulder and turned uI
the pale, anxious face toward his. How
tall he seemed! And he was President
or the United States, too. dim
thought of this kind passed for mo-
ment through Blossoms mind, but she
told her simple 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 and
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 II
| took the life OF child like that. that
Abraham Lincoln thinks the life far too
precious to be lost. Go back, or wait
until Tomorrow. Bonnie will need q
change after he has so brayely faced
DEATH he shall go with YOU"
| God bless you, SIR said Blossom:
and who shall doubt that God heard
and registered the request?
Two days after this interview the
young soldier came to the White House
| with his little sister He was called
into the Presidents private room and
| q strap fastened upon his shoulder. Mr..
Lincoln then said: 1.-The soldier that
could carry sick comrades baggage
and die for the act so uncomplainingly
deserves we'll of his country" Then
Bonnie and Blossom took their way to
their Green Mountain home. A crowd
gathered at the Mill depot to welcome
| them back, and as Farmer owens hand
grasped that of his boy tears flowed
down his cheek. and he was heard to
say fervently: 1.-The Lord be praised!
FAIL