The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1906-01-18

our eoou COlOuelebys. COTkife nlul,
fatherl he only does his duty. He
would gladly save me il be could.
And do not lay my death up against
Jennie, The poor boy is broken
hearted and does nothing but beg
and entreat them to let him die In
my stead.
81 caD't hear to think OF mother
and Blossom. Comfort them, father.
Tell the,u die as u brave boy should
aui that, when the war is over, they
will not be asha med Of me, as they
must be now. God help me! il is
very hard to bear. Goodbye, father!
God seems near and dear to me; not
at all as II he wished me to perishior-
ever, but as il he iels sorry for his
poor, sinful, broken.hearted child and
would take me to be with him and
my Savior in a better, better life"
A deep sigh burst from Mr.. Ovens
heart, "Amen!" he said solemnly,
"Amsul' e,
"To night in the early twilight |
shall see the cows all coming home
from pasture and precious little Bios
som standing ON the hack stoop
waitlngtor me; but shall never, new
ercome God bless, you ali! Forgive
your poor Bennit!"
Late that night the door OF the
back stoop" opened softly, and
little figure glided out and down the
iootpath 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 heaven and folding
her hands as II In prayer. Two hours
later the same young girl stood at
the Mil depot watching the coming
OF the night train, and theconductor
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 bis 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 President Lincoln for her broth.
er's life. She had stolen away, leav-
ing only note to tell where and why
she had gone. She had brought
Bennie's letter wish her. No good,
kind heart like the Presidents could
refuse to be melted by Il. 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
brothers life. And 90, In an incredi-
bly, short time Blossom reached the
capital and hastened Immediately to
the White House.
The President had but just seated
himself to bis mornings task OF over
,ooking and signing important pa
pers, when, without one word OF an.
nouncement, the door softly opened
and Blossom, with down cast eyes
and folded hands, stood before him.
"Wsll, my child" he said in his
pleasant, cheerful tones, "whst do,
you went, 90 bright and early in the
morning?"
"Bennie's life, please SIR" faltersd
Blossom. q
"Bennie? Who is Bennie?" n
"My brother, sir. They are going
to shoot him for sleeping at biz
post faI
20, yes" and Mr.. Lincoln ran his
o es over the papers before him. =
remember. II was q fatal sleep. You
see, child, II was at Q time Of special
danger. Thousands 0f lives might
have been lost for bis culpable negH
|gsnce."
$50 my father said," replied Bios.
som, gravsly, "but poor Bennie was
20 tired, cir, and Jsmmis was %
weak, Hs did tie work ,oi two, u,
and II was !smmis's night, not h.
But Jennie was too tired and Bsnnis
never thought about himself. thsths
MAS tired, too."
sWhstis this youssy,chiidf Cons
hsrs; / do not understand" and the
kind man caught eagerly, - ever, q
What seemed 10 be justification Of
IN ofepss.
Blossom went ID him; hs put his