Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-10-08
Sentenced to Be Shot.

asleep when doing Sent1nel duty, ana
was sentenced to be shot. A telegram
had been received by his father, say
ing that the sentence would be carried
out in twenty-four hours. Mr.. Allan,
the minister, called to comfort the sor-
rowing family. During his visit let
ter arrived Blossom, the farmers
little daughter, opened the door and
received it. ut Is from him." was all
she said, as she handed it to the min
lister, who opened it, and read as fol-
lows
Dear Father-When this reaches
you I will be in eternity. | am going
to write you all about it. You know
promised Jimmy Carrs mother
would look after her boy, and when
he fell sick | did all I could for him.
He was not strong when ordered back
into the ranks, and the day before
that night l carried all his luggage,
besides my own, on our march. II
had not lent him an arm now and
then, he would have dropped by the
way I was tired out when we went
into camp, and then 1t was Jfmmy's
turn to be sentry, and I would take
his place, but I was too tired, father.
I could not have kept awake though
a gun had been pointed at my head;
but did not know it until-well-un-
til it was too late.
They tell me to-day that l have
short reprieve-time to write to you,
our good Colonel says; forgive him,
father, he only does his duty; he
would gladly save me if he could. And
do not lay my death up against jim
my The poor boy is broken-hearted,
and does nothing but beg and entreat
them to let him die in my stead.
II can't bear to think of mother and
Blossom Tonight | shall see the
COWS all coming home from pasture,
=. and precious little Blossom standing
waiting for me; butt shall never
never-come. God bless you all. For
give your poor Bonnie"
Late that night little figure gltded
down the footpath toward the railway
station The guard, as he reached
down to lift her into the carriage,
wondered at the tear-stained little
face that was upturned toward the
dim old 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 little Blossom. She was
on her way to Washington to ask
President Lincoln for her brothers
life, and had brought Bennie's letter
with her Next morning they reached
New York, and the guard hurried her
on to Washington. Every minute,
now, might be the means Of saving
her brothers life
The President had just seated him
self to his evenings task, when the
door softly opened and Blossom, with
downcast eyes and folded hands, stood
before him.
Well, my child" he said, In his
pleasant, cheerful tones, what do you
want?"
pennies life, please, sir" faltered
Blossom.
Bonnie! Who is Bennie?"
MY brother, sir. They are going
to shoot him for sleeping at his post. "
"Oh, yes, | remember 1t was a
fatal sleep. You see, child, it was a
time of special danger Thousands Of
lives might have been lost by his neg
ligence."
80 my father said," replied Bios
som, gravely. But poor Bonnie was
so tired, sir, and Jimmy was so weak.
was Jimmy's night, not his; but jim
my was too tired, and Bonnie never
I thought about himself, that he was
tired, too"
What is this you say, child? Come
here: I do not understand"
Blossom went to him. He put his
hand on her shoulder and turned up
the pale, anxious face toward his
How tall he seemed! And he was
President of the United States, too.
A dim thought of this kind passed
for a moment through Blossom s
mind; but she told her simple,
straightforward story, and handed
Bennies letter to Mr. Lincoln to
read
He read it carefully, then, taking
up his pen, he wrote 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 your father, who can
approve his country's sentence, even
when it takes the life of a child like
that, that Abraham Lincoln thinks
that life far too precious to be lost
Go back, or-wait until tomorrow;
Bonnie will need change after he
has so bravely faced death. He shall
go with YOU"
God bless you, sir" said Blossom.
l