one little second';-he was so young', and not strong, that boy of mine! Why, he was as tall' as I`, and only eighteen'! And now they SHOOT' him-because he was found asleep when doing sentinel'-duty. Twenty-four hours',' the telegram said. Only twenty-four hours'! W-h-e-r-e i-s' Bennie n-o-w`? "

6

"We will hope, with his HEAVENLY Father," said Mr. Allan, soothingly.

"Yes, yes'; let us hope'. God is very merciful` ! 'I should be ashamed, father,' Bennie said, 'when I am a man, to think I never used this great right arm' (and he held it out so proudly before me) 'for my country', when it needed it. P-A-L-SY' it, rather than keep it at the plow'. 'Go', then-Go', my boy,' I said, 'and God keep you!' God has kept him, I think, Mr. Allan."

"Like the apple of his eye', Mr. Owen; doubt it not`."

Little Blossom sat near them, listening, with blanched cheek. She had not shed a tear. Her anxiety had been so concealed that no one had noticed' it. Now she answered a gentle tap at the kitchen door, opening it to receive a letter from a neighbor's hand. "It is from him," was all she said.

It was like a message from the dead! Mr. Owen took the letter, but could not break the envelope on account of his trembling fingers, and held it toward Mr. Allan', with the helplessness of a child`.

The minister opened it, and read as follows:—

"DEAR FATHER': When this reaches you-I-shall -be in―eternity'. At first it seemed a-w-ful to me; but I have thought about it so much now', that it has no terror'. They say they will not bind' me nor blind' me, but that I may meet my death like a MAN'. I thought,

father, it might have been on the battle field for my country', and that, when I fell, it would be f-i-g-h-t-ing g-l-o-r-i-ously'; but to be shot down like a dog' for nearly betraying' it—to die for neglect-of-duty!—oh, father, I wonder the very thought does not kill me! But I shall not disgrace you'. I am going to write you all about' it; and, when I-am-gone, you may tell my comrades'. I can not now'. You know I promised Jimmie Carr's mother' I would look' after her boy; and, when he fell sick', I did all I could for him. He was not strong when ordered back into the ranks, and the day before that night I carried all HIS' luggage, besides my own, on our march. Toward night we went in on doublequick', and though the luggage began to feel very heavy', everybody else' was tired too'. And as for Jimmie, if I had not lent him an arm' now and then, he would have dropped' by the way'. I was ALL-TIRED-OUT' when we went into camp, and then it was Jimmie's' turn to be sentry', and I'- would - take - his-place'; but I was too tired, father. I could not have kept awake' if a gun' had been pointed at my head; but I did not know it until-well-until-it-was TOO LATE."

"GOD be THANKED!" said MR. OWEN. "I knew' Bennie was not the boy to sleep' carelessly at his post'."

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They tell me, to-day, that I have a 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 Jimmie'. The poor boy is broken-hearted', and does nothing but beg-and-entreat them to let н-I-M` die in my stead.

"I can't bear to think of mother' and Blossom'. CoмFORT' them, father! Tell them I die as a brave' boy

should, and that, when the war is over, they will not be ashamed of me, as they must be now'. God help' me; it is very hard to bear! Good-by', father! God seems near and dear to me, as if he felt sorry for his poor, broken-hearted child, and would take me to be with him' -in a better', BETTER' life.

"To-night I shall see the cows' all coming home from pasture', and precious little Blossom' standing on the back stoop, waiting' for me; but-I-SHALL NEVER — NEVER-COME! God BLESS you all! Forgive your poor BENNIE'."

PART II.

Late that night a little figure glided down the footpath toward the Mill Depot'. 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 President Lincoln' for her brother's life. She had brought Bennie's letter' with her; no good, kind heart, like the President's, 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'.

The President had but just seated himself to his evening's task, when the door softly opened, and Blossom', with downcast eyes and folded hands, stood before

66

Well', my child'," he said, in his pleasant, cheerful tones, "what do you' want?"

"Bennie's LIFE', p-l-e-a-s-e', sir," faltered Blossom.
"Bennie'! Who is' Bennie?"

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"My brother', sir. They are going to shoot him for sleeping' at his post'."

"Oh, yes'; I remember. It was a FATAL' sleep. You see, child, it was a time of special danger. THOUSANDS' of lives might have been lost by HIS negligence'."

66 So my father' said,” replied Blossom, gravely. "But poor- Bennie was 8-o-T-I-R-E-D', sir, and Jimmie so weak'. He did the work of two', sir, and it was Jimmie's' night, not his; but Jimmie was too tired, and Bennie never thought about himself", that HE' was tired too'."

"What is this you say', child? Come here'; I do not understand." And the kind man, as ever, caught eagerly at what seemed to be a justification' of an offense.

Blossom went to him. He put his hand tenderly 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 Bennie's letter' to Mr. Lincoln 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 it took the life of a child like THAT, that Abraham Lincoln thinks the life

far too PRECIOUS' to be lost. Go back', or-wait until tomorrow'; Bennie' will need a change after he has so bravely faced death'; he' shall go with you."

"God BLESS you, sir!" said Blossom.

Two days after this interview, the young soldier' came to the White House with his little sister'. He was called into the President's private room, and a strap' fastened upon his shoulder. Mr. Lincoln then said: "The soldier that could carry a sick comrade's baggage, and die' for the act so uncomplainingly, DESERVES WELL' of his country'."

Then Bennie and Blossom took their way to their Green - Mountain - home'. A crowd gathered at the Mill Depot to welcome them back; and, as Farmer Owen's hand grasped that of his boy, TEARS' flowed down his cheeks, and he was heard to say fervently, "THE LORD' BE PRAISED!"

Mrs. R. D. C. Robbins.

LXIII.—THE TALENTS.

1. The kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one: to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

2. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

3. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had re