Jemmie's night, not his; but Jemmie 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 caughts eagerly, as ever, 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 10 President of the United States, too! A dim thought of this kind passed through Blossom's 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 15 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, 20 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 to-morrow. Bennie will need a change after he has so bravely faced death; he shall go with you." "God bless you, sir," said Blossom. And who 5 shall doubt that God heard and registered the prayer? Two days after this interview the young soldier came to the White House with his sister. He was called into the President's private room, and a 10 strap was fastened upon the 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 15 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! NEW YORK OBSERVER. This true story needs little explanation or comment. Only, it was this kind of thing in Lincoln that made one of our later Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, say, in the hundredth year after Lincoln's birth, "no other good man was so great, and no other great man was so good." 1. Why is a sentry's duty so important? 2. Why had the boy failed in his duty? Was he to blame, do you think? 3. What would you have done in his place? 4. What would you have done if you had been in Lincoln's place? 5. What other generous action by some great man can you recall? 6. Which do you admire most in your favorite heroes: strength or kindness? OLD IRONSIDES Ay, tear her tattered ensign down! And many an eye has danced to see Beneath it rung the battle shout, And burst the cannons' roar; The meteor of the ocean air Shall sweep the clouds no more. Her deck-once red with heroes' blood, When winds were hurrying o'er the flood No more shall feel the victor's tread, O, better that her shattered hulk |