. Happy holidays . ers had stolen away, leaving only a note to tellher father where and why she had gone. She hadbrought Bennies letter with her; no good, kindheart like the Presidents could refuse to be meltedby it. The next morning they reached NewYork, and the conductor hurried her on to Wash-ington. Every minute, now, might be the meansof saving her brothers life. And so, in an incred-ibly short time, Blossom reached the capital, andhastened immediately to the White House. The President had but just seated himself tohis mornings task of looking over and signingimportant papers, wh
. Happy holidays . ers had stolen away, leaving only a note to tellher father where and why she had gone. She hadbrought Bennies letter with her; no good, kindheart like the Presidents could refuse to be meltedby it. The next morning they reached NewYork, and the conductor hurried her on to Wash-ington. Every minute, now, might be the meansof saving her brothers life. And so, in an incred-ibly short time, Blossom reached the capital, andhastened immediately to the White House. The President had but just seated himself tohis mornings task of looking over and signingimportant papers, when, without one word ofannouncement, the door softly opened, and Blos-som, with downcast eyes and folded hands, stoodbefore him. Well, my child, he said, in hispleasant, cheerful tones, what do you want sobright and early in the morning? Bennieslife, please, sir, faltered Blossom. Bennie!Who is Bennie? My brother, sir. They aregoing to shoot him for sleeping at his post. Oh yes, and Mr. Lincoln ran his eye over the. Well, my child, what do you want? Lincoln s Birthday 159 papers before him. I remember. It was a fatalsleep. You see, child, it was at a time of specialdanger. Thousands of lives might have been lostfor his culpable negligence. So my father said, replied Blossom gravely,but poor Bennie was so tired, sir, and Jemmieso weak. He did the work of two, sir, and it wasJemmies night, not his; but Jemmie was too tired,and Bennie never thought about himself, that hewas tired, too. What is this you say, child? Come here, Ido not understand. And the kind man caughteagerly, as ever, at what seemed to be a justifica-tion of an offense. Blossom went to him; he put his hand tenderlyon her shoulder, and turned up the pale, anxiousface toward his. How tall he seemed, and he wasPresident of the United States, too! A dimthought of this kind passed through Blossomsmind, but she told her simple and straightforwardstory and handed Mr. Lincoln Bennies letter toread. He read it carefully; t
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