The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1853-10-19
5rlrtt MistelIanq.
From the Literary Companion.
BEN BOLT AND SWEET ALICE.
BY AMANDA NJ. DOUGLASS.


ooh don't you remember Sweet Alice, Ben Bolti
Sweet Alice, whose hair was 50 brown
Who blusbed with delight when you gave her SMILE
And treniblcd with fear at your iTOwn1
In the old church yard in the valley, Ben Bolt
In the corner secluded and lone,
They'hsve fitted slab Of the granite 20 grey,
And Sweet Alice lies under the stone"
TnoS. DUSS ESGLisH.
Don't YOU remember Are those three
magic words-a key wherewiih we may
unlock the flood gates of the heart, and
send the sweet waters of the past over The
plains and down the hills Of that fair land
known in our hearts experience asby gone!
Even so. There rises before Us visiops of
a time when the bright, deep eyes of the
young Spring gazed shily at us from be-
meath The ermined mantle Of Winter
when the blue violets stole their first tint
from the buer sky above; when the COW.
slips or sunny May, and the golden heart
ed butter cups first jeweled the slender
blades of grass; and The hawthorn grew
whie with its blossoms; when we roamed
The woods the whole Of IJat long, loVeable
June holiday, weaving garlands, aud lis
tcning IN the concert Of birds in that dark
mislletoe. wreahed oaken forest. There
was one in years agone that prayed
Mord keep my memory green" and the
clInging tendrils Of OF hearts go ever beck
yearnlrgly 10 this prayer.
But green and fresh asihc poets prayer,
had the heart of Ben Bolt bees kept
from is early boyhood To the hour he
sat by his old friend. and listened To the
song Of by.gone days. Not "lhrough a
glass. darkly," did he review those scenes
Of the past, hnI it was the going bacl; Of
the hoy heart 10 other hearts of childhood.
There was the litle red school house,
with lis dirty windows, and desk that had
been nirkcd many time trying pen.
knives; It's tall siern,looking teacher, whose
heavy voice caused the young ones 10
lremble; its rows of boys and girls, with
their heads bent alteniyelv downwarLs To
their books and states The Wild winter
wind sang and whisded wihoui, and
though some few child sh hearts tried 10
find words for its mournlul notes, they
were too young and happy to know that it
carried desolation and heart.ache in lis
wall; yet did they learn it in af.ar d.,
Then there came a few ,lignt snow.bslIs,
SO my that II must have been The spor, Of
Inc storm spirits in their cldrich revels-
changing by and by to reathery fakes,
that danced about ever so gailv. How
the Jchldren's eyes grew bright as thev
looked at one another, and thought of the
merry rides down hill, and the snow ball.
ing that would make the playground ring
again. The last lesson was said, books
and states put aside, and in place of the
silence, relgned gay and glad voices
Kate Ashley shook back her ielty ring.
lets, and laughed through her sparkling
eyes, as she gave Jamie Marvin that Bit
Of a curl he had leaacG for SO long, be.
cause she knew jamie had the prrtliesl
sled in the whole school. All, bit of a
coqueIte was the same glerlu. romping
Kate; and there was Sophia Dale, looking
as demure as kitten walking from a pan
ofmIIk, and as playful as a kitten tho, was
she, in spite of her quick looks; aud the
stately Elzahelh-queen Bess they called
her, and | question il England's queen had
hanghIler carriage;--bUt apart from
those who were eagerly looking for friends
to take them home, stood Alice May
sweet Alice. Very beautiful and luvahle
was she with her winsome, childish face.
blue eyes, and soft, brown curs. She
was so delicate and fragile, you might al.
most fanny her liule snow child, or lost
fairy babe.
Nearly all the children had departed,
amid ,she joyful shouts and jnelmg of
bells, but yet the sweet little child stood
alone, until rich boyish voice startled
hel by saying-"No one goes your way,
Alice. do lhey2"
mo, guess not, Ben," she replied, in
her fine, bird like tone.
"Well, the snow is too deep Ior YOU 10
walk, so ] guess will carry you home"
10, no, am too heavy to he carried so
FAR" and 81 laughed low and sweely.
"ucavyl no you're Just like thistle
down, or a snow fake, Alley, could car.
ry you to England and back again. with.
nul being al all faligued," aud he tossed
he little girl in his arms.
mo, no, let me 90; The boys will laugh
1t You, Ben" and she struggled.
"What do | cafeF they. may laugh al