The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-04-03

Wdlh, sO guess Will carry you uOllO.
go, no, am too heavy to be carried so
far" and she laughed low and sweetly.
Heavy no you're just like thistle-down,
or snowflake, Alley; | could carry you
to England and back again, without being
at all fatigued," and he tossed the little girl
in his arms.
'No, let me 90 ; the boys will laugh at
you, Ben," and she struggled.
What do | care? they may laugh at
Ben Bolt as much as they like" and the
brave boy drew himself up proudly, and
pushed the chestnut curls from his broad,
fair forehead " but did not mean to fright
en- you, Alice" he continued, as he saw how
the little girl trembled.
So she put on her bonnet and cloak, and
Ben took her in his arms as if she had been
bird, while the little tiny thing nestled
down on his shoulder, as he went stumbling
through the snow, saying gay, pleasant
things, that made the shy little girl laugh
and when, at length he opened her mother'sI
cottage door, he stood her on the floor say
ing" There Mrs. May, I brought Alice
bank; she's such weary little thing" and
before Mrs. May could thank him, he was
out of sight
was though The boys built a great snow
house, dipping the chunks of snow in water
to harden them, so they might last longer
mid, till twas higher than the school-house.
They worked bravely, but the brightest face
and pleasantest voice among them was Ben
Bolts. Such rides as they had down hill !!
and though the larger boys and girls said
/ Mo- Alr tn
! Join them, because she felt fearful sometimes.
yet Ben Bolt held her in his arms, and away
they went, merrily as any of the rest.
But the winter began to wane, and now
and then a soft mild day would come that
lessened the pyramid and snow-house mate
rally. "Such pity" they said, and wish
winter would last alway; but there was one
i little wren-like voice that prayed lor violets
and blue birds.
The pyramid tumbled down, the snow
house grew thinner and thinner, and the
boys tested about its being in decline, till
one day it disappeared--fad away like so
many of their childish hopes.
The glad spring came with its larks and
daisies, and one delightful day the children
went Maying. Kate Ashley was queen,
and brilliant queen she was too, but Ben
7 Bolt gathered white violets, and braided
them in the soft curls of Alice, and told her
she was sweeter, dearer than thousand May
queens like Kate. Child as she was, his
, words made the sunshine brighter, and lent
enchantment to the atmosphere of her ex-
l iStence.
Then the long June days came, encirclins
1 the green earth with coronal Of roses, and
t making it redolent with perfume and in the
warm noontide hour the children strolled tc
9 the foot of the hill, and, clustering together
g told over their childish hopes of the future
i Some were lured by ambition some dreamed
S of quiet country repose but there was one
e whose eye kindled and young face flushed
d with enthusiasm, as he spoke of the spark
ling blue waters, and the brave ships tina
e breasted them so gallantly.
e Ben Bolt was going TO sea. Captain
. Shirley, generous, whole -souled being a
II ever trod the deck, was to take him unde
/, his projection the next five years. Their
were EXPLANATIONS of surprise and sorrow
V from the children old haunts were visited
revisited; they sat down in thee shade o
d the old sycamore, and listened to the musi
It cal murmur of the brook, and the dream
II hum of GO 'Appleton's mill;' exchanged keep
= sakes, and promised always to remember tn
merry, brave-hearted boy, whose home woul
II be the wide blue ocean.
Alice May seldom joined them. She wa