Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-07-05

- 'uNo tHe PIay ground ring again. The lat
lessons were said, books and states put aside
and, in the pace Of the silence, reigued ga,
glad voices. Kate Ashley shook back he
pretty ringlets, and laughed through he
n sparkling eyes, as she gave jamie Marvi
0 that bit OF curl he had teased so long for, be
cause she knew jamie had the prettiest sle
In the whole school. All, bit of coaue,t
was the same gleeful, romping Kate An
there was Sophie Dale, looking as demure
Kitten walking from pan of new milk
and as playful as kitten, too. was she, il
spite OF her quiet looks; and the statel,
Elizabeth-Queen Bess they called her--an,
question if England's Queen had hauQht,
er carriage. But apart from those who wer,
eagerly looking FOR friends to take them homt
stood Alice May-sweet Alice. Very beaut
ful and lovable was she with her winsome
childish face. blue eyes, and soft brown curls
She was SO delicate and fragile, you might al.
most fancy her snow child or lost fairy
babe.
Nearly all the children had departed, amid
the joyful shouts and jinging of bells, but
yet the sweet little child stood alone, until q
rich, boyish voice startled her by saying:
mo one goes your way, Alice, do they!"
"No, guess not, Ben," she replied, in her
fine brd-like tones.
"Let me carry you home"
40, no, l am too heavy to be carried so
far" and she laughed low and sweetly.
"Heavy! no, you're Just like thistle down
or snowflake, Ally; could carry you to
England and back again. without being at all
fatigued;" and he tossed the little girl in his
arms.
"No, no, let me go; the boys will laugh at
you, Ben; and she struggled. .....', ...
"What do care! They NAV LAUGH at
Ben Bolt as much as they like;" ami the
brave boy drew himself up proudly, and push
ed the chestnut curls from his broad fair FORE
head; "but did not mean to frighten 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 tiny little 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 mothers cottage
door, he stood her on the floor, saying:
There, Mrs. May, brought Alice home,
est she should get buried in snow bank;
she's such weeny little thing; - and baiore
Mrs. May could thank him, he was ort7os
sight.
What brave, glorious snow storm it was
though. The boys built great snow house
dipping the chunks of snow in the water, to
harden them, so they might last longer; and
they rolled large snow balls for pyramid
until it was higher than the school-house. ~
They worked bravely; but the brightest face
and pleasantest face among them was Ben
Bolts. Such rides as they had down the
hill, and, though the larger boys and girls
said Alice Mary was too little aud cowardly 10
Join them, because she felt fearful sometimes
yet Ben Boil. held her in his arms, and away
they went, merrly as any of the rest.
But the winter began to wane, and now
md then soft day would come, that lessen
I'd the pyramid and snow house materially.
Such pity" they said, and wished winter
would last always; but there was one little
yren-like voice that prayed for vlolets and
,lue birds.
The pyramid tumbled down, the snow
lousc grew thinner and thinner, and the boys
estei about its being in decline, till one
lay it dsappeared-taded away, like SO many
# their childish hopes.
The glad sprir G came with its larks and
aisies, and, one delightful day. the children
vent Maying. Kate Ashley was queen,
nd brilliant queen she was, too. But Ben
Bolt gathered white violets, and braided them
n the soft curls of Alice, and told her she
vas sweeter, dearer than a thousand May
ueens like Kate. Child as she was, his
words made the sunshine brighter, and lent
nchantme mt to the atmosphere of her ex-
stence.
Then the long June days came, encirclng
he green earth with coronn OF roses, and
making it redolent with perfume; and in the
warm noontide hour, the children stroled to
he foot of the hill, and, clustering together,
old over their childish hopes of the future.
some were lured by ambition; some dream
ID of quiet country reposos; some OF gay
ity life; but there was one whose eye kiadl-
ID, and whose young face flushed with en-
husiasm, as he spoke oe the sparkling blue
waters and :he brave. ships that breasted them
o gallantly. '''-" '"' ..''
Ben Bolt was going to sea. Captain
Shirley, generous, whole-souled being as
ver trod the deck, was to take him under his
protection the next five years. There were
xclama,ions of surprise from the children;
I'D haunts were visited and revisited; they
at down in the shade of the old sycamore,
md listened to the musical murmur of the
rook, and the dreamy hum of old "Applet.
ms MILL" exchanged keepsakes, and pro-
nised always to remember the merry, brave
earted boy whose home would be the wild
lue ocean. .' . '".1 t.'t'''
Alice May seldom joined them. She was
o delicate and timid, and the thought of
'en's departure filed her eyes with tears, SO
he would steal away alone, fearful of the
idicule Of her harder companions.
But, one night, Ben came to Mrs. Mays
ottage to bid them goodbye. Alice stood
" the window, watching the stars-wonder-
ng what made them SO dim-never thinking
# the tears that dimmed her eyes-as Benz
old over his hopes so joyfully. She could