American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-07-05
- LANCASTER OHIO THURSDAY MORNING JULY $ 1856

en.crowned angel in the yellow moonlight;
and when be told her over again how
large shewould be on his return; that ne
would not dare to call her his little Alice,
then;,as he looked back lingeringly, she
laid a soft brown curl in his hand, saying:
4 have kept'it for you this long, long
time, Bent ever since the day you brought
me home through the snow--do you re-
,member?" ~. 49,, .....,--..
He did remember, and with one passion
ate burst ofgrief, he pressed thelitne girl
to his hosom; and the brave hearted boy
ssobbed the farewell he could find no words
for. ..s,. ... .r,,.. ...a 3. .e..;s. -,s. ~.
But FIVE years are not always a life
time. True, it was such to the quiet,
thoughtful Charlie Allen, whose. large
dark eyes had stolen brilliancy from his
books; and the laughing little Bel Archer
-bothwerebid to sleep in the old church
yard, when the night stars shone on their
graves. Otheis were out 10 seek a future
in the gay world, and some grew into
miniature men and women by their own
sweet fresides; but Alice May was still a
child. Yet she was taller, and her slight
form more gracefully developed; but there
wasthe same angel looking through her
eyes as bad watched there in olden. days.
She staid at home now, TO assist her moth
er in sewing-their chief support; but she
was the same shy, sweet Alice that Ben
Bolthad carried through the snow. ''+
Ben Bolt had come back How strange
that five years should have passed so quick
ly and stranger still that this tall hand
soma sailor, whose voice was so full and
rich, should be Ben Bolt Kate Ashley
was not thinking of the sweet Sabbath rest,
as the chime of the church bell foated
through the village; there she. stood be-
fore her mirror, aringing her shining
curls, and fastening her dainty bonnet,
with its white ribbons and dropping blue
bells, thinking, if she could not fascinate
Ben with her sparkling eyes,, it would be
delightful to have his chief attention du-
ring the stay.
He thought she did look very beauti
full, as he sat, before service, looking ON the
olden faces-but there WAS a fairer one
} than hers he flncied, as he saw the swee
: face of Alice May. with the half CLOSED
eyes, and long golden edged lashes, shad
$ owing the pale check. He carried in lii
bosom curl like the one nesting SO soft
ly by her temple, Al it was a talismaD
: Keeping lin from the enchan; mentof olhel
, eyes 's& "
t When the service was closed, Ben wa.
5 thronged about by old familiar faces--they
} hadso much to say, SO many things tc
speak Of, so muchto express at his safe
: return, that it well nigh Dewildered him L
5 was very pleasant to be. so warmly welcom
, ed by old friends, delightful to chat of by
5 cones, and it was indeed Sabbath Of Joy
for Ben Bolt ave
, Sweet Alice! All, how longand weary
7 the time had been 10 her. Sometimes hel
heart died within her, as she though: fth,
: broad ocean; but when she looked so shyly
: at Ben that morning, and saw how hand
some he had grown, a heart sickness CANT
: over her, and the sunshine fell but dimly a
3 her feet. She knew she had hidden away
in the depths of her pure heart, a wild
earthly love, and she strove to put it from
' her; for, would he ethink of hernow? So
. it wasno wonders she should slip her slende
, hand in her mothers and steal quietly
from the joyous throng.'r -7sa SO
1t was Sabbath eye--one ofthose balml
moonlight evenings of the young summer
: Mrs, May had gone to visit a sick neigh
S Dor, and Alice sat by the window with th'
h.. bible open and her slender white finger
! pointing 10 the words, fallingso musicall.
from her lips ~. , tsat IT, 'sut-
a "And there shall be no night there; auc
S they need no candle, neither light of tn
e sun; for the Lord God giveth them light
: and they shall reign for ever and ever,"5a1
She looked tremblingly upin the. moo
= light, for close behind rknelt the mani
: formof Ben Bolt There was told aswee
!; story of love and hope, not the less swee
: for being the language of every human
!, heart, and the tiny hands Of Alice wer
b folded in his as she said, very low an
y sweetly. e. ip5r #e1 l1y sg -
y r. elf l live, Ben, when five years NOR
g have passed, aud you return a, secon
Q time"
e She did not finish tit was never finish
e ed. ~, - 4..l.. s.-,..,g.a ,q-eA
!. So they plighted their troth' that calm
holy Sabbath evening, and the buoyar
n heart of Ben. in IFS gushing sunniness
g pictured radient hopes for the future. H
+ was so young and full of ritality-4ever
= pulse of his heart was beating gladly, an
n the coming five years were more preciou
d to him thanall the past. , 1880 Z !. s,
If "lf we both live, Ben God win have i
/ in his holy Keeping" she answered to bi
y parting words; but, as be pressed her cor
d yulsHely 10 his?beadng heart, he replied
y "God will be merciful to those who loy
e so dearly, Alice darling '.' 81 4s,.ss,qs
She knew it, but she knew, also, tina
e God did not always hear the prayer iallin
II from the hopefullips. Sweet Alice, A
h down The, future she looked tremblingly
+. and, as she saw the fragile form and spil
i itual face, with white lilies braidedin the so
{. brown hair, her eyes grew dim with tear
s for she knew not II it was bridal or br
ID rial, for close beside the alter was Ii
o. grave yard. 8 = e.s,.l ~ -
81 TsThey were not wanting who wondere
ps at Ben Bolts choice, and thought it strang
'. he should take Alice May inspreference
1e the fairest and wealthiest. Some 'thel
ID were who held their heads loftily whe