Demoine courier., 1855-08-02

higher ihan tho school house. They work
ed bravely, but The brightest and pleasant.
est face among them was Ben Bolts
Such rides as they had down the hill,
and. though the larger boys and girls
sand Alice May vas too little and iimid
TO join them because she fell fearful some
times, yet Ben Bolt held her 10 his
arms; and away they went, merriIy as
any OF The rest.
Bun, the winter began TO wane, and
now and then a soft Gay would cone
ana lessenehdhe pyramid and the now
house materially. ..Such a pity, they
said, and wished winter would last al
ways, bu, there was one lille wren like
voice that prayed for ~riole,s and blue
birds. .f5 g e#.g
The pyramid iumbled down, the snow
house grew thinner and lllinnts. and the
boys jested abou, i, being in a decline,
till one day il d'sappeared-faGed away.
like so many Of their childish hopes.
The GLAD spring came with its laiks
and daisies, and, one beautiful day. The
children went May ing. Kafe A.tIy
was queen, and a brilliant, queen she was
too. But Ben Boil, ga,hertd wiife yiu-
lets. and BRAIDED them in The soft curIs Of
Alice, and told her she was swtc,er.
dearer than a thousand May queens ike
Kate. Child as she was his words made
a sunshine brighter, and lent enchan,ment
10 the atmosphere Of her existence.
Then the long June days came, en-
circling the green earth witty a curoual If
roses, aad making i, retolen, with per
fme; and, in the warm noon tide hour,
the chr aren s,rolled to the foot al the
hin, clustering together. told over tiltir
childish hopes Of the future, score were
lured by ambition, some dreamed Of
quie. country repose. some Of gay city
life; bu. there wasone whose eve Kin
died, and his face flushed with enilu-
siasm, as he spoke of the sparkling
blue waters, and the brave ships tina,
breasted them s" gallautly.
Ben Boil. was gring 10 sea. Captain
Shisley, rs generous whole soulsd being
as ever irod the deem. was 20 take him
under his protection for The icxt five
years. There were exciamailnns of
surprise from the chiliren; old haunts
were visited, and revisited; they sat down
IN the shade Of the old sycamore. and
listened to the musical murinur of the
brook, and the dreamy hum ri old .Ap-
%pleton's milI;" exchanged keepsakes,
and promised always 10 remember the
merry, brave hearted boy whose home
would be the wild blue ocean.
Alice May was an,epg ihem. She
was so delicate ard timid, ard the thought
Of Ben's departure filed her eyes with
tears, SO she stole away alone, fearful of
he riaicule of her harder compositions.
But, ore night. Ben came TO Mrs.
Mays cottage to bid them good bye
Alice stood By the window. watching the
stars-wondering wha, made them so
dim-never thinking of'the tears that
dimmed her eyes as Ben told over his
hopes so joyfully. She conld NO, Part
with him there, so she walked through
the little door yard and stood beside the
gate, looking like a golden crowned angel
in the yellow moonlight; and when be
told her over again how large she would
be on bis return; that he would rot dare
to call her his little Alice. then; as he
looked back lingerly she laid a soft brown
curl in his hand saying:
81 have kept il for you this long, long
time, Ben; ever since the day YOU
brought me home through the snow-do
you remember q" 'e
He did remember, and with one pas
~sionate burst Of grief, be pressed tie
little girl to his bosom; and the brave
hearted boy sobbed the farewell he could
find no words for.
But, FIVE years are not always a life:
time. True, i, was each 10 quiet,
thoughtful Charlie Allenss whose large.
dark eyes had stolen brilliancy from his
books; and the laughing lille Bel Archer
both were laid TO sleep in The old
Church yard, when the nightstars showr
on their graves. Others were out 10
seek a fortune in The gay world, and
some grew into miniature men and wo.
men by their own swee, irsldes, bul A
lice May was sill a child. Yet she
was taller and her slightform more grace
fully Developed, bu. there was the same
angel looking through her eyes az had
watched there in olden days. She slaid
at home now, 10 assist her mother in
Sc wing-.heir chief support-but she
was the n S by, sweet Alice that Ben
Bolt had carried through the snow.
Ben Bolt had come back How
strange that Ave years should have pas
sed SO quickly, and stranger still thai
this tall, handsome sailor should be Ben
Bolt. Kate Ashley was not thinking OF
the sweet Sabbath day rest, as the chime
OF the Church bells loated through the
village there she stood before the mirror
arranging her shining curls ane fasien.
ing her dainty bonner. with its white rib
bons and droopirg blue bells, thinking i
she could no. fascina.e Ben with heI
sparkiog eyes, il would be delightful lo
have his chief attention during the day
He thought she did look very beauli
ful, as he sat. before service. looking on
the older faces--but there was a fairel
one than hers, he iancied, as he saw the
sweet face of Alice May, with the half.
elosat ewes and lono goIden-adooA l,sh