The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-12-15

DHo, WRlle tne tlny ht1le tnlng nestled
down on his shoulder, a. he went stumbling
through the snow saying gay pleasant things
that made the shy little thing laugh; and
when, at length, he opened her mothers
cottage door, be placed her on the floor, say
ing: &
There, Mrs. May, I brought Alice home,
lest she should get buried in a snow bank,
she's such weeny thing;' and before Mrs.
May could thank him he was out of sight.
! What brave and glorious snow-storm It
was, though. The boys built great snow
hoase, dipping thu great chunks of snow into
water to harden them, SO they rolled large
snow-bslls for pyrsnid, until il was higher
than the school-house.
They worked bravely, but the brightest
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 May was too little and timid to join
them, because she felt fearful betimes, yet
Ben Bolt took her in his arms, and away
they went as merrily as any of the rest.
But the winter began to wane, and now
and thena soft day would come, and lesson
the pyramid and snuw.house materially
'Such pityp they, said, and wished winter
would last always, but there Vas ole little
wren-like voice that prayed for tiolets and
blde-bifds. .,rt sI~.II.l.. f..
The pyramid tumbled down, the snow
house grew thinner, and the boys tested
about its being on the decline. till one day it
dsaPPeared-faded away, like SO many of
their childish hopes.
The glad spring came with its larks and
daisies, and one day the children went
Maying. Kate Ashley was queen, and
brilliant queen she was, too. But Ben Bolt
gathered white violets and braided them in
the soft curls Of Alice, and told her that 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 very
existence.
Then the long June days came, encircling
the green earth with her corona of roses,
and making i! redolent with perfume, and
in the warm noontide hour, the children
strolled to the foot of the hill, and clustering
together, told over their childish hopes for
the future. Some were lured by ambitions;
some dreamed ofquiet country repose; some
ofgay city life; but there was one whose eye
kindled, and whose face flushed with enthusi-
asm, as he spoke of the sparkling blue wa.
tiers, and the brave ships that breasted them
SO gallanty.
Ben Bolt was going to sea. Captain
Shisely, genefous, whole-solled being as
ever trod the deck, was to take him under
his protection for the next five years. There
were exclamatiofis Of surprise from the chill
dren; old haunts were visited and revisited;
they sat down in the shade Of the old syca-
mere, and listened to the musical murmur Of
the brook, and the musical hum of 'Old APP
pleton's MILL exchanging keepsakes; and
promises always to remember the merry,
brave hearted boy whose home was to be the
wild blue ocean.
Alice May did not join them. She was so
delicate and timid, and the thought OF Ben's
departure filled her eyes with tears, SO she
would steal away alone, fearful of the ridi-
cule of her harder companions.
But one night Ben came to Mrs. Mays
to bid Alice good bye. Alice stood by the
window watching the stars-wondering what
made them so dim--never thinking of the
tears that dimmed her eyes-as Ben told over
his hopes SO joyfully. She could not. part
with him there, SO she walked through the
little yard, and stood beside the gate, look
ing like q crowned angel in the yellow
moonlight; and when he told her over and
over again how large she would be on his
return; that he would not dare to call her
his little Alice then, as he looked back lin
geringly--she laid soft brown curl in his
hand, saying:
4 have kept it for you this long, long time,
Ben; ever since the day you brought me
home through the snow do you remember!'
He did remember, and with one passion.
ate burst Of grief, he pressed the little girl
TO his bosom; and the brave hearted boy
sobbed the farewell he could not find words
for. @
But, five years are not always lifetime.
True it was to the quiet, thoughtful Char
lie Allen, whose large, dark eyes, had sto-
len brilliancy from his books; and the laugh
ing little Bell Archer-both we're laid to
sleep in the same old chnrch-yard, where
the night stars shone over the graves
Others went to seek fortune in the gay
world, and some grew into miniature
men and women by their own sweet fire.
sides; but Alice May was still child. Yet
she was little taller and her slight form
gracefully developed; but there was the
same angel looking through her eyes as
had watched there in olden days. She had
stayed at home now, to assist her mother
in sewing, their chief support; but she was
the same shy, sweet Alice that Ben Bolt
had carried through the snow.
Ben Bolt had come back. How strange
THAT Eve years should have passed so quick
~ ~ .sl - .:lt AZ ~ 81 - 81 n e.. iar =, 4,