The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-05-18
BEN BOLT AND SWEET ALICE.
A BEAUTIFUL STORY.

II
"Don't you Remember ?" Ahl those thre
magic words key wherewith wemay unlocl
the. foodgates of the heart, and send the swee
waters of the past over the plains and down tn.
hlls of the fair land, known in our hcart-ex
1trence as by-gone ! Even so there rise be
fore us visions of the time when the bright
deep eyes OF the young spring gazed slyly a,
us from beneath the ermined mantle of winter.
when he blue violets stole their FIRST tnts fro m
sne blue sky above; when cow-slips of sunny
Nay, and first the golden hearted butter-cuns
first jeweled the slender blades of grass; and
the hawthorn grew white with its pale blossoms
| when we roamed the woods the whole of the
long, warm, loveable June holiday weaving
garlands, and listening to the concert of birds
IN that dark mistletoe wreath oaken forest
here was one in years agone that PRAYED
Lord Keep my memory green" and the cling
ff-'es tersert4s ef-eH+ heart ever back yearn--
| n:ly to this prayer.
But green and fresh as the poets PRAYER
aad the heart of Ben Bolt been kept-from his
ary boyhood to the hour he sat by his old
rend and listened to the song of by-gone days.
Not Through glass, darkly," did he revive
nose scenes of the past but it was the going |
'ack OF the boy heart to others of childhood. |
mere was little old red school-house with
IS dusty windows, and desks that had been
llcked many times trying pen-knives; its tall
he young ones TO tremble; its rows of bows
md girls with their heads bent attentiveiv
downward to their books and states. the wild
winter winds sang and whistled without and
some lew childish hearts tried to find words
TOR Its mournfal notes; they were too young and
lappy to know that it carried desolation and
heart-ache in its wall, yet did they learn it in
after years {
Then, there came few light, round snow !,
'als 50 tiny that it must have been the sports \
'f the snow spirits, in their elfsh travels. chan
s:ng by and by, to feathery fakes that danced y
bout ever so gaily. How the children's ewes e
rev bright as they looked at one another and e
hought OF the merry rioes down the hill ar d s.
ne snow-baifing that would make the plsy .
round ring again. The last lessons were said. L
o sand states put as de and in place of fence.
elgued gay, glad voices. Kate Ash'y shook n
ack her pretty ring lets, and laughed through 81
er sparklInk eyes, as she gave Jamie Marvin s.
nat bit OF curl he had te sed SO long for, be- Z,
luse she knew Jamie had the prett' est sled in ci
he whole school. All. bit of coquette was VI
lie same gleeful ronping Kate And there ra
as Sophia Dale, looking as demure as a kitten da
aiking from pan of new milk and as play- IN n
Il as kitten, too was she. in spite of her ci
liet looks; and the stately Elizabeth-Oueen De
ess they ca her-and question if EnglaDd's III
leen had laughter carriage. But apart
om these who were eagerly looking for friends he
take them home, stood Alice May-sweet fac
lice. Very beautiful and lovely was she with he
r wInsome, childish face, blue eyes,, soft Nj
own curls. She was so delicate and fragile ed
u might almost fancy her as child or .. lost car
ry babe. lin
Nearly all the children had departed. amid ma
; joyful shouts and jingling bells; but vet eye
It sweet little child stood alone, un til rich
gish voice started her by saying: abe
No one goes your way, do they, Alice? p" to
NO, guess not, Ben," she replied in her exr
:, oiro-hke tones. viii
Let me carry you home~ wal
oh, no, am too heavy to be carried so far" cha
she laughed low and sweetly. of i
Heavy no; you are justhke thistle-dovn
Ally. I could carry you to En- tim
nd and back again, without being at all fa- dice
led, and he tossed the little girl in his oces
Is, Is, that
no, no. ieG me CO. the boys viii laugh at gro1
: pen, anu sne struggled II suns
What do care? they may laugh at Ben she
as lhucn as lhey hke! and the brave boy heal
v himself up proudly, and brushed the it fr
'tnut curls from his fair, broad forehead - So i
did not mean to frighten you, Alice, !" slen
cohtii "a, as ne saw how the little girl from
lDiea. 1t
sne put on her bonnet and cloak, and light
took her in his arms as if she had Nav
a bird, while the tiny little thing nes- ice s
ooBp on MS shoulder as he went stum- her
through the snow, saying gay pleasant falln
IS that made the shy little girl laugh; and az
! ne reached her mothers cottage door he need
her on the floor, saying: the I
here, Mrs. May, ] brought Alice heme. p,;on
she should got buried in a 8 low-bank, Sh
sIch !, a iittie tnin and before Nrs. May and c
tnapk MN ne was ont OF sight. { Ben
1ae nrave, glorious snow-storm it was, love
H. The boys built great snow bouse, the Ia