Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-05-14

Ben Bolt as much as they like" and the
braFe boy drew himself up proudly, and
pushed the chesnut curls from his bread,
rferehead; "but I do not mean to
friglten you, Alice" he continued, as he
sasgssiow how the little girl trembled.
s she put on her bonnet and cloak,
aliststook her in his arms rs if she had
beeI. y bird, while the little tiny thing
nestled down on his shoulder, as he went
stun stu Bling through the snow, saysing gay
pleasant things. that made the shy little
girlsHagh, and when, at length, he open
edaaa mothers cottage door, lie stood OIL
the Eoor, saying, "There! Mrs. May, 1
bro9sht Alice hcme, lest she should get
bui5Stlilia snow bank; she's such wceny
littsssshing;' and before Mrs. May could
thaslA him, lie was ought ofsight.
BIT the winter began to wane, and
@nossishena @ a soft, mild day, would cone
the sened the pyramid and snow house
m1,iatagially. 1,i "Such pity" they said, and
wisfs winter would last always; but
therf was one little wren-like voice that
prtttJ prttt.JTe57 III for violets and blue birds.
epyranid tumbled down, the snow
horTS grew thinner and thinner, and the
boysLested about its being in dcolinc,.
tillsalie day it disappeared-fadcd away
like many of their childish hopes.
r glad spring came with its larks
and yaises, and one delightful day the
chiISens went Maying. Kate Ashley
was sucen, and brilliant Queen she
was tpo, but Ben Bolt gathered white
viole2 and braided them in the soft
curlsfof Alice, and told her she was
sweesEr and dcnrcr than thousand May
QueeMslike Kate. Child as she was, his
worY Yinade the sunshine brighter, and
lcps ncliantmentto to the atmosphere of
sas'4ss sexis s5s:
She long June day came, encircling
the green earth with coronal of roses,
and making it rcdolent with perfume; !;
snd in the warm noontidc hour the chill
dren strolled to the foot Of the hill, and
clustering togethcr-told over their chill
dish hopes of the future. somc ured by
ambition; some dreamed of quiet country
rcpoae, some Of gay city life; but there
was one whose eye kindlcd and young
face flushed with enthusiasm. as he spoke
of the sparkling blue waters and the
brave ships that breasted them so gal
lantly.
Ben Bolt was going to sea. Captain
Shirley, us generous, wholc-soul being rs
ever trod the deck, was to take him under
his protection the next five years. There
were exclamations Of surprise and sorrow
from the children; liaunts were visited
and revisited; they sat down in the shade
of the old sycamore, and listened to the
musical murmcr Of the brook, and the
dreamy hum Of "4Applcton's mill; cx-
changed kcepsakes, and promised to le-
member the merry, brave hearted boy
whose home would be the wide blue
ocean.
Alice May seldom joined thcm.-Shc
was SO delicate and timid and the thought
of Ben's departure filed her eyes with
tears, so she would steal aGay alone,
fearful of the ridiculc Of her harder
companions.
But one night Ben came to Mrs. Mays
cottage, to bid them goodbye. Alice
stood oy the windows watching the stars,
wondering what made them SO dim
never thinking Of the tears that dimmed
her eyes, us Ben told over his hopes so
joyfnlly. She could not part with him
there, so she walked through the little
door-yard, and stood beside the gate,
looking like crowned angel in
the yellow moonlight; and when he told
ever 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 lingcr lingly, she laid a soft brown
curl in his hand, saying:
81 have kept it for you this long, long
time, Ben; ever since you brought me
home through the snow, do you remem-
bar?"
IL .I.,l ........ -. ...:Il