Happy Days for Boys and Girls Part 67

Specimens multiplied. Each little group found something new.

Trilliums, remarkable for having leaves, sepals, petals, and seed-vessels in threes; Smilacina, with its clean, green leaves, and white flowers, grew plentifully about them; Streptopus, meaning twisted foot, called so because its foot, or pedicel, is twisted.

About five o'clock they began their homeward walk, which took them round through some grand old pine woods. At last they came to their resting-place. All were more or less tired; and glad were they when they saw the black mouth of the cave open invitingly before them. Some threw themselves on the rock outside, some went in and rested on the fragrant hay that Arthur had piled on the floor.

After resting a while in the cool shade, Phil said, "I have a bright thought that rhymes with 'light.'"

"Is it the opposite of 'loose'?"

"It is not 'tight.'"

"Is it what you are sometimes?"

"It is not 'bright.'"

"O, I meant a 'fright'!"

"Thank you; it is not 'fright.'"

"Is it what we are all wishing for?"

"It is a 'bite.'"

This was greeted with a shout, and committee number one, self-appointed, started for the baskets. Others arranged the table with boards and rocks put outside the cave door. The eatables were soon temptingly arranged. The jug of coffee and bottle of milk, with rubber mugs, were placed under Arthur's care; and he soon had as much as he could do to pour the refreshing draughts.

The girls had little to do, the boys doing the honors in fine style.

Very merry they grew over the good things; and so intent were they trying to sell the last at auction, that they never noticed a large cloud that had overspread the sky, until a few drops of rain fell upon the table.

"Here's a pretty go!" said Fred. "Run, Miss Walters; and, girls, get into the cave, and we'll clear the tables."

[Ill.u.s.tration: {The friends' picnic is spoiled by the rain}]

Busy hands quickly disposed of all the articles to be kept dry, and the boys were glad to get into the friendly shelter. Down came the rain, heavily rolled the thunder, and for a little while the lightning was vivid. Soon the rain began to find its way into the cave.

"This will not do. Where's the table, Fred? We must have up a storm door," said Phil.

"All ready to slide right up," said Fred. "Arthur, will you get the chandelier ready? for it will be rather dark when the door is up."

Arthur crept on his hands and knees to a little crevice in the inner part of the cave, and drew out a tin box, with four holes in the cover. The girls gathered around, and were much amused to see him take out his four candles. These he stuck into the holes of the box; and lighting them, he placed them on a shelf prepared expressly for the occasion.

Never were boys and girls more happy. They were enjoying excitement without danger or discomfort. They sang, played games; and when the rain had nearly ceased, some of the boys ran out and lighted the fire.

They had kept the wood dry. Then turning the table on its side, they put out the candles, and had the full benefit of the fire-light. For a while conundrums were the order of the day; then they drew lots to determine who should tell the first story. It fell to Millie Gray, who, with timid modesty, demurred; but the penalty threatened for default was so great, that though she had never told a story in her life, she thought she had better begin now. Attentively they listened, waiting for her to begin. Presently she commenced.

"There was, once upon a time, a beautiful little girl, with blue eyes and golden hair."

"O," interrupted Fred, "can't we have this one with black eyes and red hair, or brown eyes; I'm tired of blue eyes and yellow hair."

"No, no, no," said Arthur; "I like blue eyes. Go on, Millie." With a blush--for her own were blue, and she knew what Arthur meant--she continued.

"Well, I like to oblige all parties," replied Millie. "Suppose we say her eyes were black and blue; but if any one else interrupts, I'll have them committed for contempt of court, and they shall be bound over to keep the peace."

"Which piece?" Fred was beginning to say, when Arthur jumped up and placed his hand over Fred's mouth, saying, "Consider yourself bound over, sir."

"Well, this little girl lived in a deep forest, in a little bit of a house, with no one for company but her grandmother and a little yellow dog.

"The grandmother was just as cross as she could be, and poor little--let's see, what shall I call her?"

"Odahbeetoqua," suggested Fred. "I suppose she was descended from the Indians."

"Yes," said Millie, very seriously, "that was her name; but n.o.body called her by it all at one time; they said Daisy, for short.

"Well, one day little Daisy felt so sad and lonely, and her grandmother had been so cross, that she said to the little yellow dog,--

"'Tip, let's run away. I'm tired of staying here. Granny is so cross, I cannot stand it another minute.'

"'Yes, indeed. I'll go with you, Daisy,' said Tip, wagging his tail; 'for this morning, when I was licking up a bit of b.u.t.ter off the floor, she kicked me, and hit me over the head with a broom, and threw a stick of wood after me as I indignantly left the premises, and wounded my feelings very much.'

"'But then, Tip, suppose we should get lost in the woods, and die of starvation, and bears should eat us up.'

"'Trust to me, Daisy,' Tip replied. 'I will lead you safely out of the wood, and see that nothing hurts you.'

"Just then a woman came to the door, and said, 'I have heard your conversation. Come with me, and you shall both live in a nice house, where you can play all day, and have fine clothes, and plenty to eat.'

"'Ah, wouldn't that be pleasant!' said Daisy; and she was just preparing to go with the woman, when she stopped suddenly, and said, 'But who will get wood for granny's fire? and who will pick berries for her? She'd die if we should leave her alone. No, I can't leave her. She's very cross; but then, she is sick all the time, nearly, and I won't go.'

"'O, yes, do!' said the woman. 'I have a lovely white pony, as gentle as a kitten, that you shall have to ride, and beautiful dresses. You'd better come.'

"'Thank you,' said Daisy; 'I'd like to go with you. You may take Tip.

Perhaps he'd like to go, but I won't leave grandmother; she'd die if I did.'

"No sooner had Daisy finished speaking, than the woman turned into a beautiful fairy, the shanty turned into a palace, granny turned into a queen, Daisy into a lovely princess, with black and blue--I mean heavenly--eyes, and Tip turned into a beautiful prince, all dressed in embroidered green velvet; and down on his knees he fell at the princess's feet, vowing love and fidelity untold.

"The fairy spread her wings over the young couple, saying, 'Behold the reward of unselfishness!' and vanished, leaving them in all their bliss."

Millie's story was greeted with shouts of applause and flattering comments.

The boys were about renewing the fire, when Miss Walters announced that it was seven o'clock.

"O, don't go yet!" shouted Phil from the wood-pile. "We've wood enough for an hour yet. Seven o'clock's awful early."

"Don't go, don't go!" came from a chorus of voices; and Miss Walters, who only cared for their comfort, said she would stay if that was the general wish, or would go with any of the girls that were in haste to get home. No one made any movement to go, and she was quietly led back to her throne on the hay, at the entrance of the cave.

A song was proposed, and Miss W. led them in the sweet words of "In the Beauty of the Lilies," the boys coming out strong with the chorus.

Then two girls sang a duet very sweetly. Another hour glided swiftly away, when Miss Walters said, "Phil, your fire burns low; push the blazing ends for a final blaze, so we may get all our things; for we must go now."

Everything arranged, they bade good by to the hospitable cave, then marched down the hill, the boys whistling "When Johnny comes marching Home."

On they trudged, dropping various members of their little party as they turned off to go to their homes. All agreed they had had a delightful day.