The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-12-31

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"You are right. Write out the names Of the
guests, Maggie, as you are the quickest writer
Of us all, and then we'll arrange the other
matters afterwards. -....--.. ,..
"I am prepared!'' exclaimed the light
hearted Maggie in mock tragic tone, and
placed a sheet Of paper and the ink-stand be-
fore her. "'rhe whole Of this gay assembly
are invited, Of course, she continued, "with
their attendant cavaliers, and next comes--let
me see--LiEzie Lee"
"WAO ?" exclaimed Arabel, reused into
something like animation; "the village school
mistress2 Really, Miss R,y, you are getting
fastidious in your choice Of companions.
understand her mother is nothing buta poor
sewing woman"
"And what of that2'' quickly interrupted
Carrie Budd; Lizzie Lee is a sweet girl. |
don 7 see why she should not be invited"
"Nor 1, said Ella Love. ''See how the
children love her. Never did the school of
Sweet Blossom Village thrive as it does under
her management-and then, she is so kind, so
pretty, SO untring in her efforts to do good. :"
What naughty curl Of the lip, Arabel turn
cd to Grace Whitney, the pensive looking
maiden who talked of pale mOonbeams, and
said .
'And have yoa nothing to say about this
paragoDr'
"Gizie Lee is worthy Of all praise" quietly
returned Grace; "she is one in a thousand" !"
"And your' continued Arabel, addressing
her lover.
'T am obliged to advocate the cause of these
lad,esP' he answered, with a smile, "Miss
Lee has accomplished much good since she
took up her abode amongst us. y..
With a forced laugh and flushed cheek,
Arabel snatehed the pen from Maggie's hand /,
and iapidly traced the name Of Lizzie Lee
upon the paper.
rule--the giilage schootmistreSS is one Of
the Invited" a
A look Of sadness overshadowed Frederick
Wilson's handsome face at this display Of in
justice aud false pride on the part Of his be-
! Itrothed, but itnOw Vanisned before her brill
liant smile still it left heart string behind
-t lszk aftnruaa..s sEhsEsl E5is8tsl IlEe rrturuui
home from school, she found a small neatly
enveloped note awaiting her. Il contained Z
very cordial invitation to the picnic about ia
be given by the maidens of Sweet Blossom.
"Be it an invitation to the pic nic2" eager
ly asked Dame Merry, as Lizzie finished read
ing it. r
The old lady forgot the rudeness Of her
question in her anxiety to know whether her
fayorite had been asked to the great merry
making about which she had heard so much
talk for the last two or three days, and for
which she had promised committee Of girls
sent to her for the express purpose of obtaining
that promise, a large, old-fashioned cake Of
her own making.
at is replied Lizzie, with a smile, "butI
do not think l can go. do not care to min
gle in gay company now" and sigh sue
cceded the smile, -
"Oh dear Miss Lizzie, you must not
think of Temainingat hcme, when almost all
the young folks in the village are going" re-
turned the dame earnestly. "Now don't say
another word, f" she continued as she saw the
girl was about to make some new objection;
"you must go. Just get me your muslin
dress, and l II make it white as new milk
You're prettier than any of them all, if you
do dress plainly" l. - 81.
Lizzie allowed herself to be persuaded, and
| the white dress was drawn from its hiding
place to be placed in the hands of good Mrs.
Merry, and by her magic touch to be arranged
becoming for the approaching festival.
The morning for the picnic arrived. EE-
erything was auspicious. The sunbeams shone
brightly, the birds seemed to be trying which
could sing the lOudest song, and the dew drop
glistened in the bells Of the flowers, like dia-
mOnQS on Lne DTOW OF beauty.
The boats were rocking lazily to and fro on
the stream upon whose banks the party were
to assemble, and although scarcely half-past
five, Maggie Ray, Carrie Budd and several
others, were already at the place Of meeting
''There they come, at length shouted Car
| rie, after quarter Of an hours anxious wait
ing had elapsed, as q whole troop Of youths
aud maidens turned down the road that led to
the stream.
first OF these was Arabel Shetland, proud
and naughty looking as ever, leaning upon the
arm Of her lover, after them came the cOquet-
tish Annie Hunt and her beau. the quiet Grace
and her brother, Ella Love and her cousin,
aud last with Dick Wild, who looked most
happy, Lizzie Lee, the Village schoomlstrsss.
Therewere fair maidens gathered there
Bright eyes flashed, and red cheeks glowed,
but Lizzie was the fairest Of them all. Attired
in simple white dress, her long brown curls
dancing out from beneath her snow-white
hood, a flush OF crimson paint, as the hue that
paints the heart Of the sea she'll on her usually
pale cheek, none could deny that she was
most beautiful.
The company being all assembled, they
stepped into the boats, and unloOsiug them,
moved from the shore, and soon arrived at
their place Of destination. Oil what mer-
ry, joyous day passed in Rose Grove. II was
a loving spot, the air being heavy with the
fragrance Of the flowers whose name it bore,
and myriadS of birds, bees, aud butterflies,
seemed to make it favorite dwelling place.
But there were other inhabitants beside the
ieathered songsters and gay insects in the grove
that day, and such shouting, laughing and
talking as filled the air, was never heardthere
before. And aftey while, the glad hearted
beings Joined in a loud and cheerful song, and
the birds sat in mute wonder on the boughs
aud then they had dinner--a real picnic din.
ner-no dainty trifles, but excellent cold
ham, old cheese, home made bread, and last
but not least, Dame Merry's cake, with colo
water from bubbling spring near by.
The moon had just risen, when some of tn,
party proposed to return. Grace was in favO
Of remaining in the grove some hours longer
but as the dew was falling heavily, maEint
/ the moss and grass cold and damp, her NOR
prudent companions decided against her.
Lizzie Lee had nOtjoined in the sports dur
ing the whole day, but had wandered thFoug
the lonely paths, admirigR the wayside bios
SONS, and thinking OFfthe loved zones al hom,
'lWhen the signal Tor return was given, 81