The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-09-11
prc-xIC At RAvENDALE.

| Correspondence
PICNIC AT RAvENDALE.
Council BLUFFS, Sept. 10th, 1858.
Mn. EDITOR Last week babe goodbye
to Ravendale with its pleasant associations,
and following the "star of EMPIRE came
westward to the Bluffs. Yet, thong tarry
no longer among the groves and fountains
of tho "Dale''-though l mingle no more in
daily converse with its rm-hear.ed pco-
ple-if my life lease is not cut short, Old
Time will make many an annual circuit, ere
forget them. Before pulled up my tent
stakes, joined in a jov,al picnic Of the
Ravsndale school,, celebrated in Festal
Grore, which charming spot your readers
will remember, was few weeks since dedi-
Gated to pic.nics for all time, by the young
men and madens Of this city. The village
matrons and their busy daughters, had cook
ed up bountiful supply Of "sood cheer"
and, when the board was spread, and piles
of ham, and chicken, and cake, with other
"fxens" too numerous to mention, lay
temptingly upon the snowy cloth, the con-
nosseurs of the party declared they had new
er seen better dinner, and when they came
to taste it, their palates endorsed the ver-
diet of their eyes. About eighty persons
composed the company, and these varied in
age from three months to fifty years, but
the class who seemed the happiest, were the
youngsters who, during the summer, had
been initiated into the mysteries Of Hazel
and A. Be. They rompcd and frocked
among the young Hickorics, and scout up"
generally, as though the iood-gates Of hap
pincss had been swung wide open, and the
rolicking JOY, of which they had had fore
taste in their childish dreams, was flowing
in full tide into their little hearts. Their
elder brothers and sisters more quietly
enjoyed the scene, and the circulating kiss
notices." and stolen glances, told plainly
enough that the wicked winged-god had
discovered our retreat, and was bnsily
uu7olling to the fascinated gaze Of his young
devotees, apicture of the future, gorgeously
tinted with the hues Of the rainbow, and the
morning; while the naughty deity carefully
concealed, with rosy mist, the dark back
ground, daubcd and blotted with penitcnce,
and signs, and tears. But mold, am fast,
for several married folks were there, who
have nobly done their part in the production
of homemade Uawkeyes, and who will
doubtless pronounce the description Of that
connubial back ground malicious and I'M
mi,ignted SANDER, so Unjust qualify it little.
willingly, yes, gladly admit that, in many
cases
The picture still briGhtcns as wider it rolls,
And.thc tnlngs OF sorrow shading lightly its folds,
| Never grow deeper to shadow its light
Never grow darker to sadicn the sight,
And, in many cases more, cupid is less to
blame for its sombre daubings than the IN
happy wretchcs who look at it with splenetic
eyes, through smoke-stained glasses. To
each ono of the fair hcroincs of the picnic,
who has ever dreamed of hymen's joys,
say with all sincerity
Nay thy bark sail in safety ocr life's stormy sea-
May the hurricane breath pass lightly Ger thee,
Nay fond mrny heart respond to thine own,
And halo OF love by happiness crown.
As the shadows Of the great trees showed On
the grass the hour of three, We left the grove,
and went to the shool- house, for dance,
and here am impelled, by a sense of duty,
to pay passing tribute to tho admirable
manner in which Col. W. engineered the
arrangements of the day. Everybody on
the ground, from the little prattling three
year olds, to the dignifed matrons and their
liego lords, had cause to thank him for his
kind consideration and gentlemanly at.en.
ton, and it is my firm conviction that, rs a
leader upon such occasions, the Colonel
can't be beat.
Well, VIC reachsd tho shool-house call
right" A"break down" was duly inaugu-
rated, and this time the "hying feet'' chased
the hours in the broad blaze of day. As
the sun crept down behind Prospect Hill, a
part Of the merry group went home, bu, the
majority tarried on till near the noon of
night, giving everybody chance to dance
with everybody else, and all tacitly ackuowl.
edg'ng that such gatherings are better,
pleasanter, happier, far, uithout the pres
ence Of Demi- John, a wicker coated fellow
who generally attends country dances and
| often "kicks up muss.'
Yours, Fraternally,
BOB MARLINsp1kE.
ffWIil the "Nonpareil' compare votes with us p
VIC will wager six 'puffs'' that Nebraska City po,ls
two hundred and fifty more votes than Council Blun.
1t we beat the Nonpareil shall write huge puds for
Nebraska City II We are beaten will try onr hest
on six pufis for Council Bluffs. There is the
Nebraska City feTs.
Yes, sir, We take the bct,-now trot out
your forces-John Candlebox CALHOUN shall
not be allowed to manipulate the ballot.
boxes, and the breech- Democracy en-
tirely excluded Yes, sir, "wadc in''-uou
can commence writing those "puF," at
'your earliest convenience"
Is ie lovers of good eating and drink.
ing, supply your tables with groceries from
the new store of EDWARDS & HARRINGTON.
IN James Block, Lower Broadway. You
will lind all you may chance to call for, and
at rates within the limits of even a poor