The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-02-15
RAvENNA. oHIo---W WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 49, 1860

knew that Isabel was absent and had quite
long talk with her mother. After this, there
was good deal Of whispering and censulta
& ton among the elder girls at the school; and
finally Isabel was told that they had conclud-
ed to celebrate the afternoon of her birth day
BY having.a little picnic, and invited her to
join them.
I'VE are going to the grove near Mrs.
Green's cottage said Kate. you know
what pleasant place it is, Isabel It has
been nicely cleared up within fer- days, and
is all ready for picnic r-..
Isabel entered readily into the plans of her
schoolmates, and promised to be early on the
picnic ground, and to bring an abundance Of
flowers to decorate the table.
How / wish father could have bought the
cow before the picnic 7 said Isabel to her
mother. as she told her Of the proposed plea
sure then Mrs. Green could have treated
us to some fresh milk, and Jenny would ;hav e
felt SO proud and happy. But father is-Fer
busy at present, and he says I must not hurry
him.
The day appointed for the picnic was one
of the most lovely of all the autumn days,
and the faces of the happy party in the grove
were as cloudless as the sky.
First of all, we must choose our queen p
exclaimed Kate Barton. when all the girls had
assembled, and kindly greetings had passed
between them
She is already chosen is she not re
marked one Of the other girls I'VE have
only to crown her, and conduct her to the
throne
very true,' replied Kate and here is the
crown she continued, producing beautiful
wreath of autumnal leaves and flowers, and
plscing it upon Isabels head. ,
Long live queen Isabel = exclaimed many
voices, as Kate took the hand of the new
made queen, and led fer to mossy seat, which
was to serve the purpose of throne
Isabel was 80 much astonished at this unex
pected honor, that she found it difficult to re
cover her self-possession sufficiently to reply
in dignifed and proper manner to the con
gratulations of her subjects and to receive
the numerous gifts of flowers and fruit which
were new presented to her.
just as she was becoming more at ease il
her new position, Jenny the little berry girl
appeared, bearing in her hand a small but
beautifully chased silver cup, and with hel
usual modest courtesy. presented it to the
queen.
The speech, the speech y urged Kate lay
ing her hand gently upon the little girIl
shoulder.
Jenny looked up with bewdered air.
Il cannet, Miss Kate. Indeed, tried tc
remember it, and have just said it ever,
word to my mother /; but now it has all gont
out of my mind l can only say, dear Mis-
Isabel love you, and thank you with al
my heart
Here Jsnny's voice failed her, and she burs
into tears. The queen and several of her sub
jects appeared much disposed to follow her ex
ample. Even the gay Kate brushed the drop
from her eyes as she exclaimed, Was ther
ever anything SO provoking 2-that eloquen
speech that have taken so much pains +
prepare But will your majesty be please'
to taste the contents of your cup 2 she cor
tinued playfully addressing Isabel. who sti
held the cup in her hand, apparently quite III
conscious of what it contained.
Isabel started, and raised the cup to he
lips.
Milk warm new milk T she exclaimed
springing from the throne. The COW ha
come at last l. -.... as
YES miss, she has come said Jenny, smi
ing through her tears. And such beaut
you never saw and SO gentle, that can mil
her just as easily as could our old one.-
But you have not looked at the beautiful Gu
Miss Isabel
Ashamed of her neglect of the costly gift
her companions, Isabel hastened to examir
it, and with the tears still gathering in h,
eyes, read the simple inscription.-' ISABEL
from her Affectionate Schoolmates.'
!. 1T is beautiful, and thank you very mucl
she said earnestly as she looked around upe
them all but like Jenny, / cannot NAL
any speech
.- " uu HOs WouS ouy, Tcpll6u hdl0
have said enough There shall be no speech
to-day, since the one planned has failed.
And now, girls let Us pay our respects
Jenny's new treasure. I saw her feeding
the field near the cottage
Away ran all the girls and, in spite
Kate's boasted feetness. Isabel was the I'll
( to reach the field; for her impatience TO 8
+ the COW seemed to give her wings.
r She was ine-loeking animal /; and, aft
sufficiently admlring her. the girls went to t
cottage to wish Mrs. Green joy, and to G
4 the large pail of milk which Jenny assur
them was ready for their suppers.
: The table in the grove was soon bountifu
!. spread and the girls joyfully welcomed
j, and Mrs. Crawford, and several ladies a
! gentlemen, who had walked that way to W
ness the scene.
1t had been happy afternoon, and o
g which none of the little party would soon f
il get In after years, when looking back I
l., on their cherished "reminiscences was that
q the picnic on Isabel's birthday.
In this world there is one Godlike thin
the essence of all that was or ever will