The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-07-24

the lett hand, looking white ana oare
in the sunshine, stood the place they
were to dine in-the ruins of castle
and a chapel, roohess and rent.
Trees of ivy pushed themselves over
here and there. between the battle
ments, and ferns featbered and adorn-
ed the shattered carved work of the.
arches 20 isat' pig -5i'nt
"Hurrah!" cried the boys, how
grave aud still the old place looks to-
day" 5ari1 rlah - y
u"And on look at the foxgloves, and
look at the snapdragonsF exclaimed
the girls is1l@l haa Hsi1 1aa % s. ~
Nov boys. now girls = cried the
Vicar: don't be in hurry. Steady;
hand the little ones first You have
all the afternoon before you; the cas-
tie will not run a way" .g e-7
In spite of this assurance the eager
crowd sprung out over the bank, as if
every moment Was Of the greatest COM
sequence, and ran up the little hill to
the ruins with shouts of exhultation,
leaving their elder guardians to fol-
low more quietly, while the scholars
came up in an orderly body. and two
men7servants gradually emptied the
baskets of their savoury contents.
It was commonly believed by the
principal consumers of that great feast,
that its equal never was spread. 1t
was an annual exhibition of all that
was delicate, abundant, and delicious.
Jelly of the most cunning shapes and
of the brightest colors; piles of rasp
berry tarts and cheesecakes, pies,
strawberries, a whole ham,, cakes of
all sorts, and curds and cream, and
chickens and pigeons, to say nothing
of beef and bread and such common
things, and not to mention. orange
wine and ginger beer, in abundance.
A place was chosen just within the
/ shadow of the castle, and where the
old donjon tower had once been raised,
Then the table cloth was spread, and
the tempting viands were displayed.
My poor unfortunate reader, you new
er went to that picnic, at least it is
not probable that you ever did. Such
raspberry tarts, so crumbling. so haky,
SO altogether desira BILE. never were
baked for you: their ia me has surviv-
ed something's better worth remember
ing, for they are often talked of to this
day in every quarter of the world. ~.
w hilC tnC ClOtn was SptC eau. anu tuC
provisions were got ready, there was a
Gus voices of the children were soon
heard all over the old ruin, and their
active steps in the scramble after nests
and flowers and ferns. At length the
whistle sounded, the signal that they
were all to appear at the board, which
they soon did, the guests in groops
and the scholars in procession, two
and two, with the mistress at their
head. -aaisEti ,aa
They sang a grace before they sat
down on the short dry grass, and then
under the direction of the committee
-four busting ladies,) the feast began
the scholars, flushed and happy.
taking out their handkerchiefs and
spreading them over their knees to
protect their new green gowns.
Gradually but surely the viands dis
appeared, and when the Vicar-hav-
ing given each scholar a glass OF
orange wine-toldt them to drink the
health of the committee, not rasD-
berry tart was left.
Partly because all the scholars were
seated In due form, and partly because
be did not wish them and the other
children to begin any active sports i'm
mediately after their dinner, the Vicar
then addressed the assembly, and
speaking to all, he first reminded
them what blessings they derived
from education, remarking that ne
was sure there was not boy or girl
present who was foolish enough to
wish for continual holidays, Nor,
delightful as is festive occasion such
as this" he continued, would any of
you wish it to be frequently repeated
at the risk of Interfering with those
lessons in which you are all able to
take an intelligent interest?'
It is possible that here the Vicar
did not carry the feelings of the meet
ing with him, for though he was list
ened to with due decorum, there was
puzzled and doubtful look upon
many young faces. and the mistress
| coughed family as though she should
be sorry to see her scholars put to the
proof IN ...s
The Vicar did not observe this, and
he went on
But especially, my dear children,
must those OF you who are scholars in
| this excellent school, rescued from
poverty and neglect you being orphans
or Enthusiastically must you feel
| grateful for the good education which
is teaching you those things which
belong to your peace, and fitting you
to earn respectable living in this
world-grateful to those good ladies
who set on foot the Philanthropic
School. and to that worthy mistress
who labors so conscientiously to carry
out their benevolent plans" Here
the meeting was entirely with the
speaker. The boys began to cheer, for