The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-12-14
PICNIC.
lconcaudsd nom iast week.

extravaganza. The teachers were impa.
tient that they should DO far on their way
In the green shade OF the forrest before the
sun, which was just rising. rosy and glori-
GUS In the east, should glare ont In full
heat they were waiting, however, for
Mary Gay. At last abe came, radiant a
usual In countenanees but quite meagre
In costume. A low mrrmur fell from the
girls at noticing that the dress she wore
was an old acquaintance Of theirs whose
first darn they had discovered about ak
years previous. It was onco an immacu-
late white, but now, all the soap and water
in the country could NOS rob 1t Of its yellow
time-stained hue. Nevertheless Mary wore
She led by the hand the daughter Of poor
washerwoman, who was neat and trimIy
sttired in cool pretty mualin. A look Of
wonder now settled on the countenance of
the girls as their eyes turned from Mary,
and rested ON this poor little creature who
thing but garb of rags thas seemed pow
erless to hold q stitch. Then again, their
gaze rested on. Mary. Never before had
she appeared to ssuch disadvantage.
There she stood, contrasted in her plain
unbecoming patched costume, with the
beautiful fresh outfit Of, her companions.
At times, SO easily impressed are girls
with the foolish idea Of dress,s that gradu-
ally and befera they are scarcely aware Of
it, they turn seaide from the "faded garb Of
.poyefEyv and for the moment, coneider the
objectat adofnss OF as little merit as the
dress itself. And so 1t happened in the
present case. Mary's unthinkipg, impul-
sive, and many Of them, shallow minded
companions, turned half shyly from her.
and loud and rapturous gwere their COM
ments on Kate Pomp's gorgeous trim. Be-
fore they had arrived Mt the greenwood,
Kate was already destined By them to be
crowned queen. Lottie Fair, alone, re-
manned loyal to poor slighted Mary. SEN
sitive ~ she was, she fels her position keen
" and gradually with q deep drawn sigh,
withdrew from the grove, and humming to
herself in order to naisiead her companions
a. to her feelings, strolled listlessiy along
through the forest until she came to great
mammoth oak tree, over, which the ivy
crep6 and chung. Sinking on the green
sward beneath It, no longer able to repress
her feelings, she burisd he face in5tfer
hands and wept long and bitterly, the deep
drawn sob coming as 1t were from the very
depth of her heart, while the bright tears
hung glisteniDg like diamonds on her eye
lids She began to cluster the flowers
which lay ufiblocmed aud fragrant in her
lap, and stroVesin vain TO hum q little time,
and forget her sorrow, Suddenly Lottie
Fair stood like bright vision before her.
.u .Poor ma Mary she said you've been
ssWell, don't tell" said Mary, with an
alarmed look, tLottie, surely you won't
tell hegirls 1 was crying ~ she added,
beseechingly. see -
"Did you ever know me to hurt yonr
feelings ." said Lottie, spiritediy.
ssNevsr," answered Mary, in o voice
peculiarly grateful.
''No, nor never shall, come what will"
she added. 81
"Oh, believe you, Lottie," said Mary,
her voice trembliogas little, "I think" sbe
continued, smiliug through her tears, and
mn N In fhr, 0kn In Spon OF hn. do
~.you will cling to me as the ivy there
cliDgs to the oak through sunshine and
o storm like the ivy, your friendship will
= always remain fresh. and green, as when
1t arst sheltered me.n FF iHia -
Lottie made no reply, but softly and
affectionately pressed kiss on her friends
tearastained cheeks, then lifting spray of
flowers from Mary,B lap said: 'sDo hold
your head little TO one side. I want to
deck you with the lilies of the wildwood.
Do you know, Mary" she added, while she
arranged the dew-wet blossoms In her
friends iuxuriant hair, 81 was almost forl
getting to telkyOu that there lie something
very mysterious going on among the teach
ers. Kate POmp was Just on the eve of
being crowned when the teachers inter
rupted the whole proceeding and after
chatting with each other aside sent me to
look for you"
= "sent yoa to look for mo /" cried Mary
in At of astonishment.
''Yes; and let us make haste. we have
delayed too long already" said Lottie pas
sing her arm in Mary's and hurrying her
through tie greenwood, while an air Of
curiosity hung over both their counte-
nanees. No sooner had they Arrived on
the grounds than Mary's teachers command
ed silence and then began az follows:
ga little girl, very poor and very good,
was invited with her scboolmates to pic
mic. On the way home from school che
wept bitterly at the prospects Of being
deprived of this pleasure, because of hav-
ing NO dress suitable for the occasion the
dress she wore was her only one; it was
faded, patcheds and too heavy and warm
for bright May morning., Another school
mate also Of humble circumstances but not
exactly az poor as the one We have mem
toned overlook heE,sand noticing her tears
inquired why She,was crying. She ex-
planned the caass her companion arged
her 60 brighten up, that she herself expect
Cd TO have q Rswa~s0it for the occasion
but added that fsafeer all che would try |
and manage with NeE old picnic dress, and |
give TO the destisuk HttlS cir, the new !
one" u" ~ 4
"Bravo, bravo n Intercepted the sckol-l
he - 81,