The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-12-07
THE PICNIC.

The girls, in fever of curiosity, imme-
diately grouped about her, one catching
SO on, until they at last held her captive.
"Oh, Mary; do tell us where the picnic
is going to be, and all the rest off :" cried
one scholar, breathless with interest.
81 would rather hear when it is going to
be,n said another.
without any further preamble" said third
Sin the first place. said Mary, strug-
Cling to draw long breath, 81 am smooth
ering. Here is Lottie Fair strangling me
with her arms. In the next place, provid-
to you the sweetest bit Of programme
oh, my!" The latter portion of this speech
was accompanied with clasped hands, and
such q rapturous roll of the speakers eyes.
But the girls were in smiling ecstacy of
pleasant anticipations.
By this time, little Lottie Fair had con-
tributed her share in setting the captive
free, and had fallen back with the rest of
the girls, who laughingly joined hands, and
formed ring of cherry faces around the
speaker:
low courtesy, eve await your highness'
pleasure" -
"Listen, then, ye subjects, and weigh
we'll my words q" said Mary, with mock
imperiousness.
"We're listening" said another, swith
the patience of Job, but don't see as that
benefits US any"
"Contempt Of court" cried third voice.
81 never saw, nor heard anything to
equal this nonsense I" said Kate Pomp,
breaking away from the ring in burst of
indignation. ''There sounds the first stroke
of the recess bell. I knew it would ring
before she would get word out which had
an atom of sense in it. 1t is always the
way, when Mary Gay has anything to do
with secret. She loves to throw a mys-
terry around verytbing, until she succeeds
in aggravating some person or other, then
abe is satisfied"
joined the school about a year previous,
and felt, because she was the daughter of
a millionaire, that it was great act of
condescension on her part to honor the
scholars, who were generally of the poorer
class, with her companionsbip. II she
share in their sports, or talk familiarities
with them, she believed that as natural
result, they should boast of this, and actu-
ally quarrel with each other, as to who
could lay the heaviest claim to her esteem.
She discovered, however, that wealth does
that true merit no matter how humble
the garb which clothes it, is far richer in
the sight of the wise far brighter, and
more lasting than gold. With indescriba-
BILE envy, she saw Mary Gay preferred to
her, and consulted before her by the sehol-
felt she alone ought to preside. She often
found herself neglected, when Mary Gay
was applauded by her superiors and what
caused this phenomenon, was more than
she could fathom how girl like Mary
Gay, who could boast of nothing any richer
in costume than q calico dress, should be
preferred to her arrayed as che usually
was, in gorgeous ATTIRE was riddle that
caused her many headache, in vain efforts
to solve.
On the occasion we are speaking of, how
ever, she founced away from the girls quite
red in the face, while scowl of annoyance
disfigured her forehead.
AS for Mary, she, with troop of girls
following, FASTENED after her, trying in
vain to smooth over katie's ill-humor, and
suppressed her own laughter at the same
time, for she being naturally good natured ,
whole proceeding, Kate's mode of course
excepted.
ssIt will not take q minute to tell your
she said. "Oh, do let me whisper the Sc
cret, and then the fuss will be ended"
"Yes, you are sh lapghing ga; e. me ms. now" an
ways the way with you. Take care, you
are stepping on my dress there, don't de-
tain me, tits time for the girls to form in
line! If they don't march into the school :
room properly, suppose lam at liberty to
tell teacher the fault is yours that you
delayed me by your silly behavior" she
added spitefully.
"Oh, certainly, anything you please, I
am quite your obedient servant on this
OCCASION" added Mary, with hearty good
humor, "for believe / have been the
prime mover"
Kate deigned no reply to this, but brush
ed by with all the passionate pomposity
imaginable, and began to arrange the
scholars of whom she had charge, that
they might march in an orderly way, from
the yard to the school-room.
In tempest of pride and vexation, che
then Immediately proceeded to order the
scholars around, and the little specks of
ABC girls held their thumbs in their mouths
and contemplated with fright and awe her
lofty and oficions management of them.
The scholars marched in the school, how
ever, and applied themselves to their les
sons as if nothing unusual had happened.
Nevertheless, curiosity was destroying
their peace of mind, but relief soon came
in the shape of an announcement from the
teachers regarding the picnic which would
take place on the fret day of Nav, which