The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1873-12-13

H1
but abundant repast, spread SO temptngly on a
white cloth on the wide shelf, said
"Then this is your supper? It's just fit for
babies. Turnover pies, biscuit, gingerbread,
and cheese Ishould think your mother would
be ashamed to treat her girls So"
"My mother can make nice pies and cakes,''
said unwise Susy. "She has whole store-room
full-frosted cake, and custard pies, and such
lovely tarts"
"Let's go and see," said Betsy.
So she proceeded US into the cool store room,
with its shelves loaded with tempting dainties.
Even Betsy admitted, after tasting and ex
amining the contents of jars and boxes, that
Mothers cooking wasn't so bad, after all
"Well have picnic out under the big elm,
said Betsy, at length, taking up custard and
mince pie and loaf of frosted fruit-cake.-
owe shall never have such a good chance
again"
"Oh we must not do So" said. "Mother
will be so angry
"I'm the strongest" said Betsy, coolly. $50
do as say. Pm company, too. You must get
bowl of preserves, Lucy, and plate of pickles,
and Susy must bring along the tarts and
cup-cakes. Therell be enough left then for
your company. City people are dreadful dain-
ty. Well make a fire first, though, and have
some tea and coffee. They always have both
at real pcnics." So she set herself to work,
and soon had fire in full blast and prepared
the tea and coffee
Then, after putting on more wood, as Betsy
suggested, to save the fire for Mother, we start
ed out, heavily laden, for the big elm Susy
was sent back for the best table-cloth, napkins,
the cake basket and dozen spoons.
"The picnic is all ready now to begin," at
length announced Betsy.
"This is better than gingerbread and cheese.
Isn't it, girls?" she said, as she poured out the
tea and coffee. Susy and l assented family
AS the picnic proceeded, Betsy grew utterly
reckless. She regaled Rover with fruit-cake
and cheese, made the chickens happy with bis
cults and tarts, poured out whole saucer of
real cream for Pussy Gray, and, at last, as a
crewning act, packed up her basket full of what
was left, to carry home to her mother. But
every day must have an end. The evening
shadows began to lengthen, and Betsy, looking
toward the west, said, suddenly: "Well, girls,
l must be going. I've had real good time
But must clear out now, before your mother
comes home. Don't mind if she scolds you
little. 1t won't hurt bit. Tell her kept the
tramps off, and the reason l came home with
you was because l thought there would be a
thunderstorm, and l knew two little girls once
who were struck by lightning when their moth
er was gone, and she always felt dreadful about
it. Come and see me some night, and we'll
have picnic, with all my mothers new crock
cry. That mill make your little baby picnic
seem mean enough
"You are bad, mean, wicked GIRL" spoke
up SUSIE" with spirit "and I'll never, never
speak to you or 60 to your house as long as
live"
started up, astonished at Susys boldness J;
but, looking around, l spied David and the
hired man, Seth, who had come quietly upon
the scene.
"That's right" said David, taking in the sit
uation at glance; "You are all that susy
says, Betsy Blake" he continued, turning fierce
ly toward that now thoroughly frightened dam
sci, "and you deserve more than you'll get at
this house,
"Quitl Depart Get thee hence!' said Seth
tragically. "Never let me catch you on these
premises again. Here, Rover" he continued
turning to the big watchdog, ''see her out of
the yard"
Rover started to his feet, with low, omin-
Gus growl, quick to obey orders.
"Pll go-I'll 60 just as quick as | can, if you
will call off the dog" said Betsy.
empty your basket first" said Seth
And she tumbled out upon the grass the rem
nants of the feast.
"Now CO." said David, calling Rover back,
"and never, in any way, shape, or manner,
trouble my sisters again. If you do, you'll
hear from me-"
"Scamper !" said Seth, as she ran down the
walk. 81 shouldn't wonder if you met the wild
man down in the Dug road. If you do, hope
he'll take off your ears"
''OnJ 5no l5 SO ureduIul ]! Sdlu CuSy, Win IL
great sigh Of relief, after Betsy had disappear
ed down the road.
"Don't let Mother scold US said |, in fear and
trembling. "We couldn't help ourselves one
bit. She shook Susy and struck me. She's
strong as an elephant"
"She is great hateful" said David "and,
Of course, you are not very much to blame
But it does seem to me that you might have
come down to the meadow and called some one
of us while she was in the midst of her high
jinks. I'd have sent her home in jiffy."
Just then Mother came quietly in through the
garden gate, with great fragment bouquet OF
Aunt Miriam's lovely flowers in one hand and
little basket of raspberries in the other.
"Let's go and tell her all aboutit j" said David,
good brother that he was. "I'll make it all
plain that you were rot so very much to blame. "
David told our story of tritulation for us,
and Mother only said, patting us on our heads;
"Poor, silly little girls"