Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-08-15
Jenkins Goes to a Picnic.

| jenkins toes TO a PICNIC
Maria Ann recently determined to go
| to picnic.
Maria Ann is my ife-unfortunateiy
She had planned to go it alone, so far as
was concerned, on that picnic cxcur-
sion; but when heard about it, | de-
ternincd to assist She pretended she
was very glad, but / don't believe she
was.
1T will do you good to get away
from your work day, poor fellow p she
said; "and we shall SO much enjoy
cool morning ride in the cars, and din
ner in the woods.
On the morning of that day, Maria
Ann got up at five o'clock About three
minutes later she disturbed my slumbers
and told me to come to breakfast. /
told her | wasn't hungry, but it didn't
make bit Of difference, | had to get up.
The sun was up l had no idea that the
sun began business so early in the morn
ing but there he was.
Now" said Maria Ann, we must
fly around, for the cars start Mt half-past
SIX. Eat all the breakfast you can; for
you won't get anything more before
noon"
could not cat anything at that time
in the morning, and it was well could
not for | had all could do. There was
ice to be pounded, to go around the pail
Of icc-cream, and the sandwiches to be
cut, and | thought | never should get
the legs of the chickens placed so that
could get the cover on my basket. Ma
ria Ann flew around, and picked up
groceries for me to pack, giving dircc-
tons to the girl about taking care Of the
house, and putting on her dress all at
once. There is deal Of energy in that
woman, perhaps a tridc too much.
Attwenty minutes past six | stood on
the front steps, with a basket on one arm
and Maria AIMS waterproof on tho
other, and pail in each hand, and bot
tie Of vinegar in my coat skirt pocket
There was a camp-chair hung on me
somewhere, too but forgot just where.
Now" said Maria Ann, 1--WE must
run, or we shall not catch the train"
maria Ann" said |, that is a rca-
sonable ideal How do You suppose
can run with all this freight n
"You must, you brute. You always
try to tease me. If you don't want
scene on the streets you win start, too. ]"
So ! ran.
| had one comfort, at least Maria
Ann fell down, and broke her parasol
She called me brute again, because
laughed. She drove me all the way to
the depot on brisk trot, and we got on
the cara but neither of us could get
seat; and | could not find place where
| could set the things down, SO stood
there and held them.
Maria" | said, in winning accents,
'.how is this for a cool morning ride"
Said she, "You are brute, Jcn-
kins"
Said /, my love, you have made that
observation before"
] kept my courage up; yet knew
there would be an hour Of wrath when
we got home. While we were getting
out Of the cars, the bottle in my pocket
got broke; and, consequently, had one
boot half-full Of vinegar all day. That
kept me pretty quiet; and Maria Ann
ran off with a big whiskered music-tcach-
or, and lost her fan, and got her feet
wet, and tore her dress, and enjoyed her.
self much after the fashion Of picnic 60
crs. | thought it never would come
dim er-timc; and Maria callad me pig
because | wanted to open our basket be-
fore the rest Of the baskets were opened.
At last dinncr-timc came-thc mice
dinner in the woods" you know Oyer
three thousand little red ants had got
into our dinner, and they were worse to
pick out than fish bones The icc-crcam
had melted, and there was no vinegar
for the cold meat, except what was in
my boot, and Of course that was Of no
immediate use. The music-teacher spill
cd a cup of hot coffee on Maria's head,
and pulled all the frizzles out, trying 10
wipe off the coffee with bis handkerchief
Then / sat on piece of raspberry pie,
and spoiled my white pants, and conclud-
ed didn't want anything more ] had
to stand up against a tree the rest Of the
afternoon. The day afforded considera-
bic variety, compared with everyday
life, but there we're 50 many drawbacks
that we did not enjoy it 50 much as we
might have done.