Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-11
QUEEN LOG.

Ours was purely petticoat party that
summer at Crab Falls. Now and then a
husband turned up to spend Sunday; but
to the eight OF us who had no husbands
these arrivals imported nothing, and for
the rest Of the time the composition of the
household was exclusively feminine, ex-
cept for sundry babies in knickerbockers,
who did not count. Do not, however.
think Of us as miserable A stray man or
two would have been welcomed. but since
they came not, we amused ourselves very
well without them. Our resources were
various. Some of the girls sketched, one
or two painted. Carpathia May had a
hobby for botany, and pursued it in such
pretty resh-foWer way that we all more
or less followed her lead Alice Weir and
Marian Berkeley protested nout-fshing.
They went of by themselves for whole
days and were real experts, bringing home
baskets Of the speckled darlings which
would have done credit to experienced
anglers. Then there was dear little Annie
Iinkham, who read aloud in a voice like
trained brooklet, and was never weary
OF reading. Altogether there was no lack
of occupations, and we enjoyed ourselves
very well, IN spite of an occasional NAL
content sigh at thought Of what might
have been had Fate been a little kinder.
We are all nice, youknow, remarked
Esther White, IN an exasperated moment
-" very nice, indeed; but, after all, it's
all one taste. One does like something
different at times. 1t is astonishing what
very little bit of ham it takes to flavor
whole mountains of bread-and- butter.o
"Oh, Essie! Shockingn But some
Of us privately agreed with her.
One brilliant morning in late August
we, the Unattached Eight, agreed to lay
aside all private pursuits and combine fol
a picnic. How well l remember it all
the hot climb up hill, and the delightful
spice smell of the pine woods as we passed
into their shadow! 1t seemed a different
zone, all GOODNESS and fragrance, with
winds making vibrant murmurs overhead,
and underfoot melodiOus rustlings, unlike
other wood rustlings: echoes, perhaps, of
that secret, half revealed and half with
held, which pine woods hold, and which
to impressionable people is such perpetual
fascination. It was infinitely refreshing
after the outside heat and glare, and We
flung ourselves on the cushiony needles
with signs OF pleasure and relief.
"What dear place this is?'' said Alice
81 am never tired of it.''
"Why don't we come here oftenel
every day." asked Rosa May, gush.
ingly.
"Well, can hardly say. There are
other things to be considered. Duties
sketching, for example. There's nothing
to sketch here, you know"
And trout" put in one of the troutino
girls. There's nothing to catch here
you know"
I'm not SO sureOf that" retorted Alice
"Piny Brook is pretty swift, and tumble<
a good deal, I confess; but there are
pools below which might hold trout
Pm going to take look at them by
and-by.'
1T must take trout Of strong con
stitution to swim in Piny Brook OBJ
served Carpathia. Il should think he'G
be bruised black and blue in five min
utes"
so he would in the rapids; but be
low it is net so bad. I never heard o
any there, to be sure, but there may be.
Much hangeth on maybe, ," quoted
Sarah Stanley.
Here | lost the thread of the converse
ton. The pine needles were elastic AM
soft as a mattress, l was weary with tn
walk and the heat, the light tanning win,
lulled me unconsciouSly, and l fell asleep
Certain soft touches aroused me, and
tickling in my ear. sleepily turned an
halt sat up, but hand pressed me down
ana laughing voice said:
"Oh, lie still a little longer. View
made you into log-such a lovely log
Do keep still. You'll spoil all if 70
move"
"But what is this in my ear?''
"Oh, nothing but a toad-stool. There