The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-02-07
LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.

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LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.
"Well, have you had good timer" said
Uncle Jack, who was sitting on the piazza
with his newspaper, and looked up to hear
the girls verdict of their picnic.
"YOu don't look as jolly as when you
started, he said qu;zzically; " wasn't it
succeas?"
eyes" Sue said, dropping into chair,
"but-"
ooh, there was but in it then p
"Now don't tease, Uncle Jack, please;
it's hard enough to have had poky time
without being laughed at afterwards" and
JEANNE seated herself with the air Of mar
tyr and went on:
"The truth is, we didn't enjoy it one bit
So many things went wrong. The roads
we're 50 muddy and the horse poked SO, and
then the sun came out, and 1 was fairly
sCorched sitting up there With the driver
On, it was so uncomfortable"
well, what then 2"
DWELL, it was very nice in the woods, ="
Sue said, taking up the story; "but some Of
the girls went off and left US, and we spent
half Of our time hunting for them. And then
two or three of us had to do all the work
fixing the table and washing up; so of
course, it wasn't as pleasant for US as for
some of the others"
"And them" broke 10 JEANNE, ga thun-
der storm came up and just spoiled every
thing. We we're all half drenched; bat we
didn't mind that half as much as having the
grass so wet that we couldn't sit on it.
$50 then we poked about until it was
time to come home--and I'm just glad it's
all over with"
And Sue threw herself back in hor chair
with look of extreme relief.
"Such is life" said Uncle Jack, after a
prolonged whistle. "And this is the pic mic
you have been talking and dreaming of for
weeks r
Just then the gate opened and two or
three others came up the walk, Mollie Cary
leading the way,
"What luck, Mollie! !" cried Uncle Jack,
Frightening at the sight of her face.
"Oh, such a lovely time!" she called out
joyfully, as she ran up to the piazza, "we
have enjoyed every bit of it, haven't we,
girls ?" The corners all agreed heartily.
"Why, didn't you have mud and sun and
rain, and no one knows what else, to spoil
everything ?" he asked, gravely.
ooh, the mud wasn't anything" she said
eagerly. cit was so much better than hav-
ing dust, and then old Jim didn't go fast
enough TO splash US very much JEANNE and
1 sat on top, and 50 We escaped good deal,
and we did have such a grand view of the
hill"
eyes, yes; but how about the heat"
"Why, We didn't think of it, Uncle Jack.
The idea of uinding heat on picnic We
had our big hats and umbrellas, and it didn't
make bit of difference. Then the contrast
was SO lovely when we did gotinto the woods.
Il was so cool aud refreshing. We enjoyed
it all the more for the hot drive ?"
"Whst did you do in the Woods2'
"Oa, different things some Of US went
of to get leaves and ferns for the table, and
We found such beauties. The table was just
lovely, wasn't it girls ?"
"But the rain must have spoiled your
fun" persisted Uncle Jack.
A shout of laughter from the girls. &" /
wish you could have seen the fun it made
We had to crawl under sham tents and get
behind rocks, and such drenched objects as
We were when it was over. But we did have
SO much fun"
Uncle Jack gave another long whistle and
looked at Jeanuio and Sue.
"Oh, We all know Mollie wears rose COL
ored gpectacles," Sue said, shortly.
"Aud you wear Smoke-OolOred One0.-
Yes, that's precisely it, he said, very grave
ly. "Girls, went once to blind asylum,
and was shown over the building by lady
who had been blind all her life. A more
CHEEKY, happy.faood woman I have never
seen. Before I left, she gave me some of
her writing and told me che had written her
Favorte motto. Look on the bright side
81 took her motto and its lessons home,
and hope I may never forget the sermon
that blind woman gave me. Now, JEANNE
and Sue, must tell you this: You spoiled
your day yourselves, and if you don't take
care you will spoil your life in the same way.