The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-07-17
JENKINS GOES TO A PICNIC.
BY MAX ADELER.

Aok1o 0uu IcCCully IcSOltcu ~ SO
to q picnic. Maria Ann is my wife
unfortunately. She had planned to go
alone, SO far as I was concerned, on
that picnic excursion; but when 1
heard about it determined to assist.
She pretended that she was very glad,
but don't believe she was.
st will do you good to get away
from your work all day, poor fellow =
she said; and we shall 80 much en-
JOY cool morning ride in the cars.
and dinner in the grove
On the morning of that day, Maria
Ann got up at i've 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 upI 1
had no idea that the sun began busi-
ness SO early in the morning; but
there he was.
Now. said Maria Ann, I'VE must
fly around, for the cars start at half
past six. Eat all the breakfast you
can, for you won't get anything more
before noon.'
could not eat any thing at that
time in the morning, and it was well
could not, for had all l could do.
There was ice to be pounded TO go
around the pail of ice cream, and the
sandwiches to cot, and 1 thought
never should get the legs of the chick
en- placed so that could get the cover
on my basket. Maria Ann few
around and picked up groceries for
me to pack, giving directions to the
girl about taking care Of the house,
and putting on her dress all at once.
There is deal of energy IN that wo-
man, perhaps q trifie too much.
At twenty minutes past six I stood
ON the front steps, with basket on
one arm and Maria AIMS waterproof
on the other, and pail in each hand,
and bottle of vinegar in my coat
skirt pocket. There was q camp chair
hanging on me somewhere, too, but 1
forgot just where.
Now said Maria Ann, we must
rum
Maria Ann,' said 1, that is a rea-
sonable ideal How do you suppose l
can run with all this freight2'
you must, you brute! You always
try to tease me. Ifyou do not want q
scene on the streets, you will start,
too So ran.
had one comfort, at least; Maria
fell down and broke her parasol. She
called me brute again, because l
laughed. She drove me all the way
to the depot on brisk trot, and we
got on the cars, but neither of US
could get seat, and 1 could not find
. place where could lay the things
down, so l stood there and held them.
Maria,' said I, in winning accents,
show is this for a cool morning ride p
Said she, You are q brute. Jen.
kins.'
sSAA0 - AVVOS yOu nave u8Oc
that observation before
1 kept my courage up, yet I knew
there would be an hour of wrath when
we got home. While we were getting
ont of the cars, the bottle in my pock-
ct got broke, and consequently 1 had
one boot half full of vinegar all day.
That kept me pretty quiet and Maria
Ann ran off with a big-whiskered
music teacher, lost her fan and tore
hsr dress, and enjoyed herself much
after the fashion of picnic goers. 1
thought it never would come dinner
time and Maria called me a pig be-
cause l wanted to open our basket be-
fore the rest of the baskets were open.
cd.
At last dinner-time came-the mice
dinner in the woods you know. Over
three Thousand little red ants had got
into our dinner, and they were worse
to pick out than fish-bones. The ice.
cream 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 spilled a cup of hot coffee on
Maria's head, and pulled all the frizzes
ont trying to wipe off the coffee with
his handkerchief. Then 1 sat on a
piece Of raspberry pie and spoiled my
pants, and concluded I didn't want
anything more. had to stand up
against tree the rest of the afternoon.
The day afforded considerable variety
compared with everyday life but
there were so many drawbacks that
we did not enjoy it so much as we
might have done.