San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-12-08
THE DRIVE.

We were large household, many boys and
girls, and |, the eldest daughter, at an age
when pride, frivolity and all the little vani-
ties which beset foolish girl are at their
acme. / think l must have been selfish
also, but could not have inherited it from
father or mother, for larger hearted people
never lived.
At our meals when the happy, romping
children came, would sometimes sigh and
mothers smile Of welcome would be clouded
as she heard me; she had keen munitions and
sometimes l felt that she read my very
thoughts.
On these occasions fathers eyes were
turned with pride from one to the other of US
and he would often say: ga fine set of boys
and girls, Margaret The children appre-
ciated his compliment, and baby Sue would
speak up with her mouth full Of bread and
butter: ~ fine, too, papaF
had been away of to boarding school and
was very anxious to have two school friends
visit me before the summer was over; bnt
our family had long since outgrown the size
of the house.
Mother and father always thought there
was room for one or two moro, and never
hesitabsd about having their friends With
their generous hospitality and warm well
come the house seemed to expand, and their
visitors were comfortable and well pleased.
When our dear old minister came into the
neigbborhood to Iyeach our home was graced
Lnd hallowed by his presence, and often
wondered how he could enjoy being with US
III preference to bis more wealthy parishion-
ers. l think l know now, in these after
years that have taught me SO many things.
Who could give him such a welcome as
father and motherf Who could say, as
father did, the words which bespoke so deep
an interest in his laboFs or show such rever-
enco for him2 Who could resist mothers
winning simplicity and bright smiles9 can
zee her now in her quick yet quiet way,
experimenting hts personal oomfort-for she
learned, as If by magic, what her visitors
liked and disliked.
To return to my subject, / had only to hint
that visit from my friends was desirable
to have all the family aid and abet my plans.
One day Tom, who was a year and q half
my senior, came IN with the interesting in
telligence Of ''rousing picnic" soon to take
place.
Mother suggested that this now would be
good time to invite my friends, as a picnic
was about the grandest affair we ever had in
our generally quiet neighborhood.
agreed with her; so the invitation was
sent and accepted.
Before the girls arrived, however, our
horses fell lame, and the picnic grounds
being about three miles away, we were some
what perplexed about our mode of locomo-
tion.
In the midst Of our perplexities Tom dis
covered that there was a negro ON an adjoin-
ing farm who owned a pony and mule that
could be driven in harness
Father accordingly sent Tom the day be-
fore the picnic to bring them over that We
might test their capabilities, and, as they did
not work well together, we provided two
bu-gies.
Certainly our equipages had no pretensions
70 style, but father consolingly said there
was nothing like having safe, gentle crea-
lures. as he believed these to be-
Although my friends had been with us but
a few days, Tom imagined he was much in
love with Helen, and, therefore, he hitched
the pony to the best buggy, and left the mule
aid the other buggy for Sallie and me.
Everything looked propitiOus-even charm
ing. sallie, who enjoyed riding, anticipated
us much pleasure from the drive as from
anything connected with the picnic
We were nearly ready when neighbours
carriage passed, and Tom proposed that we
should move next, and he would follow,
since he could keep watch over us better if
we were in front of him
About half mile from home was a post
Office and one or two stores. 1t was favor
tie rendezvous for the young men of the neigh.
borhood and not forgetting this fact told
SaIlie to look her Qrettiest IS we-went nest