The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1890-06-19

uulque anu plIuTesque cave GnG MOCK
House." one day last week on a picnic
ing excursion, and as the scribe was
an humble member Of the party, he
can say that outside Of the bumps
and bruises received in exploring the
dark and rocky caVerns and narrow
passages Of the cave, a more enjoyable
holiday was never spent.
After arriving at the mouth OF the
cave, which is surrounded by beautiful
woods, the party concluded they would
take ramble. Charley thought per-
haps it would be etiquette to Carrie
one of the young ladies, but after seat
ing himself for a time in imagination
and soliloquizing, he silently Wofford
his hand, and thusly they ran from rock
to rock. George, not wishing to be be-
hind his elder brother in gallantry,
and hearing another young lady wish
ing for some one to assist her over the
hard places, as she sang out in clear
soprano voice, "Who shall it be2'
"'Dora' me-" echoed the rock on which
which George had placed his pedal ex-
tremeties. 'Signon'," said a voice
close by, and "Alice." Georges hands
were clasped by young lady on either
side, and up the hill, like Jack and
Gill, they wended they way.
After rambling till dinner time they
all assembled near the mouth Of the
cave and partook OF a bountiful re-
past, which was served from snowy
cloth spread on grassy mound. "'Tsn.
i-see' Mississippi?" squeaked voice
that seemed to emanate from Camp
bell near by. "No, but you can sit by
her if you won't make 30 much fuss
about it, and I'll Sue you il you look
at her too sweetly." "0h, sister, don't
be so arbitrary with him; he's young
yet, you know" said a voice close by,
and thus admonished, allfell on the
viands with such force that it seemed
as if Kansas cyclone had visited
them. The twelve baskets remained,
but there were no fragments to fill
them.
After dinner the party, which had
been increased by some new arrivals
from the city, assembled at the mouth
OF the cave to have a photo. taken.
This operation was at last successfully
performed by Miss Simon, although
several, including "Crum.ley," down to
rest, and one young gentleman said he
had no doubt it would be a"Fine"
picture, because he was in it, but the
"Milers" we're so thick there will un.
doubtedly be a blur on the "West"
side OF the picture. Phil. said he
wanted his picture Mildred" tint.
The party then started by twos to
explore the cave, but some, more timid
than the rest, dared not explore the
trough and perilous way" and re-
mained seated at the mouth. "Miss
"Lips-comb' in," said q voice as Tom
planked himself square in front of the
entrance into one OF the ante.cham-
bers and imagined that he swung the
door of some ancient castle back on
its hinges, and she came. Those who
had not preceded followed suit, and
soon all were in what is known as the
Singing ROOM" where, at the sug.
gestion of the writer, several selections
were sung with more noise than mel
ody. If John Howard Payne had
heard the manner in which Home,
Sweet Home" was sung, he would
have conclued that all the "Paynes"
taken in its composition were in vain.
Another photo was taken of the group
inside the cave by the aid of the flash
light, and then the parties again
sought the surface. One young gen.
tleman who had been to Florence all
day had just returned by telegram and
was awaiting and duly congratulated
on his safe return.
The party then retired to a house
near by and rented the front porch for
a short time. Several we're called on
to make speeches, but none responded,
and finally one OF the leading young
men was captured and taken to q
grindstone to sharpen up his intellect,
but the crank failed to turn, and thus
we were deprived Of hearing the orator
crate, for which one OF the party at
least was exceedingly thankful. This
being the last item on theprogram,
all wended their way homeward with
the unanimous thought, We will do so
again in the near future. =.
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