The record-union., 1891-05-08
SAMANTHA SIMS PICNICKING.
Written for the RECORD UNION by the Oak
Hollow Authoress.

Written for the RECORD UNION by the Oak
Hollow AuthoreSs.
Miss Samantha Sims was q little old
lady living in Oak Hollow, an out-of-
the-way place not far from the capital
city of the Golden West.
Miss Samantha owned modest bit of
land, two cows, a horse, and a great
many chickens, which were the pride of
her heart. BY the very greatest economy
she managed to pay taxes and her small
grocery bill, leaving margin to be sent
her invalid brother in the East.
This year, however, everything seemed
to go wrong. Butter did not bring as
good price as usual, eggs were scarce,
and withal she was obliged to deny her
self many small luXuries hitherto in
dulged in.
Now Miss Sims was as social body as
ever lived, and liked little gayety as
well as her younger sisters. But pleas
ures were few around Oak Hollow, and
consequently Miss Sims spent most of
her time at home in her little brown
house, with her poultry and pet cats (of
which. she had half DOZEN.
Talkative Alice Blodson had just
called to announce that there would be a
dozen miles from Oak Hollow. The
Blodsons were the village aristocracy,
and there was not party for miles
around at which pretty Alice was not in
vited, and as she talked about the new
dress and dainty hat she would have for
the coming picnic, Samantha Sims felt a
little bit OF loneliness creeping into her
heart. Why was it that nobody ever in
Vited her? Was it because people ceased
to be companionable when they grew old
and poor? 1t seemed so.
To this picnic, however, Samantha de-
termined to go; by herself, and in her
own way. She would get up early, feed
her chickens enough to last all day, put
out some milk for her cats, and go for a
genuine good time.
The next thought that came to Miss
Samantha was what she would wear.
This troubled her not little, tor money
being so scarce, she was often sadly per-
picked in regard to the supplying of her
wardrobe.
There was a superannuated white dress
worn TO parties in younger days, but that
would never do for an old lady of fifty
seven. Miss Sims had an idea OF the
fitness of things, not always having lived
in Oak Hollow.) Then her mind ran
over the few worsted dresses she pos
sessed; the one "made over' for the third
time; the one that was turned" two
winters ago; the shabby black. No, none
of these would do, she must have a new
dress; but how to get it, that was the
question.
New dresses were scarce luxuries to
most of the people living in Oak Hollow,
and the scarcest of all luXuries to Sa-
mantha Sims.
The money from butter and eggs must
buy groceries, and the supply was cut
down as low as possible now.
While she was turning over in her
mind this plan and that, bright little
Alice Blodson came in, all eager to know
if Miss Sims would bake the cake for the
Blodsons' lunch, for" continued that
young lady, mamma is such poor
hand, and [ will not bother with cook
ing. Miss Sims, you do make such
lovely cake"
Miss Sims cakes were indeed delicious,
and so it was agreed that she should do
the baking, receiving ample compensa-
ton from Mrs. Blodson.
Here, at last, was the chance of getting
the wished-tor dress, and under cover OF
night, when none of the inquisitive
neighbors might be buying, Samantha
wended her way to OakHollow Corners.
The storekeeper looked somewhat sur
prised when she made known her errand,
but he wisely refrained from remarks;
moreover, he agreed to wait two weeks
for his pay, knowing the little woman's
integrity.
1t was but simple dress pattern that
Samantha purchased, but under her deft
fingers 1t became gown that was really
artistic.
1t Wi look proper anyway" thought
Samantha, land that is more than some
fine gowns do"
This bit of dressmaking had to be car
rled on by stealth, for her going was to
be Kept secret from every one; so when
the neighbors would drop in for chat, as
they often did, they would see nothing
unusual going on.
May-Day dawned fair and beautiful.
The Blodsons upon the hill were astir be-
fore daylight, and by & o'clock light
carriage, drawn by handsome grays,
dashed out, bearing its load Of merry oc-
cupants.
Then another, and, another vehicle
passed, until all of Oak Hollow that
were supposed to be going had departed.
Miss Sims waited until the sound of
wheels had died away, then she hitched
the, old sorrel to the cart, packed in her
modest lunch, and drove carelessly away.
The mothers round about Oak Hollow,
WHO were too busy for pleasuring, Won
dered where old Miss Sims was going,
looking so smart in a brand-new gown,
but It did not occur to them that she
wouldbe going to picnic.
Not knowing the way, Samantha was
obliged to keep in view the line of yehi-
as they proceeded. The sun was so hot.
and there were so many gates to open,
poor Samantha was beginning To feel that
picnicking all by one'S self was not SO
pleasant after all.
Presently the level road, flanked by
green wheat fields, descended into a
wooded valley, and then crossed a turbid
creed. Bits of rural scenery appeared
here and there; a COOL shady nook: q
clump of mOss-covered live oaks; then
an old-fashioned gray stone house, porti-
coed and ylne-enwreathed, looking as il
itmight have been built in the fifties.
Those old waySlde inns We're so full OF
interest-where the teamsters stopped on
their way TO and from the mountains
How many tales of early struggles, sue
cesses and defeats their silent walls could
tell!
Just beyond this historic house one can
view the Mokelumne River flowing be-
tween verdant banks, and spanned by
graceful arches.
So green and beautiful appeared the
scene, while above the surrounding hills
rose church-spires and house tops.
Samantha concluded Alright that this
was the village of c., and she felt
greatly relieved that she had arrived in
safety. 1t seemed so like the days of her
youth, when she had gone "a-Maying''
IN just such place; she was not alone
then, but surrounded by merry compan-
ions.
Down steep, dusty road, into beau
tiful grove n stream of humanity was
pouring, and Samantha followed in line.
n sense of loneliness creeping over her,
that no faces seemed familiar
In secluded spot she tied the old sor-
rel, made safe her lunch, and began stroll
ing about to see folks.
There they were, big and little old and
young black and white. There is no
place like picnic tor studying the differ
ent types of humanity.
Beneath a shady oak tree sat or lounged