Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-08-07
Ihe SUNDAY SehooI Picnic.

ne SUNDAY 0CnOOi TlCniCs
IL is now the season OF the Sunday
school picnic, so pleasurably anticipated
by the children and accepted with sub
lime resignation by their elders as some
thing inevitable as the dog days in which
il usually occurs and to be endured with
an assumption at least of cheerful forth
tude.
An early day is selected-if it must come,
" by the sooner it's over the better, ana
several impatient youngsters have already
iutimated their intention of not further
| bonoring the school with their attendance
if picnic is not in immediate prospect.
The time fairly settled upon, the next
| important question for consideration is
the one Of place. The kids let il be known
\ at once that they are not going to be salts
fed with any ordinary location like Dea-
con Blacks woods, where they have Deen
hundred times before, and seem TO nave
| in mind personally conducted excursion
/ TO Saratoga Springs, the White Noun
tains. Bar Harbor, Prince Edward Island
| or Porto Rico. After considerable discus
sion and no little kicking on the part OF
the copper toed opposition, compromise
/ is reached and plans outlined for hot,
dusty ride of some miles to one OF the
many Silver lakes that dot the mapand are
| known In the vernacular OF the country
/ side as something- or other pond.
| Mothers and interested ladies in the
church suffering this annual attack Of
! picnic fever resolve themsel' es into com
! rnissary department and, buckling on
| their Eorols, devote themselves to the
construction OF chicken-pies, baked IN
six-quart pans, the building OF three-ply
I axes with layers OF palate-tlcAlng stun
between the stories, the manufacture OF
ielly tarts, caraway cookies, cream puffs,
whose contents gush out in luscious gobs
az goodness all over a boys chin when ne
bites into one Of them. and heaps OF other
tempting dainties that would make the
mouth Of a river water
When the great day arrives, the sun OF
course sneaks around behind threatening
clouds in a peculiarly aggravatlng man
ner. and the most reckless weather
prophet can't be induced TO venture an
opiniou on the outlook. Those who have
reached the years of discretion hesitate
about starting out. but the insistence OF
the children who simply know that i
isn't going to rain, the idea of wasting al
that food which the cooks have worked 6
hard 10 prepare and the desire 70 nave
this pleasure over and not become thIougl
postpopement a subject of future dread
AZ last prevail; colored strings are tlec
onto knives, forks and spoons Tor thell
identification, baskets are packed anc
loaded with the children INTO Big. loltlht
wagons, and the party sets forth LOT
merry outing. -.
Nv strenuous exertions and holding OF
tightly to little skirts and coat-talis
anxious relatives and teachers prevent IN
members Of the infant class from chm Dina
over the dasher and falling under tn
horses heels or tumbling over the SIDE
of the wagon and rolling under TN
After several OF these hairbreadth es'
capes. the school arrives intact az I'M
pond, and nervous, perspirlng parents an'
. Guardians hardly draw deep breath o
: relief before they have TO dash after az
venturous charges, who are setting iortl
+ in boats TO explore the lake and to hnd
most likely, watery graves. Like dls
} tracted hens with broods OF ducks the.
pace the sandy beach in panic OF trlght
I veil to Johnnie to stop rocking the ooal
F. implore Ruth to sit down, beg Jennie no
1 TO lean so far over the edge OF the cookie
sbeu TO dabble in the water ana wrlnl
! their hands IN impotent despair at IN
. scant attention paid to their hoarsel
shouted directions. ~
Finally dinner is announced and INK
i, chickens to the dough dish the ehlldrel
come running from all directions IN re
,, snonse 10 the welcome call. After Tn
: fashion Of mist before the sun, froste
> cakes and lemon pies disappear before IN
devouring horde Of youngsters, whose az
petites seem TO extend to their heels an
7 10 be of a razor-like sharpness all the way
I In the midst of this most interesting lea
I. ture of the picnic the long M ~
4 thunder storm bursts in all It's Jury
! Knives. forks and spoons are thrown int
baskets without regard TO the color {
= their strings and wild scramble Tor nom
= ensues. "
! fn.Enr Locale on newt nape.1