The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-27


tucking the cloth that covered them
tered.
He had on q winter suit of clothes and
was carrying half dozen life preservers
on one arm. Behind him came a boy
carrying rain coats, blankets, a medicine
chest, a half dozen umbrellas, and num-
orous mysterious looking packages.
Mrs. Thompkins, said the head Of
The house, impressiveIy, this is one pic
Aic at which there will be some one who
had brains enough to prepare properly
for emergencies. Picnics are always
Wretchedly disappointing affairs That
Is because the people who go to them con-
tent themselves with taking little slices
Of bread stuck around microscopic
pieces OF ham. angel food cake 16 lem
ons, and a fan, instead of taking along
things that are really essential.
Il propose to-day to demonstrate how
enc cau 90 to picnic and enjoy oneself
and make others have a good time. It
invariably rains at a picnic. Yet, how
many think TO provide themselves with
umbrellas and rain coats? 1t always
turns cold at a picnic; yet people go out
wearing the thinnest clothes they hap
pen to have. Children go boat riding
and fall ir to the water and are drowned
because no one had sense enough to
put life preservers on them.
Arrived 81 the picnic grounds Mr..
Thompkins called all the children
around him and informed them that no
one was to 90 boat riding without put
ting on a life preserver and carry an
umbrella, so there would be no danger
OF their either being sunstruck or
drowned. There was a wailing protest,
but Mr.. Thompkins stood firm, and so
the children put on the life preservers
and took their umbrellas The boys who
had to row the boats pointed out that
they could not row and hold umbrellas
over their heads at the same time. and so
another boy was appointed to sit be-
hind the one who rowed and hold the
umbrella. The boats had no sooner got
out into the stream than there was a COL
lison between two Of them. The oars
men could not see the other boats be-
cause of the umbrellas held over their
heads and the colliding boats promptly
keeled over. and with many whoops and
bowls the occupants went into the wa
ter
"Hurrah, hurrah!" shouted Mr..
ThompkinS, jumping up and down. "Ah.
my wonderful foresight They've all
got life preservers on. Get out the medi-
cine chest at once"
Mr. Thompkins was throwing OF his
coat and shoes. and az he did 50 shouted:
I will rescue them.
Then he Owed madly into the river.
His head and shoulders went out Of
sight. but his feet remained above water.
kicking violently. One Of the hack driv-
ers and Mrs. Thompkins grabbed the
heels and after violent tug succeeded
in pulling Mr.. Thomplins back on shore.
with piece of wood they dug mud out of
his eyes and ears and then excavated a
place for his mouth so that he could
talk.
Save the children" gasped Mr..
Thompkins- 81 dived into the mud"
why. the children are splashing wa
ter on each other and having a pleasant
time" said Mrs. Thompkins "The wa
ter is only about two feet deep. dont
think you need mind rescuing them
Mr.. Thompkins looked utterly crushed
and crawled down to the river and
washed the mud of his face and then re.
tired to his medicine chest, where he sal
waiting for the terrible accident that ht
knew was sure to come.
Suddenly there was a sharp report
and a small girl appeared, crying VIC
lently. Mr. Thompkins with a bound
threw open the medicine chest and
grabbed out an array of shining knives
court plaster. and bandages. He threw 3
book to Mrs. Thompkins and ordered
her to find the chapter on What To Dc
In Case Of GunshOt Wounds"
Don't cry. little girl" commanded
Mr.. Thompkins. Keep perfectly cool
We will take the bullet right out Now
where are you wounded?"
Il hain't wounded" said the small
girl. Tommy Hawkins is shooting of
flrecrackers an he won't let me shoe
any"
Mr.. Thompkins looked as though h,
. thought the small child had done hin
q personal injury. He sat down ant
Bulked while he waited for the day Il
turn cold or for a heavy rain to com
mence falling or somebody to get killed
or drowned. He was terribly downcast
but on the way home. when he was ex
pecting Mrs. Thompkins to make som,
sly dig at him for carrying lot of use
less traps to a picnic, he felt immenseI,
relieved and delighted when she said
''And I am so glad you took all the thing
you did to the picnic"
"Ah." said Mr.. Thompkins, sitting III
and smiling. 81 was afraid yol
woundn't think much Of my prudenc
and forethough."
20. indeed. do. replied Mrs. Thomp
kins. You see, when you are prepare
for emergencies and sit around lookin
for accidents to happen. why, nothing
ever happens. Mrs. Bright says sh
wants you to be sure to come to thei