Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-17
Mary L;tt1eton' s
Picnic

little daughter Mary a picnic party IL
the woods. Mary had invited doze1
of her young friends to be of the par
ty, and they were all impatiently
waiting for fine day for their triI
into the country.
One bright morning-it was Satur
day, and. of course, there was nc
school-Mrs. Littleton called to Mary
very early: Come, dearie, jump ul
and get dressed in your plaid ging
ham. Well go on our picnic excur.
sion today. The weather Is simply
splendid. Sky clear, with white
clouds dotting it like so many feath.
ers.'
Mary leaped from bed. ran to take
her bath, laughing as she went "Will
you call to the others over the phone
mamma?' she called, as she splashed
the water in the tub.
Eyes dear, have your list of
names and am about to begin ring
ing each little picnicker up to say
that this is to be our June day in the
Woods" replied Mrs. Littleton.
And very shortly Mrs. Littleton had
communicated by phone with each
of the twelve invited guests and each
little one had cried out eagerly: "Oh,
thank you, Mrs. Littleton. shall
be ready on Unexpectedly. And
some had declared their intention of
providing luncheon, although Mrs.
Littleton had assured them that it
would not be necessary, as she had
plenty of good p ionic things to eat,
and would have three large baskets
full of them.
At exactly ten o'clock the crowd of
little ones assembled at Mary Little
toms home, which was pretty two
story white frame house Nesting in q
great green spreading lawn. The town
in which they lived was small and did
not afford city park So when peo-
pie wished to go for q picnic. they
were obliged to go in wagonettes or
their own private carriages and auto
mobiles to the woods two miles dis
tant from town. There, kept fresh
and luxuriant through the waters of a
great round pond, lay beautiful
grove covering hundred acros OF
land, and through 1t ran fine road
and also a pretty little creek flowed
through the woods, emptying itself
into the pond.
Mrs. Littleton had engaged two
wagonettes for the day, and com
petent driver for each. The wagon
cites were covered over the top, but
not at the sides, and little flags
adorned the upright poles which held
the top-cover. The children scram
bled into the wagons, being divided
into two equal parties. Mrs. Little
ton sat in the front wagon and Mary
in the second. In that way each crowd
had a hostess. And Mrs. Littleton
acted as chaperon for the entire crowd
Of youngsters.
Tie ride was a right merry one
the children singing gaily as they rode
along. Mrs. Littleton was as happy
as any little one in her charge, and
assisted in the singing, starting the
songs herself.
The picnic grounds were reached
in good time, and the wagonettes were
unloaded of their children and bas'
kets. Two hammocks and two swings
had olso been brought along, and the
wagonette drivers put them up for
Mrs. Littleton. Then the drivers
jumped into their wagons again and
having promised to return to the
grove for the gay crowd of happy
youngsters at four o'clock In the after.
non, they cracked their whips and
drove off towards town.
Then the real pleasures OF the day
began. Some Of the little ones hunted
flowers along the banks of the pond ;
others sat beneath the trees. telling
stories and watching the birds busy in
the branches over their heads; others
swung in the hammocks and swings
singing gaily Butterflies fitted hither
and thither, and queer little insects
at home in the grass-crept up to
take peep at the huge creatures who
had intruded on their domain and
were so noisy about It. All nature
seemed to be enjoying the fine June
day.
Towards noon, however, Mrs. Little.
ton suddenly looked at the sky with
some apprehension. well, my dears, y
she said, to those nearest to her, II do
believe thunder storm is preparing
to drive us home before we are ready
to go. Just see that pile of black
clouds yonder." And Mrs. Littleton
indicated a bank of rolling black
clouds which were covering half OF
the sky already. They had gathered