THE PICNIC PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1935, Page 20

THE PICNIC PARTY

f (Written by "Tigress," 13, Karori.) ftfi/T UM," cned Ned, from his bedroom. *JVX "Yes« dear?" inquired Mrs. Davies. "May we .celebrate the Ring's birthday tomorrow?" . "I'll see," said Mrs. Davies v wearily. "Go to sleep now, Laddie." "What is it 'those rascals want now?" asked her husband with' a smile : "They want to celebrate the "Fairy Ring's birthday, and you know what that means." ' ■ ,v "Parties, Mends to stay the night, etc.," and Mr. Davies chuckled. "Why nO)t send them for a picnic? There's a very nice picnic place down in the furthest paddock by the river." "Allright," said Mrs.,Davies gladly. Mr, and Mrs. Davies owned a very large country farm, a farm that contained acres and acres of land, They also had a large family, three girls and - two boys. 4 Next morning, while the children were away either playing or reading in the fields, Mrs. Davies and Susan, the cook, baked the necessary things for a 'picnic tor five hungry children. Then, later on in the afternoon, Mrs. Davies brought out her sewing machine and sewed away for dear life. " Saturday morning dawned bright and fair. The sun shone down into t\fro rooms and awoke the occupants. Eagerly they dressed. "I wonder whether we are having a treat," whispered Pat to her twin sister Nellie. "Of course, when mother says Til see," we always get what we're asking for, broke in Trixio, a tall brown-haired girl of fourteen. ■* About ten o'clock in the morning Mrs., Davies called Trixie to her, and giving her a parcel she told her to distribute its contents among her brothers and sisters. -On opening it they found a set of clothes for each of them, corresponding with their pen-names. There" was a long grey robe, which changed colours in the light, for Trixie, "Queen of the Dawn," a cowboy outfit for Ned, "Banjo Bill," and elfin clothes for the twins, and an imitation crocodile's skin for Rob, "Charlie the Croc." "How lovely," they cried as they put them on. "I wonder if this is our treat," said Rob. ". "Part of it," said his mother, coming into the room in time to hear Rob's sentence. "You may have' a picnic down by the river if you hurry up and collect the hamper from cook. "Oh, thanks, Mum. You're a brick," they chorused, ,as Mrs. Davies disappeared out of the door. A few minutes later, five eager children rode off, each on his or her own horse. Sam, the farmhand, was bringing the hamper down later. Pat, Trixie, Nellie, Ned, and Rob were still clad in their new clothes, and a comical picture they made, too. It was nearly, eleven o'clock when they arrived. They 'spent half an hour punting in the river, but soon tired, as the day was very hot. / "Ah! here's dinner," cried Pat, as Sam hove in eight. ' "That's good," said the others, as they tied up the punt. "You and Ned collect sticks for the fire," said Trixie to Bob, "and you others come and help set the table for dinner." - "Table's right," laughed the twins. "Use you eyes," retorted Trixie. Sure enough there was a table, «hairs ajso. _ , • "Your father said he would be down'for those later, Master Ned," said Sam before he went, indicating the table-and chairs. A while later; a happy little party sat down to an enormous meal of sandwiches, cakes, rolls, lemonade,' fruit, and sweets. ' And last; but not least, a lovely iced cake having eight candles, and the following, inscription, "Many Happy Returns to the Fairy Ring." ■. "i After dinner, the .boys went fishing with the rods and lines, which they found in the hamper, while the girls read books, as it was too hot for anything else, especially after the large meal.' They were so absorbed in their occupations that ho one heard or saw Mr. Davies as he carried away the table, to return a few minutes later to take the chairs and place them on the horse and cart with the table. The rest of the afternoon was spent in either fishing, reading, or games. ■ It was a happy, tired band that returned home some hours later, singing a tune which they had composed while leaving the grounds.