Marjorie's Busy Days
was over, the children were in their usual merry mood. Though an occasional glance out of the window
set her heart on the picnic in the woods. But she tried to make the best of it, rememb
half-hopeful brood. They all felt that something would be done to make up for
ndow in silence for a moment, then sud
d; "do any of you know the sto
hear her father tell stories sometimes, but it was a tame entertainment to take th
rd's eyes
he began; "sit down w
thers followed her example. Rosy Posy, hugging Boffin, scra
omet, Mahomet must needs go to the mountain. But to-day I propose to reverse the story, and since you four s
ront door, and, flying to the window, Marjorie saw some children getting out of it. Though bu
ter and shouting effectually banished the last trac
icnic?" said Marjorie t
eakfast,-and he said the picnic would be in the house inst
lped his sister off with her mackintosh. "I t
o was helping Dorothy Adams unwind an entan
ul, but in your close carriage, and wi
e threw her arms around her dear frien
Mr. Maynard says picnics
ample fireplace threw out a cheerful blaze and warmth. Mrs. Maynard's pleasant face smiled brightly, as she welcomed each little guest, an
to say, 'What a pity it rained!' or anything like that. Indeed, you are not to look out at th
"I agree. And I think a picnic in
rd, "and now the picnic will begin. The
the house is 'most too much! I don't see any
gather them after they have fallen. Now nuts have fallen all over this house, in every room, and all
in, bringing seven pretty baskets of fancy wicker-ware. One
" called back Marjor
tchen. You must not go out there to both
Marjorie went on, only pau
d of nuts
here was such a strong wind last nigh
eks of surprise and delight from the whole
elnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, hickory nuts, black wa
els and brackets, under rugs and footstools, on window sills, on the floor, on the chandeliers, they s
me nut, and two bumped heads would ensue,
rom the highest places, leaving the low
the lace curtains or portières, as she toddled abou
horoughly ransacked, and the nutting-part
uch in this room?" said Mr. Maynard, gravely,
e big cocoanuts, and Mr. Maynard
s, and the children were directed to empty their baskets of nuts on the table, taking care that
ach one was given a tiny pair of candy tongs
he same as Jackstraws. Each, in turn, must take nuts from the heap with the tongs. If you j
y Jackstraws, so they understood a
r. Maynard, with a nod of approval at the boy, agreed to this plan. So Rosy Posy, her fat li
Kitty, she took her turn next, and then a
nip with the tongs, but the big English walnuts, or queer-shaped Madeira nuts were very diff
sy ran away from the game, a
ught you'd get them all, but you're
hagrin at his small heap of nuts, "my
" said Marjor
her father. "Kitty's slim littl
hand that counts," sa
al nuts that were daintily balanced on the other nuts
d off four nuts, one after the other. But his last one sent several
ly cleared, and the nuts were again all in the seven baskets. "In fact there's a p
Marjorie. "What
ttle," said her
adly took a prize. A glass of milk went with each of these nuts
ny day in the year, but just now we're having a picn
ied Marjorie. "
father. "Bring them
ing. "I don't want any
h," said his father, "it'
on which were three nutcrackers, some
, and the boy promptly took the biggest
ay, and they all enjoyed cracking and picking out the nuts, though what they were doing it for nobody knew. But with so many at it, it was soon over, and the
uts yet," said Dick. "They're
ll you what we'll do. We'll take them to the di
nuts, or a cocoanut, and a
sheets of white paper were piles of sifted sugar. Large empty bowls there were, and big sp
orie. "It's too early for lunc
Nuttall, or Know-it-all; and I'm going to teach you children what I
came so emphatically that Mr. Maynar
e candy that shall be just
ther!" and "Ah!" came loudly from six young throats,
d all, and then Nurse Nannie appeared, and marched them off,