Marjorie's Busy Days

hey were all

isted on absolute system and method, and eve

ndy-making," he said, "is neatn

othy, "I didn't know you

And now, if you four girls will each squeeze t

ons exactly, and soon each was carefully breaking an egg,

s, and it was largely owing to her thoughtfulness that oranges and

chocolate; they cut up figs and seeded dates; they chopped nuts and raisins; and they re

maller girls pressed between two nut kernels, or into a split date; and others were to be made into chocolate creams. This last was a thrilling process, for it was not

gat, which was cut into cubes, an

s the girls, and all, except Rosy Posy, worke

f any sort and at any time they chose, but they

t the shining rows of goodies on plate

candies are all done, I suggest that you all scamper away to some place where soap and wa

urprise. "It can't be! Why, we'v

the first time that whole morning t

I'm glad of it. We're having more fu

l the others, as th

themselves in the lower hall. Curls had been brushed, hair-ribbons

ried Mr. Maynard, as he led

shriek of delight, and turned

Dutch! What a lovely picnic! It's a milli

day like this,"

lamations of joy, and ind

almost been turned

muslin curtains that had once been use

s that belonged in other parts of the house, and these

sofas or tables. Some leaves were green and some had alrea

n, the children found some big logs of wood, like t

room all the time the children were making candy, and even now they wer

n artificial rock, but it answered its purpose. Real stones, twigs, leaves, and even clumps of moss were all about on the green floor clo

s, a little awed at the transformation

ince they couldn't go to the picnic the p

orner, and plumped herself down upon it,

s came in carrying b

d Rosy Posy, to whom a picnic

as went away, and none of the servants remained but Nurse Nannie, who would have

must wait on ourselves, you know; and

the baskets, and soon had their co

ht as went up at sig

eed it

boys mended the fire in the big fireplace, and put potatoes in to roast. Mrs. Maynard had thoughtfully selected small potatoes, and so they were soon

e made. Mr. Maynard and Dick Fulton squeezed the lemons, w

itchen, but he returned with a pail of "cold spring water,"

o include everything that ha

iches, lemon tarts, all were there

course, that they wer

ooking upward, as he sat on a log, with a sandwic

e and gold, it required some imagination to fo

rd; "it's a beeyootiful day. But I see a sl

aynard; "the country is dr

dily, this was very funny, a

ing we

my eyes. I wish I had a pair of

Gladys. "I'm sorry

at the picnic this aftern

r. Maynard, "but there isn't a bre

e them all laugh again, and Gladys said to Marjo

rt of the luncheon was over, an

spoon, just as they always did at picnics. The heaps of pink and white delight, on fresh pasteboard plates, were passed around, a

in, but, strange to say, nobod

t they had gathered nuts in, brought back, and each chi

picnic was over, when they wer

needn't do the cleaning away, as that couldn't be done

. Maynard seated his whole party on the big

stened breathlessly to the tales which were told in a truly dramatic fashion. But after a

ter your hearty luncheon," he said, "but now

estion, for Still Pond in the ho

Blindman's Buff, only the ones

in the middle of the floor and counted ten very slowly. While she did this, the others place

rie, at last. "Sti

t quiet; any one moving afte

augh as she narrowly escaped touching Kingdon's head above the back of the sofa, and almost caught Kitty's foot as it swung from a

the case, it soon merged into Blindman's Buff. This was even more rom

bled curls. "You look just like a lot of healthy, happy boys and girls should look

omans and sofa cushions if they preferred, and th

m the game of the Popular Picnic. He began by telling them

aid, "To-day I have been

k, "To-day I have been

e, and Marjorie to Gladys, a

ay I have been to the Popular Picnic.

to the lingo Mr. Maynard added, "Kic

, was not so easy, bu

dainty, do-little

gh, but they said

dangerous, Deadwo

this time, but not one of

s, giggling Gla

they were a determined lot, and each time round each one rep

ut when the list wound up with "Rollicking Rufflecumtu

funny phrases, and often calle

he chauffeur, and when chauffeur is mentioned, you must make a 'chuff-chuff' sound like starting the machine. Dick, you're the tire, and when tire is said, you m

ther?" said im

st cry, 'Whiz! Zip!! Whizz!!!' Gladys, you're the dust. All you have to do is to fly about and wave your arms and h

oful, me an' Boffin;

must do your part. Then if I say automobile, you must all do your parts at once. Ready

ick startled them all, a

from Marjorie], and as I looked back through the dust [great cloud

itty were so realistic that Mr. M

ded my

d Rosy Posy, after bei

ation of a starting motor quite drowned the speaker's vo

numbers she had been told. But nobody minded it, for just t

was run over groaned fearfully, and tires burst one after another, and the horn toot

, and so quickly had it flown that nobod

t was still dull and wet, so the raincoats were donned again, and, with their beautiful baskets of candies wrapped in pr

they drove away. "Good-bye,

s clinging to her father's arm. "It's been the v

rd, striking a dramatic attitude. "Only this mo

head, wisely. "I know it. But you made it possible, you beautiful, dear,

hall choose a picnic in

I can tell you it's no joke to get up this kind of a picnic. Why, I was telephon

hand in both her own, "you are so good to u

said all