The Peterkin papers

by Lucretia P. Hale

  THE PETERKINS' PICNIC.

  THERE was some doubt about the weather. Solomon John looked at the"Probabilities;" there were to be "areas" of rain in the New EnglandStates.

  Agamemnon thought if they could only know where the areas of rain wereto be they might go to the others. Mr. Peterkin proposed walking roundthe house in a procession, to examine the sky. As they returned theymet Ann Maria Bromwick, who was to go, much surprised not to find themready.

  Mr. and Mrs. Peterkin were to go in the carryall, and take up the ladyfrom Philadelphia, and Ann Maria, with the rest, was to follow in awagon, and to stop for the daughters of the lady from Philadelphia. Thewagon arrived, and so Mr. Peterkin had the horse put into the carryall.

  A basket had been kept on the back piazza for some days, where anybodycould put anything that would be needed for the picnic as soon as it wasthought of.

  Agamemnon had already decided to take a thermometer; somebody was alwayscomplaining of being too hot or too cold at a picnic, and it would be agreat convenience to see if she really were so. He thought now he mighttake a barometer, as "Probabilities" was so uncertain. Then, if it wentdown in a threatening way, they could all come back.

  The little boys had tied their kites to the basket. They had never triedthem at home; it might be a good chance on the hills. Solomon Johnhad put in some fishing-poles; Elizabeth Eliza, a book of poetry. Mr.Peterkin did not like sitting on the ground, and proposed taking twochairs, one for himself and one for anybody else. The little boys wereperfectly happy; they jumped in and out of the wagon a dozen times, withnew india-rubber boots, bought for the occasion.

  Before they started, Mrs. Peterkin began to think she had already hadenough of the picnic, what with going and coming, and trying to rememberthings. So many mistakes were made. The things that were to go in thewagon were put in the carryall, and the things in the carryall had to betaken out for the wagon!

  Elizabeth Eliza forgot her water-proof, and had to go back for her veil,and Mr.

  Peterkin came near forgetting his umbrella.

  Mrs. Peterkin sat on the piazza and tried to think. She felt as if shemust have forgotten something; she knew she must. Why could not shethink of it now, before it was too late? It seems hard any day to thinkwhat to have for dinner, but how much easier now it would be to stay athome quietly and order the dinner,--and there was the butcher's cart! Butnow they must think of everything.

  At last she was put into the carryall, and Mr. Peterkin in front todrive.

  Twice they started, and twice they found something was left behind,--theloaf of fresh brown bread on the back piazza, and a basket of sandwicheson the front porch. And just as the wagon was leaving, the little boysshrieked, "The basket of things was left behind!"

  Everybody got out of the wagon. Agamemnon went back into the house, tosee if anything else were left. He looked into the closets; he shutthe front door, and was so busy that he forgot to get into the wagonhimself. It started off and went down the street without him!

  He was wondering what he should do if he were left behind (why had theynot thought to arrange a telegraph wire to the back wheel of thewagon, so that he might have sent a message in such a case!), when theBromwicks drove out of their yard in their buggy, and took him in.

  They joined the rest of the party at Tatham Corners, where they wereall to meet and consult where they were to go. Mrs. Peterkin called toAgamemnon, as soon as he appeared. She had been holding the barometerand the thermometer, and they waggled so that it troubled her. It washard keeping the thermometer out of the sun, which would make it sowarm. It really took away her pleasure, holding the things. Agamemnondecided to get into the carryall, on the seat with his father, and takethe barometer and thermometer.

  The consultation went on. Should they go to Cherry Swamp, or LonetownHill? You had the view if you went to Lonetown Hill, but maybe the driveto Cherry Swamp was prettier.

  Somebody suggested asking the lady from Philadelphia, as the picnic wasgot up for her.

  But where was she?

  "I declare," said Mr. Peterkin, "I forgot to stop for her!" The wholepicnic there, and no lady from Philadelphia!

  It seemed the horse had twitched his head in a threatening manner asthey passed the house, and Mr. Peterkin had forgotten to stop, and Mrs.Peterkin had been so busy managing the thermometers that she had notnoticed, and the wagon had followed on behind.

  Mrs. Peterkin was in despair. She knew they had forgotten something! Shedid not like to have Mr. Peterkin make a short turn, and it was gettinglate, and what would the lady from Philadelphia think of it, and hadthey not better give it all up?

  But everybody said "No!" and Mr. Peterkin said he could make a wide turnround the Lovejoy barn. So they made the turn, and took up the lady fromPhiladelphia, and the wagon followed behind and took up their daughters,for there was a driver in the wagon besides Solomon John.

  Ann Maria Bromwick said it was so late by this time, they might as wellstop and have the picnic on the Common! But the question was put again,Where should they go?

  The lady from Philadelphia decided for Strawberry Nook--it soundedinviting.

  There were no strawberries, and there was no nook, it was said, butthere was a good place to tie the horses.

  Mrs. Peterkin was feeling a little nervous, for she did not know whatthe lady from Philadelphia would think of their having forgotten her,and the more she tried to explain it, the worse it seemed to make it.She supposed they never did such things in Philadelphia; she knew theyhad invited all the world to a party, but she was sure she would neverwant to invite anybody again. There was no fun about it till it was allover. Such a mistake--to have a party for a person, and then go withouther; but she knew they would forget something! She wished they had notcalled it their picnic.

  There was another bother! Mr. Peterkin stopped. "Was anything broke?"exclaimed Mrs. Peterkin. "Was something forgotten?" asked the lady fromPhiladelphia.

  No! But Mr. Peterkin didn't know the way; and here he was leading allthe party, and a long row of carriages following.

  They stopped, and it seemed nobody knew the way to Strawberry Nook,unless it was the Gibbons boys, who were far behind. They were madeto drive up, and said that Strawberry Nook was in quite a differentdirection, but they could bring the party round to it through themeadows.

  The lady from Philadelphia thought they might stop anywhere, such apleasant day, but Mr. Peterkin said they were started for StrawberryNook, and had better keep on, So they kept on. It proved to be anexcellent place, where they could tie the horses to a fence. Mrs.Peterkin did not like their all heading different ways; it seemed as ifany of them might come at her, and tear up the fence, especially as thelittle boys had their kites flapping round. The Tremletts insisted uponthe whole party going up the hill; it was too damp below. So the Gibbonsboys, and the little boys and Agamemnon, and Solomon John, and allthe party had to carry everything up to the rocks. The large basket of"things" was very heavy.

  It had been difficult to lift it into the wagon, and it was harder totake it out. But with the help of the driver, and Mr. Peterkin, and oldMr. Bromwick, it was got up the hill.

  And at last all was arranged. Mr. Peterkin was seated in his chair. Theother was offered to the lady from Philadelphia, but she preferred thecarriage cushions; so did old Mr. Bromwick. And the table-cloth wasspread,--for they did bring a table-cloth,--and the baskets were opened,and the picnic really began.

  The pickles had tumbled into the butter, and the spoons had beenforgotten, and the Tremletts' basket had been left on their frontdoor-step. But nobody seemed to mind. Everybody was hungry, andeverything they ate seemed of the best. The little boys were perfectlyhappy, and ate of all the kinds of cake. Two of the Tremletts wouldstand while they were eating, because they were afraid of the ants andthe spiders that seemed to be crawling round. And Elizabeth Eliza had tokeep poking with a fern leaf to drive the insects out of the plates.The lady from Philadelphia was made comfortable with the cushions andshawls,
leaning against a rock. Mrs. Peterkin wondered if she forgot shehad been forgotten.

  John Osborne said it was time for conundrums, and asked: "Why is apastoral musical play better than the music we have here? Because one isa grasshopper, and the other is a grass-opera!"

  Elizabeth Eliza said she knew a conundrum, a very funny one, one of herfriends in Boston had told her. It was, "Why is--" It began, "Why issomething like--no, Why are they different?" It was something about anold woman, or else it was something about a young one. It was veryfunny, if she could only think what it was about, or whether it wasalike or different.

  The lady from Philadelphia was proposing they should guess ElizabethEliza's conundrum, first the question, and then the answer, when oneof the Tremletts came running down the hill, and declared she had justdiscovered a very threatening cloud, and she was sure it was going torain down directly.

  Everybody started up, though no cloud was to be seen.

  There was a great looking for umbrellas and water-proofs. Then itappeared that Elizabeth Eliza had left hers, after all, though she hadgone back for it twice.

  Mr. Peterkin knew he had not forgotten his umbrella, because he had putthe whole umbrella-stand into the wagon, and it had been brought up thehill, but it proved to hold only the family canes!

  There was a great cry for the "emergency basket," that had not beenopened yet.

  Mrs. Peterkin explained how for days the family had been putting intoit what might be needed, as soon as anything was thought of. Everybodystopped to see its contents. It was carefully covered with newspapers.First came out a backgammon-board. "That would be useful," said AnnMaria, "if we have to spend the afternoon in anybody's barn." Next, apair of andirons. "What were they for?" "In case of needing a firein the woods," explained Solomon John. Then came a volume of theEncyclopaedia. But it was the first volume, Agamemnon now regretted, andcontained only A and a part of B, and nothing about rain or showers.Next, a bag of pea-nuts, put in by the little boys, and ElizabethEliza's book of poetry, and a change of boots for Mr. Peterkin; a smallfoot-rug in case the ground should be damp; some paint-boxes of thelittle boys'; a box of fish-hooks for Solomon John; an ink-bottle,carefully done up in a great deal of newspaper, which was fortunate, asthe ink was oozing out; some old magazines, and a blacking-bottle;and at the bottom, a sun-dial. It was all very entertaining, and thereseemed to be something for every occasion but the present. OldMr. Bromwick did not wonder the basket was so heavy. It was all sointeresting that nobody but the Tremletts went down to the carriages.

  The sun was shining brighter than ever, and Ann Maria insisted onsetting up the sun-dial. Certainly there was no danger of a shower, andthey might as well go on with the picnic. But when Solomon John and AnnMaria had arranged the sun-dial, they asked everybody to look at theirwatches, so that they might see if it was right. And then came a greatexclamation at the hour: "It was time they were all going home!"

  The lady from Philadelphia had been wrapping her shawl about her, as shefelt the sun was low. But nobody had any idea it was so late! Well, theyhad left late, and went back a great many times, had stopped sometimesto consult, and had been long on the road, and it had taken a long timeto fetch up the things, so it was no wonder it was time to go away. Butit had been a delightful picnic, after all.