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,