Family -- Juvenile fiction; Young women -- Juvenile fiction
Mr. Ford had provided the conveyances, and when all the girls had been
seated on the big side benches with parasols, lunch boxes and "happy
smiling faces," the ride itself constituted a thoroughly enjoyable
outing.
Sarah was there, between Dorothy and Tavia, and upon her arrival at the
school (the wagon had stopped for her as it came up) she received a
hearty welcome--an ovation, Tavia called it.
Her face was pale, and her manner nervous, but she whispered aside to
Dorothy that she was so happy, and that she could never have been happy
with the girls after the trouble if Dorothy had not "straightened every
thing out for her."
Miss Ellis, too, seemed very much pleased at the prospect of a happy
day--"after all," she thought, "her girls were well worth working for."
It was a beautiful day in June and the ride to the woods was perfumed
with that rare and wonderful incense--vapory sweetness of flowers
warmed by the soft sunshine of early summer.
Blossoms brushed the faces of our friends as the picnic wagons rumbled
on and many a wreath of "laurel" was pressed to the brow of fair
graduates as the maple leaves in the hands of willing weavers, were
made into crowns for the "grads."
A secret was plainly lurking in the eyes of Alice MacAllister. Dorothy
had remarked that girls, alone, would probably be lost in the great,
dark picnic place, for the pine trees grew so close there, the grounds
were often called "Twilight Grove"; but Alice only smiled broadly and
replied:
"You just wait--the woods may be enchanted."
"Splendid idea," declared Tavia, "I do need so much a little Brownie or
a goblin to help me with my housework. Fancy going home with a dear
little Jackanapes to carry my 'dinner pail'!" and at this suggestion
every one seemed to enjoy the grotesque idea that Tavia had outlined.
The grove was finally reached, and the happy picnic party lost no time
in leaving the wagons, and making for the "best spots."
But no sooner had they entered the great tall gateway than they were
set upon by a tribe of very lively goblins, for, from behind tree and
bush there darted upon the unsuspecting girls a rollicking, frolicking
band of boys--the boys' school having come to the grove to surprise the
girls, and help them enjoy the breaking up picnic.
"I told you we might find the woods enchanted," said Alice who, of
course had learned of the secret, as it was Mr. MacAllister who
provided the wagons for the boys as well as for the girls.
Such running about and such shouting! Some lads had hidden in the pines
and now as the girls ran through the grove, the "goblins" dropped down
upon their unsuspecting heads.
Tavia and Alice helped make things livelier by gathering up parasols
and lunch boxes that had been left in the wagons for safety. These they
gave to the boys, who lost no time in forming a brigade, parasols in
the air and boxes under arms, to the distress and dismay of the unlucky
owners.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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