Daisy and Nora, hand in hand, stood on the shore looking at
all that was done, and with eager eyes. The summer breeze just
played lightly and rippled the water, on which the morning sun
made a warm glow, early in the day as it was.
"What _could_ so many baskets be wanted for?" said Nora.
"Why, to carry all the things. You know there will be a great
many people to eat dinner at Silver Lake."
"Dinner?" said Nora; "do people eat dinner when they go to a
pic-nic?"
"Why, yes. What do you think they do?"
"I thought it was just a pie-nic."
"What is that?" said Daisy, curiously.
But just then there was a stir; the ladies and gentlemen were
getting into the boat, and the children had to be ready for
their turn. It came; and Mr. Randolph handed one after other
safe over the gunwale of the big sail-boat, and placed them
happily beside each other in the middle space, where they
could have an excellent time for talking. But they wanted no
talking at first.
When all were aboard and ready, the boat was cast loose from
the shore, and her sail trimmed to catch the soft northerly
air that came blowing down the river. Slowly the sail caught
the breeze — would it be strong enough to take her? the
children thought — slowly, very slowly, the boat edged its way
out from the shore — then the breeze filled the sail full,
took good hold, and began to push the little vessel with a
sensible motion out towards the river channel.
Pages:
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458