drinking,
   Than puzzle o'er book and o'er slate.

O if it were Pic-nic to-day, my dear mother,
   How happy and gay I should be!
How joyful without any studies to pother,
   Away in the woods to roam free.

I'm sorry 'tis over; how great was my pleasure
   The whole of that beautiful day;
I jumped, and I danced, and I sung without measure,
   But ah! it so soon passed away.

How well I remember the time of our starting!
   How quick the large cars we did fill!
How screamed the shrill whistle, the signal for parting!
   How we flew by town, river, and hill!

We reached the sweet grove which in stillness was waiting,
   Its numerous guests to receive;
We rested one moment, while we were debating
   What wonder we first should achieve.

"Let us make some green wreaths! let us gather wild flowers!"
   Said some; and they bounded away.
"Let us fill up with music and dancing the hours!"
   Said others, more lively and gay.

And soon every part of the wild wood was ringing
   With sounds full of mirth and of glee;
Some dizzily high in the free air were swinging,
   While others climbed up the tall tree.

When called from our sports, to our dinner we hasted,
   And sat on the green grassy ground;
How keenly we relished each morsel we tasted,
   While fanned by the soft air around.

Then came a loud summons, the signal for choosing
   Our Queen by the mystical ring;
We crowned her with flowers; nor feared her abusing
   The honors her station might bring.

We sang some sweet school-songs, and then our loved pastor,
   With other dear friends who were there,
Told us kindly of Jesus, the Savior and Master;
   Of God, and his fatherly care;

Who planted the trees that were waving around us,
   And the wild flowers growing below;
Who all our life long with rich blessings had crowned us,
   And watched us where'er we might go.

Then, mother, I heard all around me a whisp'ring,
   And soon I found out what it meant;
When to hallow our Pic-nic, the sweet rite of christ'ning
   Its soft, holy influence lent.

Forth from the glad circle, their sweet infants bringing,
   Came parents, with mild, thoughtful mien;
What deep, tender thoughts in all bosoms were springing!
   How solemn, how sacred the scene.

And I could not keep back the hot tears, my dear mother,
   Which came thick and fast to my eyes;
For those babes made me think of my own darling brother,
   Now gone to his home in the skies.

When this service was over, my playmates came round
   And drew me away to the wood;
No longer light-hearted and merry they found me,
   For thoughtful and sad was my mood.

So on the soft turf I sat silently thinking,
   Of days when dear brother was by;
While slowly and surely the bright sun was sinking,
   Far down in the clear western sky.

Ring, ring, went the bell; and then, O, what a hustling!
   All knew 'twas the signal to part;
What searching for bonnets and boxes! what bustling!
   All hurrying, eager to start.

We left ere the shadows of evening were dimming
   The broad fields and woods all around;
And with our swift steam-horse, again we went skimming
   Through village, and meadow, and town.

We soon reached the city, and after the saying
   Of cheerful "Good night," to our friends,
We sought our own home without further delaying,
   And the rest night to weariness sends.

'Twas a blest, happy day; and oft in my dreaming
   That cool, shady grove do I see,
With its bright little spots where the sunlight lay gleaming,
   And all that was pleasant to me.

And much do I hope, when again, my dear mother,
   The summer shall come with its flowers,
Our teachers will kindly allow us another
   Such Pic-nic, mid Nature's green bowers.