There was a great cry for the "emergency basket," that had not been
opened yet. Mrs. Peterkin explained how for days the family had been
putting into it what might be needed, as soon as anything was thought
of. Everybody stopped to see its contents. It was carefully covered
with newspapers. First came out a backgammon-board. "That would be
useful," said Ann Maria, "if we have to spend the afternoon in
anybody's barn." Next, a pair of andirons. "What were they for?" "In
case of needing a fire in the woods," explained Solomon John. Then
came a volume of the Encyclopaedia. But it was the first volume,
Agamemnon now regretted, and contained 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 Elizabeth Eliza's book of poetry, and a change of
boots for Mr. Peterkin; a small foot-rug in case the ground should be
damp; some paint-boxes of the little boys'; a box of fish-hooks for
Solomon John; an ink-bottle, carefully done up in a great deal of
newspaper, which was fortunate, as the ink was oozing out; some old
magazines, and a blacking-bottle; and at the bottom a sun-dial. It was
all very entertaining, and there seemed to be something for every
occasion but the present. Old Mr. Bromwick did not wonder the basket
was so heavy. It was all so interesting that nobody but the Tremletts
went down to the carriages.

[Illustration]

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

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

THE PETERKINS' CHARADES.

Ever since the picnic the Peterkins had been wanting to have
"something" at their house in the way of entertainment. The little
boys wanted to get up a "great Exposition," to show to the people