on the back piazza for some days, where anybody
could put anything that would be needed for the picnic as soon as it was
thought of.

Agamemnon had already decided to take a thermometer; somebody was always
complaining of being too hot or too cold at a picnic, and it would be a
great convenience to see if she really were so. He thought now he might
take a barometer, as "Probabilities" was so uncertain. Then, if it went
down in a threatening way, they could all come back.

The little boys had tied their kites to the basket. They had never tried
them at home; it might be a good chance on the hills. Solomon John
had put in some fishing-poles; Elizabeth Eliza, a book of poetry. Mr.
Peterkin did not like sitting on the ground, and proposed taking two
chairs, one for himself and one for anybody else. The little boys were
perfectly happy; they jumped in and out of the wagon a dozen times, with
new india-rubber boots, bought for the occasion.

Before they started, Mrs. Peterkin began to think she had already had
enough of the picnic, what with going and coming, and trying to remember
things. So many mistakes were made. The things that were to go in the
wagon were put in the carryall, and the things in the carryall had to be
taken out for the wagon!

Elizabeth Eliza forgot her water-proof, and had to go back for her veil,
and Mr.

Peterkin came near forgetting his umbrella.

Mrs. Peterkin sat on the piazza and tried to think. She felt as if she
must have forgotten something; she knew she must. Why could not she
think of it now, before it was too late? It seems hard any day to think
what to have for dinner, but how much easier now it would be to stay at
home quietly and order the dinner,--and there was the butcher's cart! But
now they must think of everything.

At last she was put into the carryall, and Mr. Peterkin in front to
drive.

Twice they started, and twice they found something was left behind,--the
loaf of fresh brown bread on the back piazza, and a basket of sandwiches
on the front porch. And just as the wagon was leaving, the little boys
shrieked, "The basket of things was left behind!"

Everybody got out of the wagon. Agamemnon went back into the house, to
see if anything else were left. He looked into the closets; he shut
the front door, and was so busy that he forgot to get into the wagon
himself. It started off and went down the street without him!

He was wondering what he should do if he were left beh