"Father Knew Best, It Seems."
By Pansy
"Oh, dear!" said Emma, and she looked disgusted. "I think as much," said Laura, and she pouted. It was all because in a lovely wood they had come miles to find, there was a great picnic party, filling the boats on the little river, filling the swings, using the croquet grounds, using all the nice, cosy sitting places under spreading trees, using the tables and benches, swarming everywhere. Now, the fact was that Emma and Laura wanted that grove for their picnic, and the people who were to attend it were mother and father, and baby Joe, and their two selves. It was quite an event to the Lawrence family; for father rarely had a day to spare. "Never mind," said the mother, trying to smile away the frown on her daughters' faces. "Our party is so small, we can find a pleasant place elsewhere." But the girls didn't believe it, and they spoiled two miles of that ride in fretting. They found a lovely old tree and smaller ones near it, and a stream of clear water trickling down from somewhere. "Oh, oh!" they both said. "Father, do please stop here! Mamma, only see what a lovely place!" "It would'nt be safe, girls. There is a heavy storm coming this way, I think. We must drive on and reach a place of shelter. It wouldn't be well for little Joe to get a wetting." Then you should have heard Emma and Laura, they grew so wise! They were sure it wasn't going to rain a drop to-day; and when their arguments failed to convince their father, and when he further said that they must try to reach the village, and eat at the hotel, the misery of these unhappy girls was great. "The idea," they said, "of waiting all summer to have a picnic, and then eating our dinner out of a basket in a miserable little country hotel! We are not going to do it." Then I regret to tell you they sulked and refused to do more than to glance stiffly at certain pretty sights which mother pointed out on the way. Arrived at the hotel, they wanted no dinner, not they; and they tossed their heads and looked injured. They would go for a walk; and it was by their father's command that they took an umbrella. However, it was just a dash of rain lasting just long enough to wet the girls. "If we had been under the big tree where we wanted to stop," they said, "there couldn't a drop have touched us." Much more of this kind they said; and when the horse was rested, they started homeward; father, sorry for his daughters' disappointment, remarked that if the woods were not too wet, they would stop awhile. "Too wet!" said Emma. "Why it hasn't rained twenty drops." "No, indeed," said Laura. But as they rode along, the way grew muddier and muddier, and it was evident that in this direction the shower had been heavy. At last they came again to the great old tree; but what do you think had happened? Why, the lightning had been there, and torn the branches, and uprooted part of the heavy trunk, and ruined the beautiful tree. "That would have been certain death to any one under its branches," said the father; while the girls looked at each other, and said not a word. That evening while they were making ready for the night, Emma said: "Father knew best, it seems." "Yes, indeed," said Laura. What a pity that they spoiled much of their day by not remembering that before!—Pansy.