THE BASKET PICNIC by A. Smith

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 20, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 38.

THE BASKET PICNIC.

By A. Smith

MR. WILSON, by careful attention to the details of a thriving business, had acquired much wealth, and the social and scenic advantages and pleasures it could procure. Among many sources of pleasure there were none that seemed to fill so large a place in the estimation of his wife, at least, as that of a fine naphtha launch, in which the family, attended by servants, made many a cruise upon beautiful inland lakes and rivers, until every babbling, stony-bedded brook, cascade, or bubbling spring, shaded by balmy cedars and firs, were known and visited again and again.

But, at length, from constant familiarity, they became satiated with this source of pleasure, and began to give expressions of jealous feelings because the Browns owned a little larger and more finely-trimmed launch than their own.

Mrs. Wilson had had the advantages of an early Christian training by a pious mother, long now deceased; but she had seemingly, amidst wealth and pleasure, forgotten nearly all its principles, and had become, in nearly every respect, a woman of the world. But sometimes there would come an inspiration to her soul from the long ago, like the corruscations of an electric light, only, from disuse, to fade away again into oblivion.

One day, however, there came an inspiration of this kind, that would not be put down, "Even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto but to minister." It seemed as if an angel voice kept repeating it in her mind; and she thought: "Am I better than Jesus, that I should allow others to serve me, and minister to my pleasure, while I, who am so able to help others, should do next to nothing of the kind? But how can I minister to others? I'm sure I would like to if I knew how." Just then this text of Scripture, that she had learned when a child, came to her mind: "When thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind; and thou shalt be blessed; for they can not recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."

One day she said to Mr. Wilson, "Husband, can I have the launch to-morrow, to do as I please with her?"

"O, yes," said he laughingly, "only on condition that you don't sink, sell, or burn her! And, by the way, as a precautionary measure, I insist that John, our trusted engineer and pilot, shall not relinquish his care of the boat, altho you may be the captain in control of her movements."

The conditions being perfectly satisfactory, Mrs. Wilson sent out invitations to a ride in the launch.

First she invited the Widow Day and her four children, ranging in ages from five to twelve years. They had never taken a trip to a lake resort, even in a crowded, cheap excursion. The widow had known nothing but hard work and penury. The widow's boys thought this was the grand event of their lives. Nothing could be thought of, or talked about, but the proposed trip aboard the beautiful "Swan."

Next, Mr. Jennings, a lame man, aged and in feeble health, and cared for, not any too kindly, by relatives, was invited.

Mr. Baxter and family were also invited. Mrs. Baxter was just recovering from a long illness, and doubted her ability to endure the trip; but, encouraged by friends, she decided to undertake it.

Several others were invited, and, at first, Mrs. Wilson thought she would send her housemaid to look after the company; but then she thought again that Jesus did not do that way, but ministered to the needy Himself; and surely she was not as good or worthy as Jesus was.

So she decided to go with the company, "just to see how they would act." Not to make it seem too much of a charity excursion, she invited a young lady of a wealthy neighbor's family, to join them; and by her tact she inspired the belief that it was just an ordinary good neighborly feeling that prompted the "basket picnic."

Of course each family and person thought they would have to provide for themselves, which was poor enough for some of them. But Mrs. Wilson took aboard some big baskets, bulging with something, hidden by drapery that excited half-concealed speculation among the children.

Well, the start was at length made; and the boys said that the first stopping-place must be "Liverpool." But, on landing, Mary said it could not be Liverpool, for there was no river there. "Yes," said John, pointing to a little rill, "that's the M-e-r-e-y." "No," said Nellie, "that isn't the way it's spelled; it's M-e-r-e-e-y."

The next landing-place was to be "Calcutty."

"A funny Calcutta this," said Mary, "with a tangle of vines, and cedars, and just a spring of cold water." Then followed a discussion concerning the Indian metropolis, its people, and customs, and the celebrated river Ganges.

The next stopping-place was to be for dinner, and Will said, "That must be Chicago." All laughed at the sudden transition of the little vessel to the opposite side of the earth.

At length they landed at "Chicago," where they had a great rock for a table, densely shaded by cedars and vines, while a cascade of pure, sparkling water, near by, seemed to cool the balmy air.

The snow-white cloth was spread, and Mrs. Wilson's "mystery baskets," as the boys had secretly called them, were opened, and their contents spread upon the "table,"—the most delicious fruits and other viands, the boys thought, that they had ever seen.

Mrs. Jennings gave thanks to God, the bountiful Giver of the blessings they were enjoying, and especially prayed for the lady who had made the happiness of that day possible. Tears came to Mrs. Wilson's eyes, but they were those of awakening tenderness toward Jesus, and those for whom He had died. Mr. Jennings told them about the beautiful new earth, and drew attention to the beauties around them, that made them so happy, and told them that they were mementoes of the earth as it was in the beginning, and promises of what it will be by and by, when the burdens and sorrows of mortality will be lost in everlasting life.

On the return voyage a sudden storm arose, and the lake became very rough; but, while some were much excited, Mrs. Wilson, for the first time in her life, on such an occasion, was calm and happy; for she remembered Jesus in the ship, on storm-tossed Galilee, and felt, somehow, that He was with her in her danger; for did not an almost audible voice say to her, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these, ye did it unto Me"? She had found her Saviour.

Other wealthy people became interested in Mrs. Wilson's enterprise, and copied her example, and learned the lesson that the chief happiness of this life consisted in making others happy, and that no blessing was so satisfying and no prayer in their behalf so prevailing as those of the widow, the fatherless, and the poor, whom they befriended. A. SMITH. Grandville, Mich.