The boys and girls were delighted with the plan, and Flora and Frank invited all the children in the neighborhood to join the party.
They were to start at nine o’clock, or as soon as the dew was off the grass. The distance to the woods was about a mile, and the children said they would much rather walk, though Mr. Lee offered to carry them over in a large hay wagon.
There was one little girl who was too lame to walk this distance, and Frank said he would draw her in his little wagon. To divide the load, and add to the pleasure of all, he fastened a long rope to the pole of the wagon, and all the boys, about fifteen in number, were to take hold of the rope, just as men draw an engine.
At nine o’clock the happy party had collected in front of Mr. Lee’s house, each one having a little basket of provisions which were to furnish the noonday feast in the grove.
“Well, Josey, are you all ready?” asked Flora, very pleasantly, as the clock struck nine.
“Yes, I think I am. Let me see. Dear me, no; I left my gloves up stairs. Won’t you go up and get them for me, Flora?” replied Josephine.
“Is there any thing else you will want?” asked Flora, for she could not help thinking that her friend had made her run up and down stairs half a dozen times on similar occasions.
“No, I guess not, Flora.”
But no sooner had Flora returned with the gloves, than Josephine thought of something else. After a while, however, she got every thing, and the party started for the woods.
The boys led the procession, drawing the wagon after them. Frank and Edward had the pole, and they were very careful lest the little lame girl should be upset and hurt.