Nelson Family Juvenilia Collection
Box 1 folder 55

The Young Sailor or Deer Lake
Chap 3. The Battle Ended. A Picnic

Ethan saw this and came up a little closer his enemies saw that and was afraid that he would get into the fort away from them so they made a bold dash for a Lake Ethan saw them coming saw them start so he whirled his boat around and head for the open lake he went only far enough though to be out of range of the stones the boys when they was he had got out of range hurried back into the shelter of the woods for several of them had got brushed by stones and sticks Ethan again came up this time the boys only tried to throw stones to where he was those in the fort when they was him coming up the second time unfastened the door next to the lake and opened it a little

Ethan came up till his boat touched shore then he jumped out and ran up to the fort The Berryville boys began to think it was all up with them when Ethan got in but they made a few more attempts to get the advantage of them some way but it was of no use for their enimies had a fort [new page] if it hadn’t been for the fort that the Deer Lake boys would probably have been driven. It could be plainly seen that the Berryville boys were getting the whorst of it up goes their flag of truce” sang out one of the boys the rest all looked and sure enough they had a white hankerchief up so Ethan and his party put up one in [illegible] and soon had the satisfaction of seeing the Berryville boys leave for home

They then went home and were praised for their bravery in beating the Berryville school. The Deerlake boys had planned that if they beat the Berryville school they would have a picnic [square space left blank in the middle of the story, evidently for an undrawn illustration] and now that they had won the picnic was put for the next Tuesday and soon it came one of the pleasantest days that they had that summer and away the children went boys and girls all off to the woods too a frolic and picnic each one had a small basket in which was packed all [new page] the goodies from their mothers pantry.

The place to which they went was a small open space in the midst of an oak and maple woods, in this place the boys had put up some rough seats and a table the day before, all the lunch baskets were put on the table then the boys and girls went around in the woods after flowers and played tag and other games in the clearing. “Lets make some wreaths out of these pretty oak leaves and then crown a king and queen from our party” said one of the girls. All were willing [blank square on right side of page evidently for another undrawn illustration] and soon long wreaths were made then came to the choosing the king and queen. All those in the woods were called in, and Ethan was nominated as the king and everyone voted for him. Then [new page] Jessie Thornwood was chosen queen.