The Picnic

We used to look forward for months to the arrival of the 24th of May; that was the big day for people from far and near. The big picnic day! Everyone with all their children came and enjoyed seeing each other. There was lunch served on a long table, under the trees; then after lunch nearly everyone went up the hill to the level ground and watched the foot and horse races. At one picnic Annie, my sister, Sadie Swartz, Eliza Boulding and I raced horses. Annie was a beautiful horsewoman. She had her own pony, Dick. I had Uncle Tom's old raw-boned horse. Sadie had her own little white pony. I don't know whose pony Eliza rode. Of course, Annie easily won. Sadie was so big and heavy on her little pony she couldn't make any headway. Eliza's saddle turned -- they all were side saddles -- and my horse was so rough to ride and was very ignorant; knew nothing about racing and the wind blew my dress and petticoats up over my knees, showing my white pants as I rode in last of all. All the women clicked their tongues when they saw my pants; the men laughed. I felt very embarrassed. When Eliza's saddle turned as she came in, she said, "Did you see my dexterity?" The men looked quite bashful. One old duffer said, "Was that what it was." Oh, those were the days.

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In the earlier days we used to picnic at Wascana -- not the lake -- but in the district. It was a beautiful spot, right near the Wascana River or Creek. On this occasion they would have the Mounted Police band out from the barracks to play for the day. What a thrill that was! And how our hearts used to go pit-a-pat when we saw the Mounted Police with their red coats, their dark blue trousers with the yellow stripes down the sides, their spurs clanking, clanking, clanking as they walked! Oh, My! Oh, my!

Then on the twelfth of July there was a yearly picnic at Carssdale, the home of old Uncle Eddie, or Ed Carss. Salmon sandwiches and mock lemon pie and layer cakes were the special luxuries at these affairs. There was one family's baking everyone fought shy of; that was the Nevills. Everyone thought they were not quite spotless in their cooking. One time we were at this picnic, our team broke loose from where they were tied and I guess went home; I do not remember. We had to send or have some one Stop at Lumsden and send a livery to take us home.

Mr. Carss was quite an interesting man. He had been with Uncle Tom and George in the Northwest Rebellion. Right here is as good a time to tell what he told me about their experiences in the Rebellion; not very much and not so much about while they were in the Rebellion, as what happened just before.

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