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HOW ETHEL HOLLISTER BECAME A CAMPFIRE GIRL
by
IRENE ELLIOTT BENSON
Chicago
M. A. Donohue & Company
* * * * * *
CANOE AND CAMPFIRE SERIES
Four Books of Woodcraft and Adventure in the Forest and on the Water
that every Boy Scout should have in his Library
By ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE
CANOEMATES IN CANADA; or, Three Boys Afloat on the Saskatchewan.
THE YOUNG FUR-TAKERS: or, Traps and Trails in the Wilderness.
THE HOUSE-BOAT BOYS; or, Drifting Down to the Sunny South.
CHUMS IN DIXIE; or, The Strange Cruise of a Motor Boat.
CAMP MATES IN MICHIGAN; or, With Pack and Paddle in the Pine Woods.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOYS; or, Camping in the Big Game Country.
In these four delightful volumes the author has drawn bountifully from
his thirty-five years experience as a true sportsman and lover of
nature, to reveal many of the secrets of the woods, such as all Boys
Scouts strive to know. And, besides, each book is replete with stirring
adventures among the four-footed denizens of the wilderness; so that a
feast of useful knowledge is served up, with just that class of stirring
incidents so eagerly welcomed by all boys with red blood in their veins.
For sale wherever books are sold, or sent prepaid for 50 cents each by
the publishers.
* * * * * *
Copyright, 1912, M. A. Donohue & Co.
CONTENTS
Chapter Page
I--A Fashionable Mother 7
II--Ethel Hollister 14
III--Grandmother Hollister 18
IV--A Pink Tea 23
V--An invitation to Aunt Susan 29
VI--Aunt Susan Arrives 41
VII--Aunt Susan Makes Friends 48
VIII--Ethel is Invited to Visit 51
IX--Ethel and Aunt Susan Start 55
X--The Journey 58
XI--The Next Day 62
XII--Ethel Learns to Cook 65
XIII--A Little Drive 68
XIV--Some Confidences 72
XV--A New Ethel 81
XVI--Aunt Susan's Trials 84
XVII--Cousin Kate Arrives 88
XVIII--Selecting the Costume 90
XIX--Ethel Meets Her Uncle and Aunt 97
XX--Gathering of the "Ohios" 103
XXI--The Trip up the River 109
XXII--An Evening in Camp 115
XXIII--The Legend of the Muskingum River 120
XXIV--Ethel's First Day in Camp 141
XXV--Ethel's First Lesson 144
XXVI--A Loss and a Dinner 147
XXVII--A Discovery 153
XXVIII--Mattie's Story 159
XXIX--Mattie Starts Afresh 167
XXX--Aunt Susan Comes 172
XXXI--Back To Aunt Susan's 175
* * * * * *
CAMPFIRE GIRLS SERIES
HOW ETHEL HOLLISTER BECAME A CAMPFIRE GIRL
ETHEL HOLLISTER'S SECOND SUMMER AS A CAMPFIRE GIRL
CAMPFIRE GIRLS MOUNTAINEERING
CAMPFIRE GIRL'S RURAL RETREAT
CAMPFIRE GIRLS IN THE FOREST
CAMPFIRE GIRL'S LAKE CAMP
List Price 75c Each
* * * * * *
HOW ETHEL HOLLISTER BECAME A CAMP FIRE GIRL
CHAPTER I
A FASHIONABLE MOTHER
"No indeed, Kate!" ejaculated Mrs. Hollister emphatically, "Ethel has no
time to join any Camp Fire Girls or Girl Scout Societies. She has her
home and school duties, while her leisure is fully occupied. At present
I know with whom she associates. As I understand it, these girls form
themselves into a Company with a Guardian or Leader. They wear certain
uniforms with emblems on the waists and sleeves, as well as a ring and
bands of beads on their heads, all of which savors of conspicuousness,
and it seems to me ridiculous."
"But, Aunt Bella," replied her niece, "think of what it makes of these
girls. It teaches them to take care of themselves. They very often
sleep out of doors for two months and get an honor for it."
"Yes, imagine a delicate girl like Ethel doing that," rejoined Mrs.
Hollister. "Why, she'd contract pneumonia or consumption right away."
"But if she were delicate she wouldn't be allowed to do so unless by the
advice of a physician. Then for one month she's obliged to give up sodas
and candies between meals."
"Yes, and isn't that silly? Why, any girl can do that without belonging
to a society."
"Well, they become healthy and strong; they play all kinds of out of
door athletic games; they swim, dive, undress in deep water, paddle or
row twenty miles in any five days; they learn to sail all kinds of boats
for fifty miles during the summer, ride horse back, bicycle, skate,
climb mountains, and even learn how to operate an automobile."
"There, Kate, stop; you make me nervous. Now what good is all such
exercise to a girl?"
"Why, it gives her the splendid health so necessary to every woman, and
oh! if only you'd read about it. You won't listen, but they learn how to
cook, how to market, to wash and iron, and keep house, how to take care
of babies,--and don't you see if a girl marries a poor man she can be a
help to him and not a hindrance? Then they have to be kind and
courteous, to look for and find the beauties of Nature until work
becomes a pleasure and they're happy, cheerful and trustworthy. They
give their services to others and learn something new all the time."
"My dear Kate," said her aunt, "nowadays a girl has all she can possibly
do to fit herself for her future position in society; that is, if her
family amounts to anything socially. Why should a girl learn to cook and
market unless she intends to marry a poor man, and I don't propose that
Ethel shall ever do that. And as for being so athletic, I don't approve
of that either. It's all right for a girl to ride. Ethel is a good
horsewoman; she learned from a splendid riding master. She plays
tennis, golf, and can swim; so you see she has nearly all the
requirements of Camp Fire Girls."
"Oh, Aunt Bella, she has hardly any. Why, look at the Boy Scout
movement--how marvellous it is and how it has grown. It has become an
institution, and in England when several Boy Scouts while camping out
were drowned, the Government (think of it) sent out a gunboat--sent it
up the Thames to bring their bodies back to London. Think of the
National recognition. Why, it's spreading so that every boy will become
a Scout before long. And the good that they do no one knows."
"Well, my dear," said the elder lady, "you are an enthusiast, and
naturally as you are a 'Captain' or 'Guardian,' as they call it, your
sympathies are all with the organization. But to me it's like marching
with the suffragettes. It belongs to the women who favor 'Woman's
Rights,' but not for a girl like Ethel."
"But you certainly approve of the 'Scout' movement, don't you? Why, boys
are joining from every rank of life."
"Ah! my dear," broke in Mrs. Hollister, "that's the great trouble. They
_are_ from every rank, and that's why I object. Had I a son I should not
care to have him become interested in it, and for a girl like Ethel to
rub shoulders with 'Tom, Dick and Harry,' it's simply not to be thought
of. No, when she marries I trust it will be to a man who can afford to
give her enough servants to do the work, a chauffeur to run her
automobile, and a captain to sail her yacht. I hope she'll have a
competent cook to bake her breads and prepare the soups, roasts, salads,
and make preserves. I should feel very badly if she had to wash and
iron, wipe her floors, or do any menial work. Were such a thing to
happen, I hope I shall not live to see it, that's all. No, kindly drop
the subject. Ethel is but sixteen. She'll have all she can do to finish
at Madame La Rue's by the time she's eighteen. You know how hard your
Uncle Archie works to obtain the money to pay for Ethel's education, and
how I manage to keep up appearances on so little. It's all for Ethel. It
means everything for her future. She must have the best associates, and
when she graduates go with the fashionable set. We are very poor and she
must marry well and have her own establishment. All of this Camp Girl
business would be of no earthly benefit to her. It's only a fad and I
believe not only that, but the 'Scout' movement will die a natural death
after a while. Young people must have some way to work off their
superfluous energy; these Societies help them to do so. Now remember,
Kate, you have a fairly well-to-do father and you need not worry over
your future. Not so poor Ethel. That I have to look out for. Please do
not refer to this subject again, especially before her. I mean it and
shall resent it if you do. I'm sure you'll respect my wishes in the
matter."
"Of course, I shall, Aunt Bella," replied Kate, "but were you to more
thoroughly understand this new movement I'm sure you'd view it
differently and change your mind. The Boy Scouts have done so much good,
and now this Camp Fire Girl is going to be such an improvement over the
ordinary girl. She's going to revolutionize young women and make of
them useful members of society--not frivolous butterflies--and it will
be carried into the poorer classes and teach girls who have never had a
chance, so that they may become good cooks and housekeepers and love
beautiful things. And their costume is so pretty and sensible. Oh! I
wish you could see it with my eyes."
"To me, my dear, it is very like the Salvation Army. They wear badges
and uniforms, and they too do much good, I am told. Yet I shouldn't care
to have my Ethel become a member of that organization. But
hush--remember your promise--not a word. Here she comes."