ETHEL'S FIRST DAY IN CAMP
The girls slept soundly that night and in the morning were awakened by
the singing of the birds.
"Oh! how lovely it seems to be here," thought Ethel, as she leaned on
her elbow, "instead of being awakened by the toot of an automobile just
to lie quietly and harken to the birds." She looked around.
The other cots were occupied by her Cousin Kate, Patty Sands, and Edna
Whitely. Kate opened her eyes and sat up.
"Have you been awake long?" she asked sleepily.
"No, Kate, only a few moments. I've been listening to the birds. I
thought Aunt Susan's home was peaceful, but even there one could hear
the autos."
Kate arose, put on her slippers and wrapper, and sitting on the cot she
began to unfasten her long braids.
"It is the most restful place I've ever known," she replied. "But,
girls, we're late. Come Patty and Edna."
Patty Sands sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. Edna snuggled deeper into
the depth of her pillow.
"Edna, don't go to sleep. There's the bugle now," and the clear notes of
a bugle came floating into the tent.
"Oh!" said Edna sleepily, "that's Nora Casey blowing. I wish she'd stop;
she has the strongest lungs I ever knew."
This morning the breakfast was eaten with a relish. They had oatmeal and
cream, ham and eggs, creamed potatoes and coffee. Mollie Long had
surprised them with some corn bread that was, as Nora expressed it,
"some class."
Their cellar was beside a running brook near the tents. A little
waterfall trickled down the rocks with a cheerful sound. Beside the
stream was their refrigerator--a large deep hole that had been dug in
the ground, and into this, placed in a tightly covered tin bucket, they
put their butter, cream, eggs, and meat. It was as cold as ice. After
the pail had been lowered a clean board covered the opening, and on this
board they placed a large stone. But the farmer with whom Mr. Hollister
had made arrangement, brought up daily from his place fresh meat, milk,
and vegetables, and twice a week pot cheese and buttermilk; so the "Ohio
Camp Fires" were in clover. Nothing they ate was stale and everything
tasted delicious.
After breakfast was over, Ethel, Nora, and Mollie Long cleared the
table, washed the dishes, and tidied up the tent.