that afternoon, "If you select a spot high and dry on top of a knoll or
hill where the sides carry water down away from your tent, you will not
need to trench the circle to draw off rain from the ground where your
tent stands. It is a natural water-shed."
"Ah, I see Elizabeth is a more experienced camper than I am, and I admit
that she is better informed than I in this case," said the Guide,
bowing.
"Another good plan, Miss Miller, is to select a place where the sun can
shine in in the morning and dry out dampness from the cots and inside of
the tent. In case you can't find a place with a natural water-shed in
the ground, then a trench must be dug about a foot wide and nine inches
deep, according to the size of your tent. I am figuring on this size
tent. This trench should be led away from the doorway just as a leader
on a roof carries the water from the building. Also dig a canal for some
distance away from the tent to keep the water from backing up when there
are sudden heavy showers. Otherwise, your place will be flooded from the
over-flow of the trench."
"Fine! Tell us some more, Elizabeth," said the Guide.
"Well, mother has experimented and found that in tents made of such thin
stuff as you have here, or with duck or ticking, it is advisable to
water-proof it before using in camp."
"That was the second point I wanted the girls to find out and add to the
rules," said Miss Miller, glad to hear the visitor was so well-versed in
this work. "Oh, have Betsy tell us how to do it!" cried several girls.
"I have heard but forgotten. Now I'll get mother to write down the rules
and bring it to you another time," said Elizabeth, sorry she could not
oblige the Woodcrafters.
"And if anyone here wishes to know the secret before our next meeting,
let her read Edward Stewart White's 'Forest,' or Seton's 'Woodcraft
Book,' or the 'Boy Scout Manual,'," added the Guide.
"They also explain how to make tepees, Miss Miller," said Elizabeth.
"Yes, and a tepee is simpler to make than a tent, but this style tent is
much roomier and so serviceable."
That meeting adjourned very promptly as the girls were not as eager to
remain late sewing on heavy material as they were when there was dancing
or singing.
But the tents were completed in time, and very proud the Woodcrafters
felt of the great achievement.
During January, Miss Miller took them to many out-of-town points of
interest. Almost every Saturday was spent somewhere where the girls
learned many new historical facts, or were able to place incidents heard
of in connection with the place visited.
Thus, they visited Edgar Allan Poe's cottage and the old Revolutionary
Mansions left in certain localities of New York.
They took the Hudson Tube to Fulton Street, thence the Broadway subway
to 2O7th Street. Here they took a cross-town car to Fordham Road and
walked north along the Concourse to Poe Park. The cottage where Poe
lived and wrote many of his famous poems is standing here, and directly
opposite the cottage is a bust of Poe, erected on the centenary of his
birth, January 19th, 1909.
Another trip that cost very little and was most interesting was a visit
to Governor's Island. The boat left the Battery, and on the Island they
visited the Military Museum, the Military Prison, the Abandoned Fort,
and the Aviation Station. An aeroplane rose and practised even while the
Tribe watched it from the Field.
Another Saturday, the Guide started them early in the morning and they
visited Sing Sing, watching the men at work at their trades and seeing
the wonderful law and discipline maintained there. On the way back from
Ossining, they trolleyed to Dobbs' Ferry and visited the old Washington
Headquarters there. It has been purchased and restored to its original
interesting state by a loyal American Patriot, who discovered in time
that a brewery was negotiating to purchase the estate and turn it into a
road-house. Thanks to the generous Patriot, such a desecration was
spared the Nation!
One of the outings included visits to historical places in Brooklyn, and
the girls were surprised to find many relics of the Revolutionary period
still in good order in various sections of this city.
Beginning with February, Mrs. Remington expressed a wish to visit a
Council at the Gymnasium and suggest some work to the girls. They
immediately replied with an enthusiastic invitation for her to visit
them Friday evening.
After preliminaries were disposed of, Mrs. Remington addressed the
Tribe.
"Now that you girls have your two Bands in good standing and have a
Charter from the League authorising you to be established as Wako Tribe,
your next step should be to organise a Little Lodge.
"It behooves a first-class Tribe in good standing to start and supervise
a Little Lodge as soon as is reasonable. These little ones can range in
age from three to twelve, and are called 'Brownies.' They usually are
the sisters and brothers or friends of the Big Lodge members. Thus the
little children are early taught to be good citizens--as Woodcraft
teaches everyone that.
"With the affectionate help from older girls, and the association with
and experience from Big Lodges, these Brownies soon acquire an aptness
for the things taught their elders. My own little ones, Billy, Edith,
and Teddy, have acquired all they know to-day from watching us at home,
or mimicking the Woodcraft things they see accomplished by my Tribe, or
the Black Bears.
"I have been thinking that my three children, who are not yet twelve,
can join your Little Lodge and be of great help to you in successfully
founding a Brownie Band of your Tribe. I asked them what they thought of
it, and they are delighted with the prospect."
The Woodcraft girls heartily applauded this idea and Miss Miller thought
it a splendid suggestion. She saw the great possibilities it would offer
the girls to train themselves in patience, sacrifice, and many other
qualities that make for good womanhood.
In an aside to Mrs. Remington she whispered: "Nothing like the
responsibility of children to bring out dormant strength of character in
a girl!"
"Exactly! That is why this plan was adopted for Big Lodge Girls."
"We have been discussing this novel plan and we all wish to ask some
questions," now announced the Chief.
"The meeting is open for questions," said the Guide.
"Can my brother Paul join?" asked Hilda.
"Sure--we'll soon teach him to quit his peevish ways," replied Zan,
frank but thoughtless in her answer.
Hilda instantly closed her lips tight and looked highly insulted. "The
idea of Zan Baker speaking like that of our little Paul!" said she to
Nita.
"'Little Paul' is almost as old as Billy Remington, but see the awful
difference," retorted Nita, for she disliked the selfish, whining boy as
heartily as Zan did.
Hilda turned away but felt ill-treated by her friends. Then Jane Hubert
said:
"Maybe my little cousin Dot Hubert will join! Goodness knows she needs
this training almost as much as Paul does."
Some of the girls giggled, for they had noticed Hilda's offended manner,
but Miss Miller quickly added:
"With the three little Remingtons, that will make five. We are
progressing splendidly, girls."
"And I believe I can interest my sister in this Lodge so that Betty and
Tammy Fullerton will be allowed to join the Band," ventured Mrs.
Remington.
"How old are they?" eagerly asked the girls.
"Tammy is only a little past three years, and Betty is about seven. Our
Teddy is four, Dot Hubert is eight, Edith is nine, Paul is almost
eleven, and Billy past eleven, so you see you have a fine range of ages
to experiment with."
"Oh, I'm crazy to see them all together and try to have them to do some
Woodcraft stunts!" cried Zan, clasping her hands in delight.
"Let's hope your enthusiasm keeps up!" grumbled Eleanor, who had not
favoured the new departure very much.
The next week the Brownies all attended the weekly meeting and the
ceremony of enrolling them as a Little Lodge took place. But as this is
all told in detail in the story called "Little Woodcrafters' Book," in
which the cares and troubles of the self-appointed Woodcraft mothers
fill more than 350 pages and are illustrated by numerous pictures, we
will omit repeating it in this volume.
With the advent of the Brownies and the conversion of seven active
little bundles of mischief into becoming normal, ambitious,
_coup_-winning Woodcrafters, the time flew by as if on wings. Every
spare moment found from regular studies and Woodcraft work was filled in
by attending to a Brownie need.
Thus February, March, and April came and passed like a mist before the
rising sun, and the month of May was ushered in and found the five
original girls of Wako Tribe so completely absorbed with the progress
the Brownies were making that the other members were ignored and left to
work as best they could with the help they could find in the Manual or
from Miss Miller.
The Guide saw the unexpected schism created in the ranks of the Tribe,
but she had to use utmost wisdom in handling this peculiar
situation--all interest shown the Little Lodge by the five girls, and a
lack of concern about the new members of their own Big Lodge.
The problem was mentioned to Mrs. Remington and that lady suggested a
visit to Council House where Wako Tribe could hold a Grand Council and
exhibit work accomplished during the Winter. This was planned to draw
the factions together again by a mutual pride and interest in their
Tribe activities.
Besides the friends of the members of Wako Tribe, there would be the
Black Bears (Fred's Tribe), Elizabeth's Tribe, some guests from
Headquarters in New York, and a few neighbours of Mrs. Remington's who
were deeply interested in Woodcraft work.
The girls of Wako Tribe were delighted to hold a Spring Council at this
place and everyone worked with a will to make the event a memorable
occasion. The Guide heaved a deep sigh, for she saw them all united
again and seeking the advancement of the Tribe as a unit. But she sighed
too soon.
An elaborate programme was evolved and the visitors were impressed by
the exhibits of Woodcraft work of every kind made and displayed by the
members of the Tribe.
As one entered the Council House a long table was the first attraction.
Tomtoms, simple or elaborate according to experience and ability of the
makers, beautiful sets of bows and arrows that would carry 100 yards or
150 yards and win _coups_ or grand _coups_, respectively; fire-sets of
rubbing sticks and their leather bags, decorated as the individual
preferred; birch-bark articles made from the Alpine harvest of the
preceding Fall; many kinds of knots tied in rope and tagged as mentioned
in the Manual; individual Tally Books showing what each girl had
accomplished since joining the Tribe; and last but not least on this
table was an enlarged photograph of the little cabin built on
Wickeecheokee Bluff by the five girls during the Summer of their first
camp.
Back of the first long table of exhibits, the wall was covered with
grass mats, willow beds, decorated blankets, totems, shields, carefully
mounted and framed collections of moths, butterflies, insects of various
kinds, leaves, flowers, forestry, etc. These made an impressive showing,
and many had _coups_ or _grand coups_ attached.
Next to the long table stood the book-shelves, tabourets, benches,
stools, bird-houses, and other decorative or useful articles in
carpentry.
A second long table exhibited the pottery work, bowls, fire-urns,
candle-sticks, weaving, bead-work, looms, Indian Sun-dial; work in
brass, silver, copper, and other metals, the designs made, hammered, and
etched by the girls themselves.
Then an old-fashioned bookcase with glass doors had been brought from
the house-attic and the shelves of this large cabinet were filled with
jars of canned fruit, preserves, pickles, dried and canned vegetables,
dried or salted meats, cakes, bread, and other housekeeper's craft
learned and practised by the members of Wako Tribe.
On the floor beside the cabinet were hand-made rush brooms, willow-ware
of all kinds, Indian tools for gardening, and the tents made at such
expense of labour and patience during January.
There were exhibits of _coups_ and degrees and honours for swimming,
star-gazing, farming, archery, nursing, needle-craft, marketing,
singing, dancing, Indian Lore, hostess, cooking, fishing, gardening,
carpentry, camper-craft, bird sharp, art crafts, and minor works so
arranged that the lists seemed endless. In fact, the Big Chief from
Headquarters said he had never witnessed so many achievements
accomplished by one Tribe in so short a time, and he added that it spoke
well for the zeal and application of the members.
The entertainment now began with the usual ceremonies of Grand Council,
followed by reports and other business. Then the girls performed the
Green Corn Dance, which is especially a Spring Dance. After the Big
Lodge finished this graceful dance, the Brownies of the Little Lodge
acted Nana-bo-jou with great vim and energy.
Immediately following this dance, the Chief said: "One of our Brownies
wishes to win a _coup_ for storytelling, so I will introduce Edith
Remington to the audience. She will tell you what happened to her last
Winter."
Edith was acquainted with most of the visitors present, so she felt no
self-consciousness in addressing them. In fact, bashfulness and
over-sensitiveness are two of the undesirable failings eliminated by
Woodcraft, so that a child can do what is expected of it without the
agony brought out by self-consciousness.
"It was a very cold day--so cold that the ground was frozen hard--but no
snow had fallen yet. I wanted to call Billy 'cause we were invited to
spend the day with my little cousins, so I ran out of the front door to
find him in the woods at the foot of the lawn.
"Just as I hurried under a big oak tree that stands by the drive, I
heard a queer scratching noise, and some loose pebbles flew in front of
me.
"I looked over at the foot of the tree-trunk and there was a little
squirrel trying to dig up the hard frozen ground. I s'pose he had some
nuts buried there and wanted to get them out for his dinner. As I stood
watching him for a few minutes, my hands grew cold, so I pulled the
mittens out of my coat pocket.
"Out flew a peanut with one of the mittens and no sooner did it roll on
the ground than Mr. Squirrel hopped over and had it. He jumped back to
the tree and sat upon his haunches cracking and eating the nut.
"He must have been awful hungry, 'cause he hurried back to me the minute
he finished the peanut, and jumped upon my arm, looking in my pocket for
more.
"I waited, as still as a mouse, so he wouldn't get 'fraid, then he
looked up in my face as much as to say: 'Haven't you any more?'
"I laughed at that, and he jumped away and sat a few yards off watching
me. Then I had an idea. I ran in and asked Mose for some nuts, telling
him about the squirrel. He gave me a handful from the pantry and I ran
back to feed the little fellow.
"He came right up and took them from my hands and when he had carted
most of them over to the foot of the tree and eaten some, he carried one
at a time to a bough and sat eating it. When that was gone he ran down
and carried another nut up and ate it.
"I told Billy about it and he said he guessed we could tame that
squirrel if we fed it every day. So we gave it things to eat all Winter
and now it is as tame as can be."
When Edith concluded her story the audience applauded and Big Chief
declared she must have the _coup_, for the story was well told.
Edith was so delighted at hearing this praise from the Chief at
Headquarters that she could not be restrained that day--she ran about
showing everyone the _coup_ presented her.
The Council ended with the Sunset Song, and the meeting was pronounced
to be one of the best Wako Tribe ever held. Miss Miller felt confident
that the plan had united all the girls again and now they would work
together as before, for the progress and advancement of the entire
Tribe.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN--SOME WEEK-END CAMPS
The weather grew warmer with the advancing Spring and out-door life
became a joy to the Woodcrafters. The Little Lodge proved to be so
entertaining to the five girls that they felt a jealousy of any other
member of Wako Tribe should she inadvertently mention a personal
interest in the welfare of the Brownies.
Miss Miller saw the breach widening again and was torn 'twixt her desire
to keep unity and the struggle to do her duty to both factions. This was
the state of affairs when the Chief suggested a one-day's camp to try
out the Little Lodge in the woods.
"Did you hear what Zan Baker's gone and done?" exclaimed Eleanor Wilbur,
as soon as she heard about the proposed camp that Saturday.
"No--what?" demanded some of the girls who were working in the gymnasium
while waiting for Miss Miller. The five other girls seldom met at school
now, as the Brownies met them at their own homes, thus enabling them to
hold aloof from the other members.
"She's planned a camp and left us out in the cold!"
"Who told you so?" asked some of the loyal girls.
"Oh, I heard it, all right. If you don't believe me you can ask the
Guide when she comes in. Maybe she won't tell the truth, though, 'cause
she is as thick with them as can be, and she is going with them, I
s'pose!"
"Well, I can hardly blame Zan and her chums for spending so much time
with the Brownies--they are awfully cute, you know!" responded May
Randall.
"Besides, the work we have done according to the Manual shows that we
can go on just the same, whether the other five girls sit down and wait
for us to catch up or not," said Anne.
"It might be better for all concerned if they fuss over the Brownies
while we do the things they all did last year, and then we can all go on
together with Woodcraft," added Frances.
"I might have known you three girls would toady to Zan Baker and Jane
Hubert. Just because they run the show and boss us all, doesn't say they
have the right to do it. But you are afraid of them, that's why you give
in every time!" sneered Eleanor.
"At least you will admit that we don't waste our time going about
telling tales on others and trying to make trouble for everyone!"
scorned Anne Mason, just as the Guide entered.
Her appearance instantly changed Eleanor's attitude and she approached
Miss Miller with an ingratiating smile. The girls saw and most of them
sniffed, some even went so far as to murmur aloud: "Cat! I wish she was
out of this Tribe!"
The Guide felt that the atmosphere was charged but she hoped to find out
the conditions without questioning, so she started the meeting,
explaining the absence of the Chief and four girls by saying:
"They are teaching the Brownies to make gifts for Betty's birthday
party. The little ones are going to the woods to celebrate."
That same evening, Miss Miller spoke to Zan about having the other
members of the Tribe at the Woodland Camp.
"Oh pshaw, Miss Miller! We can't bother with a crowd of big girls when
we are just on the point of trying out this camp-experiment with the
Brownies. Those girls have enough to do with their work, and we can go
on with the Little Lodge until later."
"Have you decided on a place for the picnic?" asked the Guide, changing
the subject.
"We thought Eagle's Crest as good as any for just one day," replied Zan,
relieved that the other disagreeable topic was dropped.
"Yes, it is near enough to reach it in an hour's time by autos, and
there will be plenty of birds and flowers and trees to open a mine of
Woodcraft for the Brownies."
"Then it is settled--we will go to Eagle's Crest. And I will say that
some time, when we go to a longer camp-trip, we will ask the new
members," said Zan, apologetically, for she knew the girls of Suwanee
Band and her own new members were not receiving the true hospitality
demanded of genuine Woodcrafters.
From this conversation, Miss Miller gathered that the five older members
were determined to have their own way with the Little Lodge, and she
planned now to avert disaster to the Tribe and yet keep them all the
best of friends.
Hence the first out-door camp for a day with the Brownies was not
announced as a Tribe activity, but it was kept as quiet as possible,
declaring it was Betty Fullerton's birthday party and not a Tribe affair
at all. Of course the five old members felt this was downright
prevarication, but it seemed the easiest way to rid themselves of
unpleasant explanations to the other girls.
To carry out the plan of celebrating Betty's birthday the last of May,
the girls began making gifts to exchange with the Little Lodge members.
The Brownies, too, eagerly worked on simple little presents made of
paper, paint, and raffia work.
Of course Miss Miller was included in the picnic and she went to keep an
alert eye on the conduct and conversation of the older girls as well as
watch over the younger children.
From a picnicker's point of view, the outing was a great success and
proved an incentive for a longer camp next time.
On the drive back home that afternoon, Zan asked the other girls when
and where they should have the next camp.
"We can revisit Staten Island," suggested Elena.
"I'd rather camp nearer a house or store where we could telephone if we
need to," added Jane.
"I met a lady this winter who has a house on the Palisades much nearer
Fort Lee Ferry than our Alpine Camp was last Fall. She has heard of your
Tribe and seemed eager to meet you. I might write and see if she knows
of a spot near there," said Miss Miller.
"Oh do, please, and maybe we can go the first warm Friday."
"I might add that if the weather is fine we might make a regular Tribe
camp of it and all camp over the week-end," added Miss Miller.
The frowns and scowls that instantly showed on the faces of the five
girls plainly told the Guide that the time was not yet at hand for the
solving of the unpleasant problem.
At the first stop, which was Miss Miller's home, Zan said: "Don't forget
that letter, Miss Miller."
"I won't, but I must say that you girls ought to pay more attention to
individual Woodcraft interests and not so much to your delight in
playing with the Brownies. It is downright selfish of you."
Miss Miller said good-night to them and left them wondering at her
displeased tone of voice.
"What did you do, Zan Baker?" cried Jane, amazed.
"I--I never did a thing to her!" said Zan half-crying with
mortification.
"If Miss Miller is mad at us for anything I am going to ask her pardon
'cause I'd rather keep in with her than all the Woodcraft in the world!"
declared Nita.
Which all goes to show that the five girls did not stop to consider how
deeply the Guide felt over the careless manner in which they treated the
new members of the Tribe. Possibly, had they realised the truth they
would have swung over to the opposite extreme and dropped the Brownies
to make up to the other girls to please the Guide.
But Miss Miller finally decided to take Mrs. Remington into a secret
plan she had devised. After the letter was written to her friend on the
Palisades, she called Mrs. Remington up on the telephone and they talked
some time. When the conversation ended the plot was laid.
The week-end camp on the Hudson River Cliffs proved to be very
entertaining, as the friend mentioned had provided the tents and
camp-kits, and the girls only had to provide food and fun.
The Little Lodge was well started on flowers, birds, trees and other
_coups_ for Brownies, and on Sunday, the blue prints were made and
admired. Not only did the children make simple prints but the five older
Woodcrafters made several exquisite ones for their Tally Books.
The evening before the Band broke camp, they were all seated about the
embers of the camp-fire when the Guide addressed them:
"You girls will not have much time to give the Little Lodge after this
week--you have to study for Exams. you know."
"Dear sakes, that's so! I tried to forget it," sighed Elena.
"This is the last of May and preliminary examinations start the first
week of June this year," the Guide reminded.
"I have to work up some of those last Fall studies, too," murmured
Hilda.
"Have you thought of any plan for the Brownies while you are occupied
with lessons? I shall not be able to meet with you again or waste any
time on Woodcraft from now on till school closes," ventured Miss Miller.
"You won't! Goodness what will we do?" asked Zan.
"Why, do what I will do--study like mad!" retorted Jane.