class next year. You can't afford to drop behind in your school-classes
on account of these children," advised Miss Miller.
"Maybe they'll forget all they learned from us--and maybe they'll not
want to bother with a Little Lodge if we have to leave them a whole
month," said Nita.
"I thought of a way to handle the situation but Zan ought to arrange
about it without delay--that is, if it meets with the approval of you
all."
"It is sure to--what is it, Miss Miller?" said the girls.
"Ask Mrs. Remington to watch over and take charge of your Little Lodge
until school is over. She can teach them lots of good things and they
can be handed back to you in fine feather when your time is yours to
enjoy again."
"What a dandy idea! I'll do it the moment we get home," exclaimed Zan.
And the other girls agreed with her that the plan was great! Miss Miller
meekly looked at the fading pink ashes of the camp-fire and mentally
thanked the Watchful Spirit for a hope of peace that was held out to
Wako Tribe.
Monday night Mrs. Remington accepted an invitation from Zan to call and
talk over Little Lodge matters, and the result was that the Brownies
were turned over to her personal charge and the Chief congratulated
herself on her tact in arranging matters so nicely for the Brownies and
for her friends.
The following day, Tuesday, Eleanor met the Mason girls. "I hear those
five girls had a wonderful time at camp on the Palisades last week. Just
got home late Sunday night."
"Yes, and what is more it was the last outing with their Brownies this
season. They have turned over affairs to Mrs. Remington till school
closes," retorted Anne.
"So, you see, that doesn't look much like being so taken up with the
Little Lodge that they were jealous of us, as you intimated some time
ago," added Frances.
Eleanor was taken by surprise as she had heard nothing of the transfer.
She said nothing more but changed the subject.
For the month following the camp on the Palisades, every school girl was
busy with studies and examinations, and little heed was paid Woodcraft
interests. Miss Miller, too, had much extra work to do as she generally
assisted the high-school teachers in reading papers and marking
percentages for pupils. But she took time to visit the doctor one
afternoon and outline to him the fears and worries she felt over the
schism in the Tribe.
"I am sorry to hear my girl is so thoughtless of others' rights in this
matter, but I think I can suggest a way out of further
misunderstandings," said the doctor when the Guide had concluded her
tale of trouble.
"Oh, if you could! Your letter last Summer was so full of sensible
advice regarding Nita that I felt sure you could offer some way out of
this difficulty," said Miss Miller.
"The last week of school--immediately after exams. are over, so the
girls will not be distracted by my plan during any important test--I
will send an invitation to every girl in Wako Tribe asking them to visit
Wickeecheokee for a camp party. Mrs. Baker is not going to take her boys
there to camp until the day following the Fourth, and the girls can have
the use of the place until that time. They can start as soon as they
wish to after school closes."
"Oh, that is just what we need--a close companionship such as a camp at
the farm will give. Then the crisis will be passed without danger,"
sighed Miss Miller, gratefully.
"As a physician would say, 'with no fatalities to record!' and patients
all doing well!" laughed Dr. Baker.
So it happened that the last Monday of the school-month, the hard tests
all over for the term, Miss Miller sent word by Billy Remington, that
the members of the Tribe were to meet her the next
afternoon--Tuesday--in the gymnasium.
It seemed a long time since the girls had met and everyone was present
to hear what was the cause of the call.
When all were present, the Guide read an invitation from the doctor,
which included every girl in the Tribe, as well as the Little Lodge
members.
"Oh, how lovely of the doctor!" cried several voices.
"If only it was for some other time, Miss Miller! We have company coming
to spend the Fourth," complained one of the Suwanee members.
"And we are going to the seashore next Monday for a month!" added
another girl.
"Well, let us only consider the reply just now--those who will not be
here to go with us, can explain later," said the Guide, fearful lest the
principal cause of the meeting be lost.
"Oh, we'll go, of course! Who'd think of refusing?" laughed Jane.
"Is that what everyone present thinks? Remember girls--this is for
everyone in the Tribe--not for a few," said the Guide very plainly.
The vote showed that every girl was glad and grateful to accept the
invitation, so it was accepted and the letter handed Zan to give her
father that night. Then the individual members would have to arrange
their personal matters at home as best they could. This meeting over,
the Guide felt that she had won another victory over the subtle
temptations of evil to destroy any good work that would lift the
individual out of its power for all time.
It finally transpired that beside the five old members and the Little
Lodge Brownies, but six of the new members could arrange to go to camp
with the Tribe. The others had promised visits to pay, or were leaving
the city with their families, for the entire Summer vacation.
From the day the invitation was read to the day the girls planned to
start, Eleanor was very attentive to Zan, effusing over everything the
Chief did or said, until Zan grew annoyed and felt like asking her what
it was all for.
The last day in the city, however, Eleanor met Zan on the street, and
said: "Are all the Brownies going with us?"
"Sure! There aren't enough to go around as it is--so we couldn't spare
one, you know."
"They are such darlings! I am so glad they will be with us!" exclaimed
Eleanor.
"I thought you detested them. I heard that you preferred leaving our
Tribe if we continued having a Little Lodge," said Zan.
"What! Who dared say that of me? It is false!" cried Eleanor, furious to
find she had been found out.
"Oh, never mind who. You'll get over this, just as we get over
everything unpleasant. Stick to your present desire of being glad the
kiddies are with us, and forget the others!"
So Zan, with all her frankness, averted an unpleasant scene with
Eleanor. But she mentioned it to the Guide who nodded and said: "Eleanor
will climb out of this mire just as Nita got out last Summer, but it
seems to cling more tenaciously to Eleanor."
The short interval given the girls in which to prepare for the camp on
the farm, soon passed and amid a chorus of happy good-byes and some
regrets from those who remained at home, the Tribe left the city. After
several hours of motoring through the lovely country districts of New
Jersey, they reached Wickeecheokee.
"You five girls sure were lucky to have a whole summer at this grand old
place," said a member of Suwanee Band, as she admired the old colonial
house, the ancient trees, the fine green lawns and the glimpse of
gardens back of the barns.
"If you think this is fine, just wait till you see the Bluff and Falls
where we camp. That's something worth while!" bragged Zan, who was
pleased at the admiration from the girls.
"The water rushes right down the mountain-side from Fiji's Cave and
falls over a great boulder into a pool below that we use for a swimming
pool," added Jane.
"And we have a large Council Ring there, and a ready-made fire-place,"
said Hilda.
"That reminds me! We all ought to feel hungry by this time, so we could
have lunch on the lawn and start for the Bluff later, to get settled for
the night," advised the Guide.
"I think I can eat a morsel, if coaxed hard enough," said Jane,
laughing.
"I can eat everything in sight--even the grass," declared Billy.
"You won't have to stoop to the meek little blades, Billy, as we brought
plenty of sandwiches and cake," said Zan.
As they enjoyed the luncheon brought from home, Miss Miller asked: "Who
would like to visit the gardens after we're through with refreshments?"
"Oh, yes; I can't tell an onion from a gooseberry," laughed Eleanor.
"You ought to if you did your cookery work properly this winter," Miss
Miller reproved.
An hour was devoted to trying to identify the many vegetables of the
garden, and at the same time, enough fruit and other things were
gathered for supper and breakfast.
"Funny how different lettuce, radishes, beets, and other things look to
us when growing in the garden and when we have them ready served on the
dinner table," commented one of the girls.
Then the Guide described the habits of many vegetables and explained how
they grew and should be cared for and harvested. She touched upon the
national interest taken in canning and preserving and hinted that the
Wako Girls might start a class for themselves early in the Fall.
Bill Sherwood had erected tents and brought the cots from the cabin, so
all was ready for the Tribe when they reached the Bluff. The Council
Ring had been cleared of debris and the camp-fire place ready for
supper, so that the Guide smiled and thanked Bill for his trouble to
have everything in order for them.
That night the girls sat star-gazing when Zan said: "We must start the
new members and the Brownies on mat weaving and willow bed making, the
first thing, Miss Miller."
"Yes, the rushes and willows ought to be just about right this time of
year," added the Guide, delighted that Zan was taking a normal interest
in her Woodcraft again.
So immediately after breakfast, they all started down the slope to the
Big Bridge where the reeds grew thickest and longest. In passing, the
Guide called the attention of the Brownies and new members to the trees:
Oak, hickory, maple and others were identified and described.
Then Billy tried to show his superiority over the other Brownies, by
saying: "That is a red maple, and over there--that's a swamp maple."
"What's this, Billy?" asked Elizabeth.
"Oh, that's a mountain maple."
"What was the grove we came through last night?" said she.
"Sugar maples for maple syrup! Don't I know! I've tapped them enough
when out with Fred," giggled Billy.
While they were all engaged in cutting rushes some of the girls gazed
about now and then. In one of these wayward glances, May saw some green
leaves growing in the brook.
"What are they, Miss Miller?"
"That is water-cress--would you like to gather it?"
"Water-cress! Oh, I love it in salad!" cried May.
"Then pull off your shoes and stockings and wade in and gather all you
want. We'll have it instead of lettuce this noon."
Two of the girls preferred to help May gather cress as they thought they
had enough reed and rush for a mat, so by the time the cutting was done,
the three girls had a large basketful of water-cress.
That afternoon, they began weaving mats on the looms constructed that
morning. As they were working for _coups_ they applied themselves
carefully to the work. Even the Little Lodge tried the mat weaving but
soon wearied of it.
Eleanor took an enthusiastic interest in the mats until she found it was
tedious work and made her back ache with bending over the looms.
"It seems so silly to waste time on this stuff when you really do not
need them or want them for anything," said she.
"We're not weaving a doormat but working for an honour," retorted May.
"But it is foolish--an empty honour," laughed she.
"I never think anything foolish that creates a desire to do perfect
work, or apply yourself and overcome impatience," said Miss Miller.
"But where's the honour come in?" insisted Eleanor.
"It is an honour always to follow the Bible's injunction--'Whatsoever
thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.'"
"Oh, you're talking of religion--this is different," argued Eleanor, not
to be silenced.
"Our Master felt that the two went together--honour and religion. If one
does what is honourable and right in small things he can be depended
upon for greater things, too."
"Well, weaving grass mats won't count," scorned Eleanor, pushing at her
badly woven mat impatiently.
"Everything counts. If you can't be patient and do a simple thing like a
grass mat how do you expect to be promoted? It is the promotion that
gains us honours but if one fails to do the best he can with anything
given to do, how can one hope to go higher in the scale of progress?
"In Woodcraft, it is not the grass mat we weave that counts for the
_coup_ or honour, it is the general improvement in one's moral and
spiritual life that really counts. And the uplift in mental and
characteristic desires brings about the higher basis for the next step.
"You mistake, Eleanor, when you think you are weaving grass mats or
willow beds--you are weaving qualities of thought, good or bad, and each
pattern produced only shows what thoughts, upbuilding or destructive,
you are allowing yourself to weave into the warp and woof of your future
life. And this pattern is all there is to our temporal lives, but it is
everything when we seek promotion to our eternal and spiritual life!"
Eleanor lifted her delicate eyebrows with a disdainful manner and
pretended to stifle a yawn as she gazed away to Pine Nob.
The Guide saw the expression of being bored but she said nothing, being
too noble a character to take offence or feel sensitive over the girl's
rudeness. The other girls had heard the short lecture and pondered
deeply as they worked.
Miss Miller saw the thoughtful girls in one comprehensive glance, and
thanked the Great Spirit that the seed had not all fallen on barren
ground.
Eleanor noticed the silence after a time and remarked:
"Have you girls lost your tongues?"
"Why-hy, no-o! I guess we were thinking."
"Thinking--what of?" wondered she.
"Why Miss Miller's words, to be sure. She is wonderful, that way, and we
love to hear her explain things spiritual in such a simple way. It
really makes religion attractive, I think," said Jane.
"Now, if Jane Hubert thinks that, and she lives in the finest house
belonging to any of the girls, and she has more money than any, there
must be more to the Guide's words than I thought of. What was it she
said to me, anyway?" thought Eleanor to herself as she began pulling out
the strands she had woven into the mat.
Then she tried to remember and in so doing she took in more of what Miss
Miller had really said than she thought possible. Even as she pondered,
she finished unravelling the mat and began over again to weave the work
correctly and neatly.
Nita noticed this silent weaving and the thoughtful mien of Eleanor, and
she left her own loom to join the girl and tell her of her experience
while at Camp with Miss Miller the previous Summer.
Eleanor kept her eyes upon the weaving as she listened, and when Nita
said: "I never was so contented and happy in my life as now, and it is
only because I tried to do just as Miss Miller taught and showed me to
do."
The days passed only too quickly for the busy Woodcrafters until the day
before the Fourth. Then the Doctor telephoned just before noon and told
the Guide that the friends and families of Wako Tribe were coming down
to hold a Council on the afternoon of the Fourth.
When this unexpected news was transmitted to the girls, such a bustle
and excitement as it created! Everyone wanted to do something fine to
show the visitors what progress had been made in the past week.
Some of the girls went to the house to bake cake for refreshments, some
hurriedly sawed and painted crude totems to make the Council Ring appear
decorated. The Brownies thrashed through the woods gathering wild
flowers and fern, and arranging them in pails and jars of water. Mrs.
Sherwood skimmed the rich cream from several pans of milk and offered to
freeze the ice-cream. Everyone managed to get in everyone else's way,
and the merry confusion was as enjoyable as a surprise party.
The girls expected the visitors about noon, but it was almost two
o'clock before a maddening sound reached them.
"Good gracious! That isn't _our_ siren!" cried Jane.
"Nor ours--and it isn't the Remingtons', either," said Zan.
Then another terrific blast sounded from the Big Bridge, and the girls
saw three large jitneys turn in from the main road and pull up before
Bill's cottage.
"Did you ever see such a crowd?" exclaimed May, as the visitors jumped
out and looked about.
"'Everybody and his uncle' came, I guess!" laughed Elena.
"And in jitneys! Isn't it a scream?" added Jane.
As they spoke, the girls were hurrying down the slope to welcome the
friends and soon after, the Council Ring was filled and the
entertainment began.
Nita danced, the Tribe sang, the boys had sham-battles, games were
enjoyed, and refreshments,--not the least of the fun--were quickly
disposed of and the visitors complimented the cooks.
"I hear those jitneys calling 'Ole Black Joe,'" sang the doctor, as a
horn sounded from the foot of the slope. "But I must say my little say
before I go. And this is my speech!"
Dr. Baker then told the girls that they, as a Tribe, were invited to
accompany Mrs. Hubert to the Adirondack Camp for the Summer. She
expected to leave the city on the following Thursday and anyone
intending to go must be ready and waiting at the car.
This wonderful news was wildly received and the visitors were sent off
in a hurry, as the girls wanted time to consider ways and means of going
to Woodchuck Camp.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN--THE ADIRONDACK CAMP
When the girls returned to the city the day following the Fourth, they
heard that Mrs. Remington and Anna, the governess, were going to assist
them in Woodcraft that Summer, and incidentally look after Teddy and
Tammy, the babies of Little Lodge.
Mrs. Baker was invited but she declined as she had already arranged to
start a boys' camp for her sons at the farm. All the members of Wako
Tribe were invited but many of them could not go, as other plans had
been made by mothers. So on the day of departure, Miss Miller, the other
ladies, and Brownies, with the five old members and some of the new
ones, boarded the express.
It was a long wearisome ride but the wonders expected when all should
reach the mountains buoyed them up. As Zan said: "It was just like
journeying hopefully through earth's tribulations for the joy and peace
waiting in Heaven."
It was dark when the campers reached the Huberts' place and not much
could be seen, but early in the morning every girl was out and
exclaiming at the beauty of the forest camp. The lake was a short walk
from the long cabin, and a swim was the first thing on the programme.
After that a hearty breakfast, and a hike through the woods.
As they merrily ran hither and thither in the cool bowers of green, the
Brownies gathered flowers and leaves. Billy brought Miss Miller a sprig
of green and she cried:
"Ha! Who knows what this is--don't tell them, Billy!"
"Do you know--it smells like mint of some sort?" said Nita, sniffing at
the green leaves.
"It's sassafras. The juice of these leaves flavours the chewing gum Zan
told us of in her essay," said the Guide.
"Then it is used for candy, too," added Billy.
"Yes, and peppermint and birch found in these woods can be used for
flavouring, too," said Mrs. Remington.
"Did I hear you say we had all the makings of some candy the first rainy
day?" laughed Zan.
"Having the flavouring at hand--why not?" retorted Jane, well knowing
the Brownies would take up the cry.
Even as she turned to nudge Billy, a drop of rain splashed down upon her
face. She looked up and saw a heavy cloud sweeping over the sun and the
others turned and looked also.
"Run everybody, or we'll have to swim back!" cried Zan.
"Run for the house--not for the camp! Remember that sassafras candy!"
merrily shouted Jane.
So the first day at Woodchuck Camp ended with a candy-pull and sticky
hands and faces of Wako Tribe members.
No one could settle down to any planned Woodcraft work that first week
in the Adirondacks as the call of the forest and lake proved
irresistible. But the second week the novelty had worn off enough to
allow the girls to start some active work.
"We must have a good cabin to hold our tools and work during the
Summer--what do you say to building one at once?" asked Miss Miller.
"Oh, yes, let's!" replied the girls who had built the cabin at
Wickeecheokee Camp.
"Won't it be awfully hard work?" queried Anne.
"And so senseless when you have tents and a house near enough to place
things," added Eleanor, peevishly. "It will be more fun to swing in a
hammock and read stories."
"One can read books in the Winter but who wants to do it in camp?"
scorned Hilda.
"My mother sent me a box of novels and I shall take it easy and
read--you girls can do as you like," retorted Eleanor.
Miss Miller heard the conversation and was on guard at once. "Who is
your favourite author, Eleanor?"
"I have so many, I hardly can tell," said the girl, not aware of the
Guide's intentions to draw her out.
"What style of book do you prefer? Travel, history, or love stories?"
"Oh, love, to be sure! The kind that are run serially in the 'Cosmo'
Magazine. I adore them and the moment the books are out I buy them to
read again. I can devour the love scenes again and again, and enjoy
them!" sighed Eleanor, sentimentally.
"When that box of books arrives, Eleanor, will you allow me to look them
over first?"
"Of course you may, but I can't see why you would want to read them
first--you couldn't finish them all in a month!" laughed Eleanor.
"I have no desire to read them, but I must see what you intend bringing
into camp. From your words, I should say the books are unworthy the
name. I have long taken up the crusade against the trash that some
magazines publish as it is unhealthy for young people. There are scores
of other periodicals just as bad but they haven't the wealth or
influence to advertise and put over their injurious reading that this
one you mention has."
"Why, how queer you are, Miss Miller! Everyone says the authors of those
stories make fortunes out of everything written!" Eleanor defended.
"Ah, yes! What will be their report when the Day of Accounts comes and
we each have to look at the facts bared by Truth?" sighed the Guide
walking away.
Eleanor smiled ironically and looked at Zan. "Isn't she the funniest
thing!"
"No, we all know Miss Miller's great ambition to provide clean wholesome
literature for young people and Dad seconds her enthusiastically in her
work. She wrote an article to the New York papers showing how subtle and
poisonous was the moral and mental perversion of the sex stories so
flagrantly advertised by publishers who only thought of gain and
notoriety. But the newspapers are not courageous enough to throw the
gauntlet down to these publishers. Some of them wrote back that the
concerns mentioned spent large sums advertising in their daily papers.
So Miss Miller has to try some other method to open the eyes of the
parents and guardians to the danger threatening young people."
Eleanor stared at Zan and wondered, as half of it was Greek to her
understanding. Miss Miller was heard ordering the carpenters to
different duties, however, so Zan ran over to join them.
"The Brownies can find birch bark and make the ornaments to decorate the
cabin," said Anna, as the Guide apportioned each group of girls to
tasks.
"Moreover, they can remove the large sections of bark from this
down-timber for the girls to use on the outside of the cabin after the
posts are up," said Mrs. Remington.
And that is how the name "Boss" began for the Guide.
"I'll guarantee to have bark, totems, shields, and other ornaments ready
for use when the cabin needs them," added Mrs. Remington, calling the
Brownies to go with Anna and her.
All that day the silent places of the forest resounded with sawing,
chopping and hammering, but now and then a hot and tired girl would
throw herself down on the moss to cool.
At luncheon that day, Mrs. Remington whispered to Miss Miller: "This
work will take much of the softness out and leave them in good shape for
other sport."
"Exactly!" replied the Guide, looking about at the hungry, eager faces
of the members.
A call for "Boss" from Tim, who was assisting in the hauling of the
logs, interrupted further comment at that time.
"Miss Miller, the young ladies don't want to dig a hole where the logs
will rest. I tells them they must do it to have a firm foundation. Fact,
I said, a hull cellar ought to be dug to keep the floor dry and
sweet-smellin'," said Tim.