THE GIRLS' CAMPFIRE, ORGANIZED BY MARY.
One day in early June, when all nature seemed aglow with happiness, we
find Mary earnestly discussing with Elizabeth Schmidt the prosaic,
humdrum life of many of the country girls, daughters of well-to-do
farmers in the vicinity.
"I wish," said Mary, wrinkling her forehead thoughtfully, "I could
think of some new interest to introduce into their lives; some way of
broadening their outlook; anything to bring more happiness into their
commonplace daily toil; something good and helpful for them to think
about."
All at once Mary, who was not usually demonstrative, clapped her
hands, laughed gleefully and said: "I have it, Elizabeth. The very
thing! Suppose we start a 'girls' campfire,' right here in the
country? I don't think we shall have any trouble to organize."
"And you, because you understand all about it, will be the Guardian,"
said Elizabeth.
At first Mary demurred, but, overcome by Elizabeth's pleading, finally
gave a reluctant consent. They then made out a list of the girls they
thought might be willing to join, Mary promising to write at once for
a handbook. They separated, Elizabeth to call to see the girls, and
Mary to interview their parents. Their efforts were rewarded with
surprisingly gratifying results, for many of the girls had read about
the "Campfire Girls" and were anxious to become members.
* * * * *
One afternoon, several weeks later, had you gone into the old apple
orchard, at the farm, you would have seen thirteen eager young girls,
ranging in age from fourteen to sixteen, listening intently to Mary,
who was telling them about the "Campfire Girls." What she told them
was something like this:
"Now girls, we are going to have a good time. Some of our good times
will be play and some work. When you join, you will become a 'Wood
Gatherer,' and after three months' successful work, if you have met
certain qualifications, you will be promoted to the rank of 'Fire
Maker.' Later on, when you come to realize what it means to be a
'Torch Bearer,' you will be put in that rank. The first law which you
learn to follow is one which you must apply to your daily life. It is:
Seek beauty, give service, pursue knowledge, be trustworthy, hold on
to health, glorify work, be happy. 'The Camp Fire' has meant so much
to girls I have known, for their betterment, and has been so helpful
in many ways, you surely will never regret becoming a member of the
organization, or be anything but happy if you keep their laws. There
will be no dues, except what is collected for good times, and no
expense except the cost of your ceremonial costume, epaulettes and
honor beads. The latter are quite inexpensive. The honors are divided
into several classes, and for each honor a bead is given as a symbol
of your work. A special colored bead is given for each class. We shall
meet about once every week. The monthly meeting is called the 'Council
Fire.' I will tell you later about the 'Wohelo' ceremony. By the way,
girls, 'Wohelo' stands for work, health and love. You see, the word is
composed of the first two letters of each word."
The girls appeared to be greatly interested, and Mary felt very much
encouraged. Some of the girls left to talk it over with the homefolks,
while others, wishing to learn more of the organisation, plied Mary
with numerous questions. Finally, in desperation, she said: "Girls, I
will read you the following from the 'Camp Fire Girls' Handbook, which
I received this morning:"
'The purpose of this organization is to show that the common things of
daily life are the chief means of beauty, romance and adventure; to
aid in the forming of habits making for health and vigor, the
out-of-door habit and the out-of-door spirit; to devise ways of
measuring and creating standards to woman's work, and to give girls
the opportunity to learn how to "keep step," to learn team work,
through doing it; to help girls and women serve the community, the
larger home, in the same way they have always served the individual
home; to give status and social recognition to the knowledge of the
mother, and thus restore the intimate relationship of mothers and
daughters to each other.'
"Well, girls," said Mary, as she laid aside the book, "I think you all
understand what a benefit this will be to you, and I will do all in
my power to help you girls, while I am at the farm this summer. It is
too late to tell you any more today. The information I have given you
will suffice for the present. Three cheers for our Camp Fire! which
will be under way in two months, I trust."
* * * * *
The members of "Shawnee" Camp Fire held their first Council Fire, or
Ceremonial Meeting, the second week in July. The girls, all deeply
interested, worked hard to secure honors which were awarded for
engaging in domestic duties well known to the home, for studying and
observing the rules of hygiene and sanitation, and for learning and
achievements in various ways. They held weekly meetings and studied
diligently to win the rank of Fire Maker.
A girl, when she joins, becomes a Wood Gatherer; she then receives a
silver ring.
The weeks pass swiftly by, and it is time for another Camp Fire. The
girls selected as their meeting place for this occasion farmer
Druckenmuller's peach orchard, to which they walked, a distance of
about three miles from the home of Elizabeth Schmidt. They left about
two o'clock in the afternoon, intending to return home before
nightfall, a good time being anticipated, as they took with them lunch
and materials for a corn-roast.
The peach orchard in question, covering many acres, was situated at
the foot of a low hill. Between the two flowed an enchanting,
fairy-like stream, the cultivated peach orchard on one side, and on
the opposite side the forest-like hill, covered with an abundance of
wild flowers.
When the afternoon set for the Council Fire arrived, had you happened
to meet the fifteen merry, chattering girls, accompanied by two older
girls, Mary and Lucy Robbins (the country school teacher), as
chaperones, wending their way to the orchard, you, without a doubt,
would have smiled and a question might naturally have arisen regarding
their sanity. They certainly possessed intelligent faces, but why
those queer-shaped Indian dresses? And such an awkward length for a
young girl's dress! And why was their hair all worn hanging in one
braid over each shoulder, with a band over the forehead? Why so many
strings of gaudy beads around their necks? These questions may all be
answered in one single sentence: The girls are dressed in Ceremonial
Costume.
[Illustration: ELIZABETH SCHMIDT "LAUGHING WATER"]
A great many delays along the way were caused by girls asking the
names of the different wild flowers and weeds they noticed in passing.
One of the girls stopped to examine a prickly-looking plant about two
feet high, with little, blue flowers growing along the stem, and asked
if any one knew the name of it. They were about to look it up in a
small "Flower Guide" owned by one of the girls, when some one said:
"Why, that is a weed called 'Vipers Bougloss,'" They also found
cardinal flower, thorn apple, monkey flower and jewel-weed in
abundance, wild sunflower, ginseng, early golden rod, "Joe-pie-weed,"
marshallow, black cohosh and purple loose-trifle. The girls also
noticed various birds.
On a tall tree one of the girls espied a rose-breasted Grosbeak, rare
in this part of Bucks County. They all stopped and watched for a short
time a white-bellied Nut-hatch. The girls were startled as a Scarlet
Tanger flew past to join his mate, and they at last reached their
rendezvous, the orchard.
By half-past three they were all seated in a circle waiting for the
ceremonies to begin. Mary Midleton, their Guardian, stepped to the
front, saying: "Sunflower, light the fire." Sunflower, through several
months of daily attainment, had become a Fire-maker and was very proud
of the Fire-maker's bracelet she was entitled to wear. Sunflower was
given that name because she always looked on the bright side of
everything; she looked like a sunflower, too, with her tanned face and
light, curly hair.
All the girls had symbolical names given them. "Lark" was so named
because of her sweet voice and because she loved to sing; "Sweet
Tooth," on account of her love for candy; "Quick Silver," because she
was quick, bright and witty; "Great Buffalo," a girl who was very
strong; Elizabeth Schmidt, "Laughing Water," so named because she
laughed and giggled at everybody and everything; "Babbling Brook,"
because it seemed an utter impossibility for her to stop talking;
"Burr," because she sticks to ideas and friends; "Faith," quiet and
reserved; "Comet," comes suddenly and brings a lot of light; "Black
Hawk," always eager at first, but inclined to let her eagerness wear
off: "Pocahontas," because she never can hurry; "Ginger Foot," a
fiery temper, "Gypsy," so named on account of her black hair; "Bright
Eyes," for her bright, blue eyes; "Rainbow," for her many ways, and
because she is pretty.
As "Sunflower" took the matches and knelt by the pile of wood and
lighted the fire, she recited the Ode to the Fire:
"Oh, Fire! Long years ago, when our fathers fought with great beasts,
you were their protector. From the cruel cold of winter you saved.
When they needed food, you changed the flesh of beasts into savory
meat for them. Through all ages your mysterious flame has been a
symbol of the Great Spirit to them. Tonight we light this fire in
remembrance of the Great Spirit Who gave you to us."
Then the girls sang the chant or chanted:
Wohelo for aye,
Wohelo for aye,
Wohelo for aye,
Wohelo for work,
Wohelo for health,
Wohelo,
Wohelo for love.
Then they recited the Wood-gatherer's Desire:
"It is my desire to be a Campfire Girl and keep the law of the Camp
Fire, which is 'To Seek Beauty, Give Service, Pursue Knowledge, Be
Trustworthy, Hold onto Health, Glorify Work, Be Happy,'"
None had yet attained the highest rank, that of Torch Bearer, won by
still greater achievement, the Camp having been organized so recently.
Their motto was "The light which has been given to me, I desire to
pass undimmed to others."
"Gypsy," the secretary, then read the "Count" for the last meeting and
called the roll, and the girls handed in the list of honors they had
won in the last month. Some amused themselves playing games, while
others gathered more wood.
At five o'clock the corn and white and sweet potatoes were in the fire
roasting. A jolly circle of girls around the fire were busily engaged
toasting "Weiners" for the feast, which was finally pronounced ready
to be partaken of. The hungry girls "fell to" and everything eatable
disappeared as if by magic; and last, but not least, was the toasting
of marshmallows, speared on the points of long, two-pronged sticks
(broken from near-by trees), which were held over the fire until the
marshmallows turned a delicate color. When everything had been eaten,
with the exception of several cardboard boxes, corn cobs and husks,
the girls quickly cleared up. Then, seated around the fire, told what
they knew of Indian legends and folklore.
Noticing the sun slowly sinking in the West, they quickly gathered
together their belongings and started homeward singing, "My Country,
'tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty."
Thus broke up the second Council Fire, and in the heart of each girl
was the thought of how much the Campfire was helping them to love God
and His works.