The Woodcraft Girls in the City Part 42

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.

"That's what you all had better do if you expect to go on with your cla.s.s next year. You can't afford to drop behind in your school-cla.s.ses 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 a.s.sisted 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 pa.s.sed 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 seash.o.r.e 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 princ.i.p.al 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 pa.s.sed 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.