Then they showed Ethel the "Count" book, in which were kept records oftheir work and play. The leaves were of brown paper and laced togetherwith a leather thong or cord. The cover was of leather also. Symboliccharts for recording the requirements of the Fire Maker and TorchBearer, as well as for nearly two hundred Elective Honors, were parts ofthe book. The book contained ninety-six pages. It was arranged for agroup of twelve girls. Should the group grow larger, more leaves couldbe added. Three leaves for each girl were in the first part of the book.These were for recording the honors and requirements, making thirty-sixpages. The balance of the pages were for the records of events,pictures, and pen and ink sketches, etc.
The totem of the Camp Fire is as painted on the brown leather cover. Itshould always tell some legend or story--some natural industry or beautywhich is true to the locality in which the Camp Fire is located. The"Ohio" Camp Fire totem was a large horse-chestnut under the word"Buckeye." The first leaf was left blank; the second was the title leafupon the top of which appeared the name of the Camp Fire, and at thebottom the date of the first council fire; following the title leaf eachgirl fills out her group of three leaves. On the first she will writeher name, date of birth, parents' names, birthplace, and presentaddress. She also puts down the date as she attains each rank, using forthe month the Indian name. On the next leaf were symbols of all ElectiveHonors, and these were painted in colors corresponding to the beadsreceived. The third leaf for each girl was for her individualsymbol,--the chosen name with its meaning,--for each girl naturallywishes to own some name by which she may be known. She may hold somedesire which to her may mean the way in which she may give of herselfthe best. Perhaps some poem has lines which she feels are a response toher desire. Not only could these girls write what happened and insertphotographs of their excursions, but they were at liberty to make penpictures along the margin of the leaves of the book--all Indian signsfrom a moon to a snake, telling of a trip to Rat snake Pond, etc. Theywere to use the rhythm of Hiawatha, which after a little practice becomesthe natural language for some girls and it adds much to the interest ofthe Count; for instance,
"Supper over, now they hasten To their wigwams, all excitement, And from hence soon reappearing Now true Indian maidens seem they," etc.
"Now that we have initiated our new member," said Kate, "and haveexplained to her about the Count book, etc., we shall postpone the restof the ceremonies until we reach Camp, as I know that each one of youwill need your rest. So we'll meet at the train for the boat landing ateleven tomorrow. I hope it will be a fair day. Take plenty of wrapsalong for it is cold tonight and it bids fair to be so tomorrow."
Then saying goodnight to each as they left the room, Kate and Ethelfound themselves alone in front of the dying fire.
CHAPTER XXI
THE TRIP UP THE RIVER
It turned out to be a lovely day. Ethel was most excited. The tents,cooking utensils, pillows, cots, etc., had been sent two days before byfreight. The trunks alone remained to be taken to the boat, and theywere only steamer trunks.
Uncle John went along to see them safely on board the train thatconnected with the small boat that plied daily up the Muskingum river.
"If you get homesick, little one," he said to Ethel, "you come rightback to us. Don't you stay if you don't like it."
"Oh, Uncle John, how could I get homesick with Kate?" she replied; "butI shall miss you awfully."
The whistle blew and away they went. It was a pretty sail and the girlswere in a happy frame of mind. Nora Casey looked like one immensefreckle. She was in high spirits and now and then relapsed into a jollybrogue caught from her parents, for Nora was born in America.
"Faith and it's sailing that I enjoy," she said to Ethel, coming up thestairway from the deck below. "I'm afther taking some pictures of theriver for our Count book." Then catching herself she talked perfectlycorrect without the slightest trace.
They watched the banks on either side, dotted now and then by prettyhouses and thriving fields of buckwheat and clover.
Patty Sands sat by Ethel. They were very congenial. The rest of thegirls chattered together. Mattie Hastings sat beside Kate Hollister andregarded her with adoring looks. Nora chatted excitedly; once in a whileKate would check her exuberance of spirits, as her voice could be heardby people on the shore. Said Kate:
"Girls, there are several beautiful legends connected with this river. Iread a new one the other day. At our first Camp Fire I'll relate it. Wecan copy it in our book under our totem. Suppose each of you girls writean original legend and read it aloud some rainy night."
"Good for Miss Hollister!" cried Honora. "We will."
So they promised.
Soon the journey came to an end. A four-seated buckboard stage had beenengaged by Uncle John to meet the party and carry them up the steep hillinto camp.
"Oh, isn't this jolly?" said Ethel enthusiastically. "What lovelywoods!"
And indeed they looked like a picture with the June sunshine every nowand then bursting through the trees. The road was narrow but it was agood road for walking. The old buckboard creaked and groaned with itsload of eight girls, their Guardian, and the driver. Every once in awhile the horses would stop and the driver dismount and with hishandkerchief wipe off the white sweat that looked like soapsuds.
"He's a kind man," said Kate.
Then when his handkerchief was too wet to use he would pick up handfulsof grass to use for their comfort, after which he would get up on theseat and drive them again, but he must have stopped ten times beforereaching the clearing where the Camp was to be.
"Oh, look!" cried Patty. "Miss Hollister, our four tents are up."
"Yes, that's Father's surprise," she rejoined. "He sent up one of his menyesterday so that we need have no trouble." And turning to Ethel shesaid: "Usually we have to hire a man in the village to come up and dosuch work, but Father has anticipated us this time."
"Isn't he lovely?" said the girls in unison, jumping like children fromthe wagon and peeping into each tent. There were all the baskets readyto be unpacked, and following the buckboard came the trunks.
They quickly removed their hats, etc., and bade the driver goodbye, whoby the way was now using handfuls of leaves to clean the animals; afterwhich each one was assigned her task.
"Patty Sands, you may unpack and wipe the china. Mattie Hastings, youmay put it in place. Ethel, you may watch this time, as you are atenderfoot. Nora, you arrange the blankets, towels, and linen in order,will you?" And so Kate kept each girl working.
Mollie Long made the cots; Sallie Davis put the cooking utensils inplace; Edith Overman and Edna Whitely began gathering sticks for thefire.
"Oh!" ejaculated Ethel, "that's my task, isn't it? I'm the WoodGatherer," she said.
"The first day a tenderfoot is our guest," replied Mollie Long,laughing. "You wander away and think of the story you'll have to writeand read aloud."
"In other words," broke in Nora, "go way back and sit down."
But Ethel watched the girls work. It was a revelation to her. Theyseemed more like boys.
"Why," explained Edna Whitely, "if necessary we could drive the stakesand put up our tent, couldn't we, Miss Hollister?"
"Yes, I hope you'd be able to," she said. "I think women do far harderwork than that every day."
Kate had changed her gown for a pair of bloomers and was working hardrunning back and forth giving orders like a general. By twilight everytrunk was unpacked and in its place. Each girl had changed her gown andthe Camp Fire was ready to light after tea. Then came preparations. Inone tent there was an oil stove. Outside stood a barrel of oil. It wasan extra tent to be used as a kitchen. Two upright stakes with onerunning across, upon which were many hooks, served to hold all of thekitchen utensils. They hung from it as naturally as though in a realkitchen. One of the packing boxes became a serving table and afterwardsdid duty for a sink. In the center of the kitchen was a long table madeof planks laid upon a wooden horse at either end. When pleasant
thegirls preferred to eat outside, sitting Indian fashion, but when rainythe kitchen tent made an admirable shelter.
CHAPTER XXII
AN EVENING IN CAMP
The supper was prepared by the Fire Makers,--Edith Overman, Patty Sands,and Mattie Hastings. Patty baked a couple of large pans of deliciousbiscuits. Mattie made tea and eggs scrambled with cheese. Edith Overmanboiled some rice for dessert so that each flake stood alone and wascreamy, upon which the girls put butter and sugar or butter and maplesyrup. Later in the season they picked berries and had them for tea.
The meal was well cooked and they enjoyed it. Ethel cleared the table.Sallie Davis and Mollie Long washed the dishes, while Nora and EdnaWhitely tidied up the tent, after which the fire was lighted with theusual ceremony. Ethel as a Wood Gatherer insisted upon bringing thetwigs, wood and kindling. The Fire Maker--Edna Whitely--arranged themready to light. Kate chanted a command to Mollie Long and Nora Casey,who were Torch Bearers.
In the meanwhile each one seated herself around the fire. Mollie andKate then came forward, and by rubbing two sticks together ignited thepaper under the shavings, and soon there burst up a beautiful flame.Then the girls arose and repeated:
"Burn, fire, burn, Flicker, flicker, flame, Whose hand above this blaze is lifted Shall be with magic touch engifted To warm the hearts of lonely mortals Who stand without their open portals: The torch shall draw them to the fire, Higher, higher, By desire. Whoso shall stand by this hearthstone Flame fanned Shall never, never stand alone; Whose house is dark and bare and cold, Whose house is cold, This is his own. Flicker, flicker, flicker, flame, Burn, fire, burn."
After which Edna repeated the Fire Maker's song:
"As fuel is brought to the fire, So I purpose to bring My strength, My ambition, My heart's desire My joy And my sorrow To the fire Of humankind; For I will tend, As my fathers have tended, And my fathers' fathers Since time began, The fire that is called The love of man for man, The love of man for God."
They gave toasts, told stories and sang songs. Edith Overman had a keensense of humor and she told some anecdotes that were exceedingly droll.Ethel and Edna Whitely vied in asking conundrums. Kate Hollister thenrelated her capital story, "The Legend of the Muskingum."
"Before I begin," she said, "for Ethel's benefit I wish to tell yousomething of the origin of the Camp Fire. This I read in a New Yorkmagazine.
"'If we go back as far as possible we come to a primitive time whenhuman life centered about the Camp Fire. It was, and is still, thecenter of family life, and today it is around the fire that the familyand friends gather. The fire gives warmth and cheer to the home. Theday's work is begun with fire. When the fire is out the house ischeerless. Fire stands for Home--for the Community Circle and NewPatriotism. It was also in these primitive days that the first granddivision of labor was made. The man,--the provider and defender of thefamily--went out into the wilderness to hunt, while the woman stayed athome to keep the pot boiling, and in spite of all of the changes insocial life that division has remained to a very large extent until thisday.
"'Some years ago, when the Boy Scout movement first started, it beganwith the Camp Fire. No doubt one reason for its popularity was the factthat it gave the boys opportunity to play what was in the old days theman's game--that of hunter, trapper, and soldier.
"'Boys may be Scouts, but you girls are going to keep the place to whichthe Scout must return. And now this movement, similar to the Boy Scouts,has been started for girls. It started also with the Camp Fire, and theorganization thus formed is the Camp Fire Girls.'"
Everyone clapped their hands.
"When I read the above," said Kate, "I learned it by heart, knowing thatall of you would be interested to know the true significance of the CampFire. And now for the Legend."
CHAPTER XXIII
THE LEGEND OF THE MUSKINGUM RIVER
"Long years ago there lived a brave Indian chief called Wa-chi-ta; infact, he and his tribe inhabited a portion of this state--perhaps in thevicinity of these very trees.
"He was a kind and humane man, and his wife, Ona-pas-see, was like himin that respect, therefore they were dearly beloved by their subjects.They had three fine sons but no daughter, so when a little girl came tothem they were exceedingly happy and there was great rejoicing.
"'As she is fair and beautiful to behold we will call her O-hi-o,' saidthe Chief. ("As we know, Ohio means 'beautiful,'" said Kate.)
"So little O-hi-o waxed strong and grew into a woman worthy of her name.She was idolized by Ona-pas-see and spoiled by Wa-chi-ta.
"After the manner of all maidens, when she arrived at the marriageableage from miles around came many braves to pay their respects. Theybrought her rare and costly gifts of silver, copper, and gold--of beadsand bears' claws, as well as the skins of the fox, squirrel, and ermine.
"O-hi-o smiled sweetly and accepted her gifts with pretty speeches ofthanks, but of the young men she would have none. Her parents worriednot a little, as they wished to see her settled in life, living in herown wigwam. Her brothers talked with her upon her duty, but she onlysmiled, showing her pretty teeth and arranged her headband of beads,using for a glass the clear stream near the wigwam.
"The squaws declared that she would never marry--that soon would go heryouth and good looks; then the braves would seek some maiden younger andfairer. But O-hi-o only shook her head and ran to her father to bekissed.
"'She is proud,' they said, gazing after her, 'No one is good enough forher. She will meet with her punishment--watch.'
"Then behold! there came to the village one day a youngwarrior--Mus-kin-gum by name. He came from a tribe many miles distant,bearing a message from its Chief to Wa-chi-ta.
"O-hi-o sat near her father. She was embroidering a wampum belt withdifferent colored beads and shells, skilfully fashioning birds,butterflies, animals, etc. As she glanced up shyly, lo! her eye caughtthe eye of the young brave. The blood flew into her cheeks and her heartstarted in to beat as though it would burst. While delivering his speechto Wa-chi-ta young Mus-kin-gum grew scarlet and embarrassed.
"That was the beginning. It was in June. The birds sang their love songsand the air was filled with mysterious romance and sweetness. Permissionhad been granted by Wa-chi-ta to Mus-kin-gum to pay his addresses to hisdaughter O-hi-o, and when he told her of his love he said:
"'Why confess it? You have known since the day in the wigwam when oureyes met and my soul fell captive to your beauty and sweetness.'
"Then, when upon the mountain sides the trees hung out their yellow,gray and scarlet banners, with great pomp and ceremony these two youngpeople were wed, and the festivities lasted for days. Everyone was happybecause Wa-chi-ta was happy, and all of the tribe loved Wa-chi-ta.
"As for O-hi-o and Mus-kin-gum, they were content. They lived in a finewigwam and adored each other. While her husband was in the woodsshooting game or fishing, Ohio would sit in the doorway and watch forhis return, and as for him, his eyes were constantly roving towards thevalley where he could see the smoke coming from a certain wigwam; andwhen it came in volumes as though from a freshly started fire, his heartwould rejoice, for then he knew that O-hi-o was preparing the supper andit was time to return.
"And so these two who loved each other lived in one continual honeymoonuntil the arrival of little Mus-kin-gum--a strong, lusty, little fellowlooking not unlike Wa-chi-ta, which pleased his grandfather only toowell. It was his father's delight to attend to his education, and hisfather was not only beloved by his tribe but feared by his enemies. Sohe wished to teach his little son to be honest, kind and fearless. Hewished him to be brave and able to lead his tribe into battle--to diefor them if necessary. He taught the boy to aim well and shoot with abow and arrow, and when he was about seven years old it was his delightto accompany big Mus-kin-gum on his shooting expeditions--to help himfish and hunt. Together they would tramp for miles, and O-hi-o would sitin her doorw
ay and embroider, thanking the Great Spirit that she had twowarriors to look after instead of one; and little Mus-kin-gum would claphis hands with joy when she'd say:
"'What has the little warrior shot today?' And her husband would reply:'He has helped me; he has carried my heavy bow and arrow; and he hasalso carried these,' displaying a large string of fish. 'Besides, hecaught two of them.'
"Of course, they talked in Indian language, which is more beautiful thanours.
"Then on their trips Mus-kin-gum would teach his little son how todistinguish one tree from another by examining its leaves; how to tellthe name of a bird by listening to its call; how to read the signs ofthe Indians; how to read from their tracks the whereabouts of the enemy,the trail of the animals, and the secrets of the woods--the song of thebirds, the whispering of the trees, and the murmuring of the brook;about the way of flowers, ferns, etc., and the names of the differentnuts and fruits that flower first and then become ripe and fall to theground.
"He taught him about the different animals and how to trap and shootthem, and lastly he taught him about the stars and the stories connectedwith them. Little Mus-kin-gum could point out the Dipper or Great Bear,the Little Bear, how the last star but one in the Dipper--the star atthe bend of the handle--is called 'Mizar,' one of the horses; and justabove tucked close in is a smaller star--'Alcor' or 'the rider.' TheIndians called these two the 'Old Squaw and the Papoose on her back,'and the young men would say to the little fellow: 'Do you see thepapoose on the old squaw's back?'