rse at either end. When pleasant the
girls preferred to eat outside, sitting Indian fashion, but when rainy
the 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 delicious
biscuits. Mattie made tea and eggs scrambled with cheese. Edith Overman
boiled some rice for dessert so that each flake stood alone and was
creamy, upon which the girls put butter and sugar or butter and maple
syrup. 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 Edna
Whitely tidied up the tent, after which the fire was lighted with the
usual ceremony. Ethel as a Wood Gatherer insisted upon bringing the
twigs, wood and kindling. The Fire Maker--Edna Whitely--arranged them
ready 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 and
Kate then came forward, and by rubbing two sticks together ignited the
paper 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 keen
sense of humor and she told some anecdotes that were exceedingly droll.
Ethel and Edna Whitely