that they welcomed it with the utmost
enthusiasm. Possibly my manner of setting forth the project of an outing
appealed to them even more than the project itself. I recall that, in
part, I spoke as follows:

"With me as your leader, your guide, your mentor, we shall go forth into
the open, to seek out the bosky dell; to pierce the wildwood tangle; to
penetrate the trackless wilderness. Our tents shall be spread alongside
the purling brook, hard by some larger body of water. There, in my
mind's eye, I see us as we practise archery and the use of the
singlestick, both noble sports and much favoured by the early Britons.
There we cull the flowers of the field and the forest glade, weaving
them into garlands, building them into nosegays. By kindness and
patience we tame the wild creatures. We learn to know the calls of the
wildwood warblers, which I am credibly informed are many and varied in
character; and by imitating those calls we charm the feathered minstrels
to leave their accustomed haunts on the sheltering bough and to come and
perch on our outstretched hands.

"We lave our limbs in the pellucid waters of the lake or large body of
water just referred to. We briskly project ourselves to and fro in a
swing of Nature's own contriving, namely, the tendrils of the wild
grapevine. We glean the coy berry from its hiding place beneath the
sheltering leafage. We entice from their native element the finny
denizens of the brawling stream and the murmuring brook. We go quickly
hither and yon. We throb with health and energy. We become bronzed and
hardy; our muscles harden to iron; our lungs expand freely and also
contract with the same freedom, thus fulfilling their natural function.

"We find the day all too short, too fleeting. And by night about the
crackling camp fire our happy voices, all united, are uplifted in song
and roundelay. So, at length, wearied but happy, we seek repose in
refreshing slumber until the rising sun or orb of day summons us to
fresh delights, new discoveries, added experiences!"

My imaginative picturing of the prospect had its desired results.
Without loss of time all present, they being twelve in number, enrolled
as members. From the minutes of this, our first meeting, as kept by me
in a neatly lined book, which I had bethought me to provide for that
purpose, I herewith enumerate the roster: Master Pope, Master Stickney,
Master Worthington, Master MacMonnies, Master E. Smith and Master H.
Smit