the tent having the best record gets a special supper or
"seconds" on ice cream day.

6.45

About this time, with the going down of the sun, nature seems to quiet
down, and it is the psychological time for serious thought. Many camps
devote twenty minutes to Bible study (for suggested lessons, see chapter
on Religion and Moral Life). Tent groups under their leader study
thoughtfully the meaning of life and the great lessons taught by God
through nature. Night after night the boys consciously or unconsciously
acquire through this study the requisites of a good camper mentioned in
the first part of this chapter.

7.15

Campus games, boating, preparation for the bonfire, etc., will occupy the
time until dark. Every boy should be engaged in some recreative play,
working off whatever surplus energy he may have at hand so that when the
time for "turning in" comes, he will be physically tired and ready for
bed.

8.00

The evening program varies. Some nights there will be a minstrel show,
other nights a camp fire, or mock trial, an illustrated talk, or "village
school entertainment," or a play, or a musical evening or "vo-de-ville."
Leave about two nights a week open. The boys prefer to have occasional
open evenings when they are free to loaf around, and go to bed early. Plan
the evening "stunts" very carefully.

8.45

The bugler blows "tattoo"[1] which means "all in tents." After the boys
have undressed and are ready for bed, the leader reads a chapter from the
Bible, and in many camps the boys lead in volunteer prayer, remembering
especially the folks at home.

[Transcriber's Footnote 1: Signal on a drum or bugle to summon
soldiers to their quarters at night. Continuous, even drumming or
rapping.]

From a hill near camp, or from a boat on the lake come the notes of a
familiar hymn such as "Abide With Me," "Lead, Kindly Light," "The Day is
Past and Over," "Sun of My Soul," or "Nearer, My God to Thee," played by
the bugler. Every boy listens and the ear records a suggestion which helps
to make the night's sleep pure and restful. Try it. Taps played slowly,
follows the hymn. As the last notes are being echoed upon the still night
air the lights are being extinguished in the tents, so that when the final
prolonged note ends the camp is in darkness and quiet, and all have
entered into a nine-hour period of restoration of body and mind. Who
knows, but God himself, how many of the boys, and even leaders, while
wrappe