Girl Scouts at Dandelion Camp. Roy Lillian Elizabeth

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СКАЧАТЬ mentally gave her a credit-mark for forgetting self enough to speak her opinion honestly.

      The drive back was much longer than going, even though the girls planned and plotted how to earn more money with which to buy everything they craved for that camp. It was to be a wonder-camp.

      “I can add a dollar and seventy-five cents to the fund now,” announced Ruth, calmly.

      “A dollar and s-e-v-e-n-t-y – five cents!” gasped the girls.

      “Then I’ll have another dollar and a half before next Friday – if I keep on washing those nasty dishes every night!”

      “R-rruth!” squealed Betty, throwing her arms about her friend’s neck.

      “Ruth Bentley!” cried Joan.

      “I cannot believe my ears!” added Julie, in a whisper.

      Mrs. Vernon never said a word, but she did a lot of silent praying – thanking Him for this break in the clouds of human will and selfishness that the girl had always displayed hitherto.

      Ruth felt embarrassed at so much fussing, and felt a deep gratitude to the Captain for not adding to her self-consciousness. The moment she could free herself from Betty’s loving embrace, she said, recklessly:

      “I told mother I’d rather give up camping than do those dishes any more, but now that I’ve seen the place, I’ll scrub the kitchen floor if she wants me to.”

      A great laugh relieved every one’s feelings at this statement from Ruth, and the merry party reached the Vernon home feeling very much at peace with the world in general.

      CHAPTER FOUR – BEGINNING THEIR CAMP LIFE

      The next few days were so filled with the final work to finish the scholastic year, and closing of school, that every one of the girls was kept busy, and had little time to think of camp.

      Once Thursday came, however, the only exciting thing remained to be done was Commencement on Friday; so the four girls met at Dandelion Tent to plan for the camp.

      “We ought to have our folks give us a great send-off, like they did with the regiments that mustered from the town families,” said Julie.

      “If they’ll only give us all I asked for, we will be satisfied,” laughed Joan.

      “What did you do?” instantly said three voices.

      “First, I told mother what we would have to have for camp, then I got mother to visit your folks and tell them what we really ought to have to make life comfortable in the wild woods.”

      “Oh, oh! That’s why Eliza told us she would fix us up with some jams and other food-stuff,” laughed Julie.

      “And mother asked me did we want any furniture or china?” added Ruth.

      “What did you say?” asked Julie.

      “I told her we’d rather she donated the price of china or furniture this time, and let us invest it as we found need.”

      The girls laughed and Mrs. Vernon ran out of the side door, saying: “I’m missing all the fun! Do tell me what it is about?”

      Then Julie told her what Ruth had replied to her mother’s question, and the Captain laughed also. “I see Ruth is developing a wonderfully keen sense of finance.”

      “You’ll say so when you see this scrap of paper, Verny,” said Ruth, taking a crumpled oblong of tinted paper from her middy blouse and passing it over to the Captain.

      Mrs. Vernon looked at it in surprise, and gasped: “Why, of all things!”

      “The price of china and furniture that mother figured we would smash or damage,” explained Ruth.

      “Girls, it’s a check for twenty-five dollars from Mrs. Bentley. We’ll have to vote her a letter of thanks at once.”

      “Hurrah! Now, all ready for three cheers for Mrs. Bentley!” shouted Julie, jumping upon the camp-stool and waving her hat.

      Instantly the girls began a loud hurrah, but the folding chair suddenly shut up, with Julie frantically trying to balance herself. Before a second hurrah could have been given, Julie was sprawling across the camp table right on top of the hats, pans and what-not that had been accumulated to take to camp. Such a clatter of tins and wild screams of laughter that filled that tent!

      Finally Julie emerged from the wreckage and stood up, tentatively feeling of her bones and head and body. “Am I all in one piece, girls?” she asked, trying to appear anxious.

      “You are, but my hat isn’t!” retorted Joan, holding up a crushed straw sailor with the brim severed from the crown.

      “I’ll have to work and buy you another,” said Julie.

      “Please don’t! I despise sailors and had to wear this one because mother said I would need no new summer hat if I was in camp,” hastily explained Joan.

      “Come, girls, we must indite that letter to Ruth’s mother now. Sit down quietly and suggest something fine,” interpolated Mrs. Vernon.

      So the letter was composed and given to Ruth to deliver, then the last plans for leaving home were perfected, and the Patrol separated for the day.

      Saturday found the girls again at Vernon’s place, eager to hear what day they were to start for camp. Everything that they had on their lists had been provided, and now the only thing to do was to say good-by and leave. This the girls felt could not be accomplished any too soon for their peace and comfort.

      “Why, Verny, if we don’t get away in a day or so, those seven girls who are possessed to join us will steal us and hold us as hostages until you agree to take them in our Troop,” said Julie.

      “Patience! They’ll have to wait now, and learn the lesson you girls have finished before they can join this Patrol. Why, I wonder if you realize how high you have climbed on the rungs of the ladder of Scout Ideals during these past few weeks?” said Mrs. Vernon.

      “I can’t see any change,” said Joan.

      “What! don’t you think your friends here have improved any whatsoever since we decided to begin a Troop?”

      “Oh – the girls have – a little, but I haven’t!”

      “You have, too, but you don’t see it yet. Wait.”

      “All the same, Verny, tell us when we can start?” begged Julie.

      “Well, Mr. Vernon sails for his European trip on Monday, so I see nothing to keep us home after that. Can you all be ready to go on Tuesday morning?”

      “You know we can – why ask?” laughed Julie.

      “Maybe you’d prefer us to start Monday afternoon after you come home from the steamer,” suggested Ruth.

      Mrs. Vernon laughed. “Hardly as soon as that.”

      When Tuesday arrived, however, the girls found many little things to delay them, so it was past nine o’clock before they met at the old headquarters, but the tent had disappeared.

      “Here СКАЧАТЬ