The Woodcraft Girls in the City Part 24

"Tell her it is a heavenly refuge from the storm!"

The other girls laughed and Jane added: "Sort of 'any harbour for a wreck!'"

"Oh won't we have a glorious time practising new steps. Besides, girls, I invented a sea-sh.e.l.l dance that's perfectly adorable," cried Nita, glad of the camp with a good dancing floor.

"When can we start?" asked practical Hilda.

"As soon as you like-I am waiting for the word," replied the Guide.

"We can't walk-I'd better call up Jim on this 'phone and see if he can come over," said Zan.

"And call up Mom too, Zan, and have her send over our machine. I guess we can all crowd in the two as there won't be any tents or equipment to cart," added Jane.

After a short period of waiting that seemed to the impatient Woodcrafters like an age, the cars came to the school and the girls hurried out regardless of the pouring rain. At Mossy Crest the Remingtons, from the Lady of the Place down to little Teddy, stood in a row inside the great barn doors ready to welcome the visitors.

"I'm tickled to pieces to have you girls spend the week-end with us,"

called Elizabeth, the moment the two autos brought the visitors within hearing.

"And I can show you girls a lot more in Woodcraft right here where I have my equipment than at a mountain camp," added Mrs. Remington.

So before four o'clock, the Band discovered the rain to be a blessing in disguise for they found the Council House everything that an enthusiastic Woodcrafter could want.

"But the disguise is rather damp, just the same," added Zan, when Jane mentioned the blessing.

"Not indoors," retorted Elizabeth. "We had Alfred help the boys bring the curtains and cots from the hay-loft where we store all camp outfits when not in use. That great trap-door opens on a pulley so we can hoist things up and down without much labour. Now come and see your bed-rooms for the visit."

The delighted girls trooped after their young hostess while she pointed out the manner in which Mrs. Remington had fitted up the House. Down one side of the large room, a row of 2 x 4 posts had been erected and upon these were firmly fastened the poles that held the white muslin curtains. The s.p.a.ce thus divided from the main room was part.i.tioned by similar curtains hung on shorter poles, making small rooms about 8 x 10 feet. In each room stood a single cot and a small wash-stand bureau with a tiny mirror over it. A simple canvas camp-chair completed the furnis.h.i.+ng of each s.p.a.ce in this dormitory.

When there were no occupants for the rooms, the entire outfit was taken down and stored in the loft overhead. A wide cobble-stone chimney had been constructed in one corner of the building for beauty, comfort, and utility. It was equipped with a crane and pot-hanger so cooking could be done over the open fire on the hearth.

"Isn't this just scrumptious?" cried Nita, pivoting on her toes on the smooth floor.

"I'll test the cots and tell you if I agree with you," laughed Jane, who dearly loved to sleep late in the morning.

That supper was a jolly affair, for not only Elizabeth and the two younger children attended the camp-meal, bringing their share of the provender with them, but later on Mr. and Mrs. Remington, and lastly, Fred came in, carrying donations in exchange for an invitation to dine.

"Mother ought to give the servants a night off!" laughed Fred.

"All we need to have a regular Grand Council are the Baker and Hubert boys with us," declared Mrs. Remington.

"Never too late to repent!" said Fred; then other subjects crowded the idea out of thought of the other members but was remembered the next day when Fred showed results of the suggestion.

Tin platters and cups, and aluminium cutlery, were always kept in the Council House, and these made a great rat-a-tat as the hungry Band cut or scooped and rattled on the plates.

Supper over, Mr. Remington called Fred to roll out the Grand Circle furniture from the harness room which had been converted into a property room. Soon the huge logs decorated in true Woodcraft style, and a large gra.s.s rug woven by the Black Bear Tribe and presented to this Council House, were placed in the centre of the great s.p.a.ce, and the girls of Wako Tribe with their guests, a.s.sembled for an enjoyable evening.

"You have some artistic totems, Mrs. Remington," said Elena, looking about at the unique and decorative emblems belonging to many Tribes started successfully by the lady.

"Yes, and I am very proud of them. They stand for Tribes of girls and boys who are filling their niche in the Scheme of Things."

"My personal Totem painted and presented to Mrs. Remington's Council House is largest and most practical of all-see who can pick it out from the others," laughed Mr. Remington.

"Now Fred, you know that isn't fair to these girls. How would anyone know that your totem-so-called by you-is painted on the canvas walls? My dears, Mr. Remington is such an ardent disciple of Woodcraft that he needs must cover at least fifty feet of material with his totem," said Mrs. Remington.

It was not difficult after this direct lead to select the burlap wall-covering which was painted to imitate forest trees somewhat like Elena's screen, as the totem mentioned by the host. This neutral back-ground furnished an excellent contrast for the gay blankets, rush mats, birch-bark articles, and other items that are made and decorated by Woodcrafters during their meetings.

When all signs of supper had been cleared away (and "many hands make light work," you know) the usual Council ceremony was performed. This over, Zan stood up and said:

"Are there any suggestions for the evening's entertainment?"

"O Chief!" replied Miss Miller, standing, "I suggest that we read the essays prepared for this week-end."

"We-ell, I suppose we _might_ unburden our souls of that much trouble,"

remarked Zan, slowly, causing a laugh at her words.

"Of course-I mean, O Chief! Of course, as it may clear off by morning and then we can be out-doors. We won't care to sit hearing lectures or reading them to others when the calls of Nature entice us," added Jane.

"Ha! it seemeth that Jane groweth poetical!" teased Zan.

"O Chief! Who wouldn't feel that way with the music of the floods echoing on this tin roof?" retorted Jane.

Another laugh at Zan's expense put everyone in a merry mood, but Miss Miller meant business and not frivolity, so she asked the girls if the papers were all ready to read.

Most of the members signified that the papers were on hand to read, so the Chief called upon Hilda, as she was the first one at her right.

"My query was to find some interesting forestry news. I sought and finally found what I wanted in a weekly periodical called 'The Sentinel'

and published at Boston. I learned that the forest fires of 1916 caused a loss of more than $9,000,000.-six times as much as has been spent in forest protection work. And what is so lamentable is that these fires could all have been prevented-they were the results of rank carelessness.

"In British Columbia, on account of the forest efficiency service, the number of fires last year were only half the number of those of the preceding year.

"The tree seedlings and uncut timber are usually destroyed or greatly damaged by these forest fires. A most important part of forest work is to dispose of the lumbering slash which makes a very hot fire when once started. This slash must be collected and disposed of as soon as possible after the lumber operations are finished. Lumber companies are urged to cooperate with the forest service in the protection of our valuable timber tracts.

"Last year, about 40,000 forest fires occurred in the United States and burned over 5,900,000 acres, causing irretrievable losses.

"The forest products from Finland const.i.tute 70% of its total exports, and the income from this branch of trade amounts to about $96,500,000.

annually.

"During 1916 the United States Forest Commission constructed 227 miles of new roads through national forests, 1975 miles of trails, 2225 miles of telephone lines, 89 miles of fire lines, 81 lookout towers, 40 bridges, 222 miles of fencing, 545 dwellings, barns, and other structures, 17 corrals, and 202 water improvements."

As Hilda concluded and sat down, the audience expressed amazement at the gigantic losses to beautiful forest districts of this country, and Mr.

Remington stood up to speak.

"O Chief, I think this is the right time to warn every Woodcrafter present to be careful and impress upon friends to use the utmost care in helping the forest fire commissioners. We can do this by never leaving a spark of live fire from our camp-fires, by not throwing waste paper or other inflammable trash about that others may, through carelessness, set fire to, and not to _smoke_ in a forest where dry leaves and tinder ignite very quickly."

"How! How!" approved the Woodcrafters as Mr. Remington sat down.

"The next reader on my list is Nita," announced Zan.

"Miss Miller gave me a paper about fish. Why this should fall to my lot, goodness only knows. I hate fish for food, and simply can't bear the smell of them. But I discovered some interesting facts about them, nevertheless.