The girls appeared to be greatly interested, and Mary felt very much encouraged.  Some of the girls left to talk it over with the homefolks, while others, wishing to learn more of the organisation, plied Mary with numerous questions.  Finally, in desperation, she said:  “Girls, I will read you the following from the ‘Camp Fire Girls’ Handbook, which I received this morning:” 

’The purpose of this organization is to show that the common things of daily life are the chief means of beauty, romance and adventure; to aid in the forming of habits making for health and vigor, the out-of-door habit and the out-of-door spirit; to devise ways of measuring and creating standards to woman’s work, and to give girls the opportunity to learn how to “keep step,” to learn team work, through doing it; to help girls and women serve the community, the larger home, in the same way they have always served the individual home; to give status and social recognition to the knowledge of the mother, and thus restore the intimate relationship of mothers and daughters to each other.’

“Well, girls,” said Mary, as she laid aside the book, “I think you all understand what a benefit this will be to you, and I will do all in my power to help you girls, while I am at the farm this summer.  It is too late to tell you any more today.  The information I have given you will suffice for the present.  Three cheers for our Camp Fire! which will be under way in two months, I trust.”

* * * * *

The members of “Shawnee” Camp Fire held their first Council Fire, or Ceremonial Meeting, the second week in July.  The girls, all deeply interested, worked hard to secure honors which were awarded for engaging in domestic duties well known to the home, for studying and observing the rules of hygiene and sanitation, and for learning and achievements in various ways.  They held weekly meetings and studied diligently to win the rank of Fire Maker.

A girl, when she joins, becomes a Wood Gatherer; she then receives a silver ring.

The weeks pass swiftly by, and it is time for another Camp Fire.  The girls selected as their meeting place for this occasion farmer Druckenmuller’s peach orchard, to which they walked, a distance of about three miles from the home of Elizabeth Schmidt.  They left about two o’clock in the afternoon, intending to return home before nightfall, a good time being anticipated, as they took with them lunch and materials for a corn-roast.

The peach orchard in question, covering many acres, was situated at the foot of a low hill.  Between the two flowed an enchanting, fairy-like stream, the cultivated peach orchard on one side, and on the opposite side the forest-like hill, covered with an abundance of wild flowers.