CHAPTER XXI--AN INVITATION
As Nathalie sank back in her seat glad to think the ordeal--to her--of theday was over, there was a moment's silence, and then every Pioneer wasdoing her best to second this invitation to the daughter of theirhostess by making as loud a demonstration as possible.
Nita, as she heard this invitation, grew white, speechless withsurprise, but only for a moment, as the next second, with joy shining inher eyes, she leaned over crying in a tense whisper, "Oh, Mother, tellthem yes! Tell them yes!"
But Mrs. Van Vorst had already risen to her feet, eyes smiling but teardimmed as she gazed down at the bright expectant faces upturned to hers.For a moment she stood, and then in a voice broken by emotion andpleasure thanked the Pioneers for an invitation that she knew had beenprompted by kindness and that she appreciated more than she couldexpress. Her little daughter, as they all knew, was a shut-in. She wouldbe delighted to become one of a band of girls who had proved so worthyof the name they bore, but, her face saddened, would she not prove aburden to them, for would it not require too much patience to bear withone who perhaps had been over indulged on account of her misfortune?
At this juncture Madame Stuyvesant stepped to her side crying, "Oh, Mrs.Van Vorst, your little shut-in is just the one I want my girls to bewith, so that by the patience they will acquire in her companionshipthey will become more gentle and considerate to others. And as for MissNita, the mingling with healthy, active girls of her own age and theexercise and aid she will derive from the sports, and industries--takenlightly of course--I am sure will brighten her life in many ways."
A few more words from Helen, Lillie, and one or two of the older girls,and Mrs. Van Vorst's consent was won, and Nita with bright, happy eyeswas clapping her hands very softly under the Starry Banner that fell infolds across her chair.
Each girl in turn was then toasted, under the name of the pioneer sheimpersonated, being required in response to tell something aboutherself, as to who and what part she had played in the days of NewAmsterdam. When the name of Mrs. Polly Prevoorst was called, Lillie Bellstood up, and had just begun with her usual dramatic gestures andintonations to relate some little incident in the life of that notedlady, when a shrill falsetto voice shrieked, "Pretty Polly! PrettyPolly! Polly want a cobble?"
There was a sudden turning and twisting of heads and necks at thisunlooked for interruption, to see who was making sport of the fair lady,but before the speaker could be seen, with a quick flutter of wings Mr.Jimmie landed in the middle of the table. Surprise caused the girls toexclaim and then laugh, as they watched the new guest cocking his headfrom side to side as he winked at them with his red-rimmed eyes.
All at once his head stopped its restless motion, as with a quick glancehe seemed suddenly to spy Lillie Bell, who was still standing, waitingfor a chance to deliver her little speech. The girls ceased to giggleand with observant eyes wondered what was going to happen. They did nothave to wait long for Jimmie, with another flash of his wings, screechedshrilly, "Polly! Poor Polly! Polly want a petticoat--Polly--want apetticoat?"
But Jimmie's concern for the "Lady of Petticoat Lane" was drowned inshouts of laughter, while Lillie Bell with a reddened, embarrassed facesat down. Thus Jimmie became the beau of the afternoon, as each girlvainly tried to coax him with a sweetie to notice her, but Jimmiedisdained their advances and, flying to the shoulder of Nathalie,evinced his partiality for that young lady by chattering noisily, "HellNat! Ah--Blue Robin, pretty Blue Robin!" And then a shrill Tru-al-lee,tru-al-lee! rang through the room.
But this effort to do the wise thing ended Jimmie's performance, forsuddenly noting the applause that greeted him, he set up such a hideousshrieking, interspersed with fiendish laughter, that he was promptlyseized by Peter and carried from public sight to muse on his sins in theprivacy of his cage.
When Lillie's tormentor disappeared she was able to act the part of thefair Polly and relate the incident she had striven so vainly to tell. Asshe finished, finding that all the notables had been duly honored, thegirls again turned to the rather novel menus that they had found infront of their plates.
These were post-card holders, rather dainty little affairs of floweredsilk that had contained post-cards, one for each course that had beenserved. One was a quaint little picture of New Amsterdam. Another was awell-known building or landmark of old New York, while others portraitsof famous Dutch painters or authors, each one with an appropriateinscription either in Dutch or English.
These cards had excited many comments of admiration, and as the girls'attention was drawn to them again Edith suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, girls,why see, my post-card holder has a tiny white envelope in it!" As shebegan to tear it open each girl turned eagerly to hers and with renewedinterest began to inspect it again, while Mrs. Van Vorst and Nita withsmiling eyes watched the little by-play that was being enacted.
By this time Nathalie had read the contents of her envelope and witheyes all alight was crying, "Oh, girls! my envelope contains aninvitation from Mrs. Van Vorst as a Pioneer to camp--"
"At Eagle Lake!" broke in a chorus from the girls as they excitedlyflourished the bits of white paper to and fro while watching Nathalieintently.
Nathalie was too dazed to speak, but in a moment, as she realized thateach girl present had been honored with a similar invitation, she bentforward and began to talk to Helen in low, hurried tones. When shefinished she was on her feet crying in tremulous voice, "Oh, Mrs. VanVorst--this seems too good to be true--O dear, how are we to thank you foryour kindness, it is too much for us to accept!"
But her hostess was ready with a reply, as with brightening eyes sheanswered, "Girls, the invitations you have read I repeat, I want youGirl Pioneers to spend the three weeks of your camp life at Eagle Lake.I have a bungalow there and expect to leave for the Lake next week, andshall be pleased to welcome you there whenever you think best to come.
"The Lake is very beautiful, surrounded by woods and within two or threemiles of a town. Of course, I have not accommodations for you all, but Ihave an empty bungalow near mine, and a little log cabin that was once asummer house, so that with a few tents I think you will find ampleaccommodations for your three bird groups. And girls--" she spokeearnestly, "I do not want you to thank me, for your thanks will be theacceptance of this invitation and coming up to the Lake and having amerry time. I am sure I stand ready, and my daughter Nita, to help youtowards that end."
As Mrs. Van Vorst finished Helen arose, and on behalf of the Pioneersthanked her for her kind invitation. "Indeed, Mrs. Van Vorst," shecontinued, "we shall be most pleased to camp at Eagle Lake--if ourDirector is willing--and I hope that we shall be able to show you that weare worthy the kindness you have seen fit to extend to us. Now, girls--"
"Girl Pi-o-neers! Now give a cheer! For our hostess so kind and dear! Girl Pi-o-neers! again we cheer, This time for Miss Nita, the dear!"
As the cheering ceased Mrs. Van Vorst stood again, and in a few wordsdeclared she felt impelled to say that the Pioneers should be very proudof a young lady in their group who had so ably helped her in thearrangements and the getting up of the afternoon's festivity. She wouldmention no names--Nathalie's face was a full-blown rose--as they all knewto whom she referred, but she would like it known that the invitation tothe Lake had been given not only to furnish pleasure to the Pioneers,but in appreciation of the great kindness, sympathy, and aid that hadbeen given to her daughter and herself by that same Pioneer, a kindnessthat she would always remember.
The girls, laughing and talking about the pleasure of the _Kraeg_, ofthe joys and the future held in store for them at camp, now returned tothe sitting room. Here they were greeted with another surprise in theshape of a huge, unwieldy figure in baggy knee-breeches, full skirtedcoat, wide-brimmed hat and long white beard and locks, whom Mrs. VanVorst presented as Father Knickerbocker, although several declared thathe was the exact counterpart of the famous pictures of Rip Van Winkle.
Whomever he personated was a matter of indifference
to the girls as longas his identity was concealed, which was ably done behind a red-checkedmask, through the eye-holes of which two eyes glinted humorously inmerry jest or pleasantry as he joined the girls in a game of quoits or agame of nine-pins which Peter had arranged on an old billiard table.
As Nathalie and Helen were doing their best to beat this strangeantagonist, and at the same time to provoke him to speech--as he wouldpersist in playing he was deaf and dumb--Peter led in an old darkey who,with fiddle in hand, was soon squeaking away to the delight of thegirls. In a few moments old-time melodies were heard, and they wentflying over the floor in waltz, schottische, polka, and in many of thelong-forgotten dances.
When the dancing began the mysterious guest was seen to edge towards thedoor, but Nathalie and Helen were too quick for him, and in a moment hewas surrounded by a bevy of girls, each one begging him to dance theVirginia reel with her. Even these many honors failed to loosen thestrings of his tongue, but Nathalie did not despair.
Presently, as he had made this young lady his honored choice in thedance, she was led up and down the room, or twirled about like apin-wheel. That he was nimble of foot was soon perceived as they allspun round like a merry-go-round.
Suddenly Annetje was seen to whisper to her neighbor. The whisper spreadlike a whirlwind, and all eyes were soon fastened on the whirling Fatheras he chasseed to the right and left of the merry girls. Suddenly therewas a stampede to his side, and the next minute he was surrounded by acordon of slim young hands, while one of his assailants made a springtowards him. Just another moment, and nose, beard, and locks were on thefloor, while his tormentors laughed and danced merrily around theirprisoner, a good friend who had eased many of their aches and pains, forit was no other but Dr. Morrow!
Four weeks later Nathalie stood on the veranda with her arms around hermother. "Oh, Mumsie," she wailed, "I hate to go and leave you!" Shewinked hard, she was determined not to get lachrymose. "I just wish Iwasn't going, it does seem so mean to leave you here in this heat."
"But, Daughter, I have Dick with me, and it is lovely and cool here onthe veranda. We shall not mind it at all, and then you know the nightsare generally comfortable in August," Mrs. Page ended with a cheerysmile.
"Mumsie, you're a dear--" rejoined Nathalie with another suppressedsniffle. "You're just trying to make the best of it, but--"
"There is no but about it," answered her mother quickly, "for I amafraid I am very selfish, but I shall have to confess that there hasbeen so much going on these last days, well, I shall enjoy the rest andquiet. Felia is here, too, and I shall have nothing to do but to be--"
"Jolly!" broke in Dick at this moment, who for some mysterious reasonseemed unusually jubilant. He had received a letter a few days before;Nathalie had caught him reading it, but he had slipped it hurriedly intohis pocket as he saw her, declaring in answer to her questioning that itwas nothing, but nevertheless, ever since that day he had seemed morelike his old self.
Did they really want to get rid of her? Was Mamma in earnest? How muchmore cheerful she had seemed the last few days! These thoughts flashedin quick succession through Nathalie's brain. Somewhat puzzled, butdisarmed of her fears by these signs of cheer from her loved ones, thegirl bestowed a final kiss all round, notwithstanding Dick's protests,who declared that he had been slobbered over about fifty times already.Then she flew down the path and into the automobile, where Mrs. Morrow,the kiddies, and the doctor were waiting to drive her to the depot.
Seventeen happy girls, their hearts pulsating with joyful anticipation,boarded the train at the New Jersey Central that August morning.Notwithstanding the fact that the day was intensely warm, their tongues,hands, and feet kept up a ceaseless activity as they disposed of theirbags, valises, and the impedimenta that they had found it impossible tosqueeze into their trunks, for it was rather tight packing when therewere two girls to a trunk.
Lillie Bell carried her mandolin, the Scribe her book for reporting themany happenings that were to be, while Barbara was burdened with severalbooks on bird, flower, and wood lore, for camp was the place to studynature. With tennis-rackets and golf-bags it certainly seemed as ifthose seventeen girls and their belongings were going to fill the car.
Mrs. Morrow, who had a great dislike of annoying people, began to lookworried, but suddenly catching sight of the faces of several of thepassengers, all looking so smiling, so in sympathy with this young lifeand its overflow of exuberance, as if they were enjoying the clamor andbustle as much as the girls themselves, her face relaxed. She broke intoa smile of relief, although shaking her head at two of the girls whowere making the greatest noise.
They finally settled in their seats, but as hands and feet became morequiet, alas, it seemed as if the clack of their tongues grew greater!They fell to discussing their plans for the camp, the sports they wouldhave, and a thousand and one things that occupied their minds at thepresent moment.
But even tongues need a rest, and the girls at last quieted down andbegan to read, each one having provided herself with some book to whileaway the hours. After a time, however, they all seemed to tire ofreading, and growing restive had just started an argument as to therespective merits of their books, when the train dashed into a littlewooden station and the conductor yelled, "Eagle Lake!"
Bags, knapsacks, rackets, and all camping impedimenta were hastilygathered up, and a few minutes later the merry girls were crowding intoan old-fashioned stage that Mrs. Van Vorst had hired for the occasion,giving due honor to the doctor and his wife by sending her ownautomobile for them.
It was a delightful ride to the lake, and thoroughly enjoyed by thegirls, who evinced their pleasure by being unusually silent. Eyes werekeenly alert, however, noting the rolling patches of green meadows withtheir grazing cows, the rippling brook meandering from a hill near by,and the somber foliage of a long range of low foothills in the distancecrowned with a misty haze. But the silence was broken when some onespied a reddish gray chipmunk scurrying across the road in franticterror as he saw the many faces bearing down upon him, and heard theirhurried exclamations of eager delight at this, the girls' first glimpseof one of the green forest people of Eagle Lake.
It was not long before the sheen of silver water glimmered in thedistance, bordered with somber foliage, and then hearts beat quicker andvoices grew louder in excited hubbub as in a minute or so they could seethe cupola of Mrs. Van Vorst's cottage against the green of its shores.
After a joyous welcome from Mrs. Van Vorst and Nita, seconded by Peterand Ellen, who all stood awaiting them on the large veranda, the girlsran riot. With swift steps they hurried--after first inspecting Mrs. VanVorst's bungalow, so suggestive of luxury and cozy cheer--to the smallerbungalow, where the Morrows were to abide, with its big living-roomabloom with golden-rod. This was to be used as an assembly room for thePioneer Rallies. Then they hastened to the little wooden shack, whichthey dubbed the Grub House, as it was here that the camp cooking was tobe done.
After duly admiring the boat-house, which they all declared would make alovely place for a dance, they were conducted by Peter to the loftabove, where he stood silently enjoying their delight as they exclaimedover this unexpected surprise. It had been turned into a good sizedbedroom with two bureaus, a center-table, a few odd chairs, and fourlittle white cots, looking so restful that the Sport declared she wantedto go to bed that very second.
But their rhapsodies came to an abrupt end as Lillie Bell suddenly spiedthe Lake from one of the windows. In a moment the girls were crowdingabout her, gazing in hushed silence at the silver sheet of water--threemiles round Peter informed them--with its enticing little inlets, orcoves, and tiny islands running like a series of stepping-stones throughthe center.
The Sport had caught sight of several newly painted boats and canoesthat bobbed cheerily at her, moored to the pier below, and a momentlater the girls were off like a cavalcade of young Indians to inspectthem, for did they not all have to be named on the morrow, when ageneral christening of all camp tents, bo
ats, and so on was to takeplace?
But there were other things to claim a share of their hearts' joy theyfound, as Carol, who made the seventeenth camper, suddenly saw a largetent on the edge of the woods to which they all made a mad rush. Herethey found the doctor and his wife, who said it was an army tent thathad been loaned, put up, and furnished by that good lady, Mrs. VanVorst. Lifting the flap the girls peeped in to see four more tiny cots,a little book-case made from soap-boxes by Peter, and the usual campfurniture staring at them invitingly.
A tiny log cabin was also inspected--Peter said it had once been asummer-house--which contained two cots. But time was limited, and Dr.Morrow--who was for the time being captain of the working squad--began toissue his orders. All baggage and camp equipment had arrived the daybefore and the girls were soon busily engaged in putting up tents. Itmeant lots of work, but each one was at her cheeriest best as sheoverhauled canvases, measured spaces, dug pole-holes, sewed on rings fortape, tied ropes, and performed the various odd jobs necessary to havethe camp city in shape before night.
As Mrs. Van Vorst had generously provided so many sleepingaccommodations, there were only three tents to be erected, an old canvastent which the doctor had loaned, an Indian tepee belonging to thebrother of one of the Orioles, and a natty little affair made of heavycotton sheeting. It is needless to say that this was the pride ofHelen's and Nathalie's hearts, the tent they had wrestled with throughmany toilsome hours on the rear lawn, with Fred Tyson doing duty as amaster tent-maker.
When the tents were erected with openings to the East, in a row by thewater, backed by a belt of woodland, whose pungent odors added a zest tothe girls' ideals of the camp life, Nathalie and Helen hurried to theirtent to unpack. The big packing-box which had served as a trunk for twowas hastily turned on its narrowest side, with open side to the tent,and then with hammer and nails converted into a combination arrangementof book-case and dresser, the top having a piece of white shelf oilclothtacked on it.
Here pincushions, hair-pin trays, brushes, and various toilet articles,with cologne, lotion, and medicine bottles--the last in case of need--werehastily bestowed. On the upper shelf books were stored--for the storyhour--while the other shelves were quickly filled with all sorts ofknick-knacks, things they just had to have, even in the wilderness, asHelen had affirmed.
Two ropes, one on each side of the tent, were fastened up so that eachgirl could have a handy place to dispose of superfluous articles ofwearing apparel. There was also a smaller one near the soap-box with itslittle tin pitcher and bowl, to serve as a towel-rack. After hanging amirror for mutual use and tacking on the floor between the cots a pinkand blue cotton rug--Mrs. Page's idea and gift--they started on the beds.These were real camping affairs, and would ordinarily have meant hardlabor, but Peter, who had been let into the secret before he leftWestport, had already cut eight logs, four to a bed frame, one on eachside of the tent, and had brought the dry evergreen boughs.
With the boughs the girls filled the frames, and after stuffing twoticking bags with dry leaves and grass, they placed them on the beds,and covered them with rubber sheets and blankets. They were then made upwith sheets and double blankets, and then after throwing a number ofsofa pillows about--to be used at night for pillows--the tent-makers wereready to hold an impromptu reception to their Pioneer friends.
Nathalie now played the part of town crier and rushed hither and thitherinviting the guests to their camp nest in the woods. The girls quicklygathered and, after due examination, expressed by cries of praise theiradmiration of the handiness and deftness displayed by the two girls, andthe first tent feast was held. To be sure, it was only crackers andfruit left from the girls' lunch-boxes, but they filled the bill, sothat when the bugle sounded its clarion blast, as Lillie expressed it,the pangs of hunger being appeased, the girls all hastened with joyfulsteps to Mrs. Morrow's bungalow to hold their first Pioneer Rally.
Mrs. Morrow, as presiding officer, in a short space of time was able todespatch considerable camp business, the girls having had so manydiscussions that their plans were matured and no time was lost inneedless talk. It was quickly settled to name the camp "Laff-a-Lot," togovern it as a city, with the girls as citizens with power to electtheir own officials, which meant a mayor, a board of aldermen, a justiceof the court as well as a clerk and an attorney in case of need, and thesquads.
Mrs. Morrow was immediately chosen mayor, and the squads elected. Therewas the Coast Squad, composed of two Pioneers whose duty it was to soundthe bugle for taps at six, for a dip in the Lake at quarter past, thecall for breakfast at seven and the succeeding meals, for bathing drillat eleven, and all other calls required by camp regulations. This squadwas also to see that the coast was kept clear of debris, that thebathers observed all rules, and was to give the alarm and act in commandof the rescue committee in times of danger.
The Tent Squad was to see that the girls kept their tents in regulationorder,--each girl to make her own bed and so on,--and that all sanitaryrules were carried out according to schedule.
The Grub Squad meant two cooks, a chief and an assistant, and twohelpers or waitresses. Each girl, of course, was required to bring herown plate, cup, saucer, bowl, knife, and fork, and see that they werewashed, dried, and placed on the shelf, as well as to wash her owndrying-towel.
The Rally Squad was composed of one person--considered the most importantmember of camp--to act as officer of the day by planning with the mayorthe day's program, reporting this at breakfast, and seeing that allnotices, as well as the schedule for the day's events, were duly writtenon the bulletin each morning.
The Board of Aldermen was made up of the first member of each Squad. Allofficials, with the exception of the mayor and court officers, were toserve for three days only, and the members of all squads were to bechosen according to their qualifications for the work as determined bythe number of merit badges.
As soon as the Rally was over, the girls made a rush for the Lake, asevery one was wild to go on its gleaming surface that shone under therays of the dipping sun like a silver shield, burnished with the goldenred of the West.
But Helen, who declared it was too late to enjoy that pleasure as it wasso near supper time, was rudely interrupted by Lillie Bell, who had beenpeering with intent eyes across the water. Suddenly she gave a low cryand pointed to a solitary figure on the opposite bank dragging arow-boat from the water.
Instantly all eyes were riveted in that direction as each girl vainlytried to decide whether the figure belonged to a man or a woman. "Oh, Iknow!" screamed the Sport frantically after a short stare opposite."Girls, yes, it's a Scout! See he has on a khaki suit, and his staff,oh, where do you suppose he could have come from!" she said, looking upat the girls with delighted inquiry in her sparkling eyes.
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