St. Nicholas Vol XIII. No. 8 June 1886: An Illustrated Magazine for Young FolksVarious
General
St. Nicholas Vol XIII. No. 8 June 1886: An Illustrated Magazine for Young Folks
Various
Children's literature -- Periodicals; Children's periodicals, American
"Now if you really wish, sir,
An epicurean dish, sir,
Just wait till we bake this fish, sir,
To pass the time away."
--and so on through several stanzas.
By ten o'clock every night, we wrapped ourselves up in our blankets,
lights went out, and silence reigned. I didn't chafe much under this
rule, for the true camper is always asleep as soon as he lies down. The
next thing I heard was a buzzing sound--the alarm clock had rung, it was
half-past six, and the sunlight was streaming in upon the campers.
Several of us jumped into the lake for a bath; later in the season this
morning plunge became general, and every fellow had to report with soap
and tooth-brush. After breakfast, there came the usual camp
work,--lanterns to be filled, the sleeping cabin to be swept out, various
"police" duties to be attended to, and fuel to be provided; at eleven,
there was instruction in swimming. And so the days went by. The work was
so systematized as not to fall heavily upon any one person, unless he
shirked; and there was ample time for base-ball, cricket, tennis,
fishing, boating, and other amusements. When the days were very warm,
hammocks were very popular. The Fourth of July was celebrated with
appropriate exercises. The Stars and Stripes floated gayly from our
staff, and the cabins were decked with bunting and small flags. At night,
the farmers and woodsmen, with their sisters, cousins, aunts, and
sweethearts, began to swarm down upon us and lined the lake shore. Our
fireworks were set off from a scow anchored one hundred yards from land,
and the effect was fine.
Sunday morning breakfasts were after the most approved New England
fashion,--baked beans, brown bread, fishballs, and chocolate. Everybody
was expected to write a letter home during the forenoon. After dinner
came the choir rehearsal, followed by four o'clock service in a
picturesque little opening in the woods which nature seemed to have
designed for a chapel. There rough benches had been made under the
shadowy trees, and the sylvan chancel had been carpeted with moss. At the
back of the chancel, stood a great rude cross, outlined boldly against
the somber background of dense forest; and directly before us was a
rustic pulpit. Our Sunday service in this woodland sanctuary was attended
by large numbers of strangers, many driving a distance of twelve or
fifteen miles. The master who acted as minister wore a white surplice and
read the service of the Episcopal Church. The chants and a familiar hymn
were sung to a violin accompaniment. Then came a short address.
A collection was always taken up in behalf of the Charity Fund, which, at
the end of the season, the boys voted to divide between the Sheltering
Arms Nursery of Brooklyn, and the Boys' Home in Boston.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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