The Torch Bearer: A Camp Fire Girls' StoryThurston, I. T. (Ida Treadwell)
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The Torch Bearer: A Camp Fire Girls' Story
Thurston, I. T. (Ida Treadwell)
Camp Fire Girls -- Juvenile fiction
"'Wohelo means health.
We hold on to health, because through health we serve
and are happy.
In caring for the health and beauty of our persons we
are caring for the very shrine of the Great Spirit.
Wohelo means health.'"
As Mary went back to her place Laura laid her hand on the shoulder of
Bessie Carroll, who was next her. With a glance of pleased surprise
Bessie took the third taper and in her low gentle voice repeated,
"'I light the light of Love, for Wohelo means love.'"
The room was very still as she lighted the third candle, saying,
"'Wohelo means love.
We love love, for love is life, and light and joy and
sweetness.
And love is comradeship and motherhood, and fatherhood and all
dear kinship.
Love is the joy of service so deep that self is forgotten.
Wohelo means love.'"
As she spoke the last words a strain of music, so low that it was barely
audible, breathed through the room, then deepened into one clear note,
and instantly the wohelo cheer rose in a joyful chorus.
After the roll-call and reports of the last meeting there was no more
ceremony. Miss Laura had set the three candles back on the mantelpiece,
where they burned steadily, sending out a faint spicy odor that mingled
with the pleasant fragrance of the firs. The fire snapped and sang and
blazed merrily, and Laura dropped down on the floor in front of it,
gathering the girls closer about her.
"To-night," she began, "I want to hear about your good times--the 'fun'
that every girl wants and needs. Tell me, what do you enjoy most?"
"Moving pictures," shouted Eva Bicknell, a little bundle-wrapper of
fifteen.
"Dances," cried another girl.
"O yes, dances," echoed pretty Annie Pearson, her eyes shining.
"I like the roller skating at the Arcade," another declared.
"The gym and swimming pool and tennis." That was Mary Hastings.
"Hear her, will ye?" Eva Bicknell muttered. "Great chance _we_ have for
tennis and gym.!"
"You could have them at the Y.W.C.A. That's where I go for them when you
go to your dances and picture shows," retorted Mary.
"But the picture shows is great fun, 'specially when the boys take ye
in," the other flung back.
There was a laugh at that, and the little bundle-wrapper added, "an'
finish up with a promenade on the avenue in the 'lectric lights."
Laura's heart sank at these frank expressions of opinion. What had she
to offer that would offset picture shows, dances and "the boys" for such
girls as these? But now one of the High School girls was speaking. "We
have most of our good times at the school. There is always something
going on--lunches or concerts or socials or dances--and once a year we
get up a play. Some girl in the class generally writes the play. It's
great fun."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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