The Camp Fire Girls in the Maine Woods | Page 6

which could be sung by the Winnebagos. Any girl writing the words of
a song which was adopted for use would receive a leather W cut in the
form of wings to represent "winged words" or poetry; the honor for
composing the music for a song would be a winged note cut from
leather, and the honor for writing both words and music would be a
combination of the two. These were to be known as the "Olowan"
honors, because "Olowan" was the Winnebago word for song, and were
quite independent of the National song honors, because a great many
songs which could not be adopted by the National organization would
be admirable for use in the local group on account of their aptness.
Just before they sang the Goodnight Song, Nyoda drew Gladys into the
group and officially invited her to become a Winnebago at the next
Council Fire. Gladys accepted the invitation and the girls sang a ringing
cheer to her because her coming made it possible for them to have the
camp.
To close the Ceremonial Meeting the girls sang "Mammy Moon,"
ending up by lying in a circle around the fire, their heads pillowed on
one another. The fire was burning very low now and great shadows
from the woods lay across the open space. Nyoda stole silently to the
edge of the clearing and the girls rose and filed past her, softly singing
"Now our Camp Fire's burning low." Nyoda held each girl's hand in a
warm clasp for a moment as she passed before her and the girls clung
to her lovingly. The forest was so big and dark, and they were so far
from home, and Nyoda was so strong and tender!
"Wasn't it wonderful?" whispered Migwan to Sahwah, as they picked
their way back to the tents in the darkness.
"Wasn't it, though!" answered Sahwah, flashing her little bug light on
the path before her.
Gladys's bed was in the Omega tent with Sahwah, Hinpoha and
Migwan. One end faced the lake and the stars peeked in with friendly
twinkles, while the moon flooded the place with silver light. The three

girls were out of their Ceremonial costumes and into their nightgowns
in no time, while Gladys fussed around nervously.
"Aren't we going to have the lantern lit?" she asked.
"What for?" said Sahwah. "The moon makes it as bright as day."
Gladys took off her middy. "Where are we going to hang our clothes?"
she asked next.
"Throw them across the foot of your bed," answered Hinpoha, "or lay
them on the stool, or up on the swinging shelf, or hang them on the
floor, the way Sahwah does." At this Sahwah sat up in bed and threw
her pillow at Hinpoha. Hinpoha sent it back and Sahwah threw it the
second time. Instead of hitting Hinpoha, however, it landed in the basin
of water in which Gladys was trying to wash herself, knocking it off the
stand and out of the tent door. Gladys gave an exclamation of
impatience. Sahwah hastened to apologize. "I'm awfully sorry, Gladys.
But you saw how it was. I was trying to hit 'Poha and hit you by
mistake." Here the pent-up laughter of the three girls broke forth, and
they shouted in unison. Gladys did not laugh. "I'll get you some more
water," said Sahwah, getting out of bed. The pail was empty, so
Sahwah went all the way down to the lake for water. On the way back
she rescued the pillow, which was soaking wet, and stood it up against
the tent pole to dry.
Just then came a loud hail from the other tent. "Goodnight, Omegas!"
"Good night, Alphas," they answered, "sleep tight!" Again came the
fourfold voice out of Alpha, "Goodnight, Gladys!"
Gladys was finally ready for bed. "You aren't going to leave the sides
of the tent rolled up all night, are you?" she asked in a horrified tone.
"We surely are," said Sahwah, "we always do."
"What if it rains?"
"Plenty of time then to put them down."

Gladys stood irresolute beside the bed. "We'll put your side down, if
you prefer it," said Migwan good-naturedly, "but it's really pleasanter
with it up. It seemed rather airy to me at first, but now I wouldn't have
it down for anything."
"Don't trouble yourself," said Gladys.
"Sure, I'll put it down," said Migwan, making a motion to rise, but just
then the second bugle rang out and she subsided.
Gladys got into bed and pulled the blankets over her head. It was the
first time she had ever slept out of doors. She felt very small and
lonesome and neglected. She had not wanted to come to this camp the
least bit. Other summers she had always gone to Atlantic City