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diff --git a/41937-0.txt b/41937-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c246dd --- /dev/null +++ b/41937-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2440 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41937 *** + +[Transcriber's Note: Underlining in the text is surrounded by +plus +signs+. Italics are surrounded by _underscores_.] + + +CAMPING + +By + +Biddy + +Known in Real Life as + +ALEXANDRA G. LOCKWINE, R. N. + +[Illustration] + + _Illustrated, Arranged and Printed by_ + THE ADVERTISERS PRINTING CO. + 133 West 24th Street, New York + + + + + Copyrighted by + Alexandra G. Lockwine + 1911 + + + + +Contents + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. Getting Ready 9 + II. Leaving the City 21 + III. On the Way to Camp 31 + IV. First Day at Camp 37 + V. Routine 53 + VI. Afternoon Sports 65 + VII. Evening Games 73 + VIII. Camping Trips 85 + IX. Odds and Ends, Including Prayers 97 + X. Football 107 + XI. Boating 115 + XII. Final Contests, Track Work 127 + XIII. Visitors 139 + XIV. Last Days 151 + XV. Awarding Prizes 163 + XVI. Leaving Camp 169 + + + + +Dedication + + +_To Dr. George Alexander Kohut, who may not be a good judge of whiskey, +but who is a Gentleman and a Scholar, one of the few Preachers who ++does+ as he +says+, this book is affectionately dedicated by the +author._ + + _February 14, 1911_ + + + + +Foreword + + +NOWADAYS, whenever we pick up a magazine, we read the notices of Camps +all the way from Maine to California, who are in need of Campers, and +think how very popular camping is becoming, when as a matter of fact it +is the one and only pastime that has always retained its popularity. + +We can trace it back to the prehistoric ages; see it carved in +hieroglyphics on obelisks, find upon investigation that North, South, +East or West, the tribes of Red, Black, Yellow and White, have gloried +in living in tents, so is it any wonder that mankind still loves it? + +This thin veneer of civilization which makes us desire to shut ourself +in structures of brick and wood is only skin deep. Right under the +surface the love for the open prevails so strongly, that every little +while a man who has been brought up according to our standards breaks +loose, takes to the road and lives a life of freedom, while the world +looking on pities him for going down in the scale and tries to bring him +back from the life his nature craves, to one of humdrum existence. + +Then come along with me, please, do, for just one summer in Camp and you +will say at the end of the season that you can squeeze more fun into a +canvas tent than into all the palaces you ever were in. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CAMPING + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +Getting Ready. + + +With the catalog and prospectus in front of you, making delightful +little shivers run up and down your spine, you begin marking down, +first, the articles you must have; then the things you hope your fond +relatives will give you; then the clothes and athletic goods without +which any boy with true camping spirit cannot get along. + +Your father, who secretly expects to come out to Camp and use some of +your cherished sweaters, running pants, swimming trunks, etc., etc., +suggests that you get extra large sizes, to allow for shrinkage. You +protest, telling him that you don't want your clothes to look like +"hand-me-downs," that you had inherited from your big brother. + +After many heart-breaking wrenches, during which you feel as though even +death itself were preferable to giving up all the articles you have +chosen, you effect a compromise by saying you will be satisfied with one +fishing rod, six pairs of running pants, several pairs of sneakers, lots +of sweaters, a complete outfit of oilskins, tennis racket, baseball bat, +balls, and Oh! what a good boy you would be, if you could have a canoe. + +You would study all winter, not want to stay up late, cross your heart +to leave cigarettes and trashy novels alone, but, gee whiz! only to be +the owner of a canoe. You even appeal to your father, who weighs in the +neighborhood of 200 pounds, and try to make him see the fun of going out +with you. Suppose you were upset? What of it? You can both swim. + +Mother, dear, puts a quick veto on that. No canoe for you at any price. +In fact, owing to her nervous system being in need of recuperation, she +thinks the bath tub the best place to swim in, and deplores the risks +one must take in order to be athletic. + +The 'House' having vetoed the canoe question, you offer another little +bill, asking for an appropriation for a shotgun, or at least one of +those dandy little air rifles, so you can shoot at targets and the +farmers' cows and chickens. + +Before you can be heard the 'House' vetoes that, too. Danger signals are +displayed, and you feel as though you were treading on a third rail. + +The 'House' suggests that you should spend the summer with her, taking +views with your Kodak, walking miles every day and playing ping pong and +lotto every evening, thus getting a nice quiet rest to prepare you for a +long winter's study. + +In the deepest despair you clutch your father's hand. He gives you a +sympathetic squeeze in return. Say, is there anything on the face of +this earth like the loving freemasonry between a sporty parent and his +little son? + +Not to agitate matters any more and change the subject, you ask how much +pocket money you are to be allowed per week. The 'House' again rises to +object, claiming that, as there are no car fares to be paid or soda +fountains to tempt, you cannot have any possible use for money. You will +be furnished with plenty of paper and stamped envelopes and sundries, +thus for once relieving you of the strain of handling money. + +Well, whoever heard of a right little, tight little boy who objected to +the jingle of loose change in his pants pockets? "If such there be, go +mark him well," for he surely will need watching. + +From data you have gathered, you inform the 'House' that a camel with +three stomachs isn't in it with a hungry boy at Camp; that your special +friends, Jack, Ed, and Fatty, all spend their weekly money, and that +nothing but the fear of being punished keeps them from gnawing the +canvas tents. They live in the open all the time and are constantly +hungry. + +Just about the time when one feels that hunger laughs at locksmiths, the +ice cream and cake man drives in. If you have ever in your travels seen +a horde of hungry little piglings swarm all over a trough you can form +some idea of what those boys do to that wagon. The boys are simply +starving for ice cream and cake. One plate is only an introduction; with +the second one you begin to distinguish the flavor; it really needs a +third one to put that sweet icy feeling in your stomach so earnestly +desired by the growing youth. The next day, or maybe next but one, our +friend the fruit man calls. All your life you have been told of the +value of fruit. Your system at this time craves lots of it. It is very +good for you. Oh! yes, certainly! but it has to be paid for from some of +that pocket money. All this and more you tell them, being careful to +cross your t's and dot your i's for fear of the 'House's' objections. + +Father and mother decide to consult together. You see the moment has +arrived, when you will gain more by saying less, so you kiss them +good-night and "stand not upon the order of your going." + +Upstairs you fall into a brown study. With your clothes half off, you +think of the fun you will have; perhaps of the medals you will win, and +there creeps just a little undercurrent of sadness through you at the +thought of parting from your devoted parents. "Ah, me! I kind of hate to +leave mother," you think, then console yourself that they will be coming +up to see you. About this time your day dream ends suddenly, for they +are coming upstairs. Out goes the light. Into bed you jump. Are asleep +in the twinkling of an eye, to dream that you are at Camp, enjoying all +the fun and frolic there. + +The minute you open your eyes in the morning you read the catalog from +beginning to end, look at the pictures, try to fancy yourself posing as +the champion high diver, jumper and tennis player, and forget to brush +your teeth, in your hurry to get to school, where you can consult with +your chums. + +Not one sporting goods window can you pass without a curious glance. In +fact, dear boy, you are in such a maze that when the teacher asks you to +tell him how you would start for the North Pole you answer promptly: +"From the Grand Central Station, on the Bar Harbor Express," and, for +the life of you, cannot see why the class roars at you. + +Some weeks never seem to come to an end, and this, the very longest week +of your life, just crawls away. Saturday your fond father has promised +to go with you and purchase the athletic goods, while mother attends to +the rest. + +You want to know where he is going to buy them and what he is going to +get. Are told to come along and not fuss any more. If there is any smell +on the face of this earth that smells nicer than new leather in an +athletic goods shop, I want to smell it. Oh, me! Oh, my! what beauties, +and you have to bite your tongue to keep from interrupting. + +Business has been very good with father, and he, thinking back over his +own boyhood, when money was as scarce as hens' teeth, makes up his mind +to fit you out so as to be a credit to yourself and him. + +Later in life you may blossom out in a Prince Albert and silk hat, a +dinner or full dress suit, but never, as long as you live, will clothes +ever give you the unalloyed pleasure that these camping togs do in your +first year at Camp. + +As a rule, you are not over and above fond of carrying bundles. The cook +can vouch for that. How much bribery she had to practice to make you +bring home quickly a bottle of milk or of water or a bunch of soup +greens. But now you are perfectly willing to carry everything from +sneakers to caps, and can hardly trust the salesman to send them home. + +In the privacy of your room you strip off your clothes in a jiffy, for +the joy of trying on the different sweaters, running pants and swimming +trunks. In your baseball clothes you pose, in fancy, almost a miniature +Mathewson; try a high dive from the bureau to the bed; do a hurdle over +the towel rack. Nothing but the fear of breaking the furniture stops you +in your wild gambols. + +Another peep at the catalog to see if you have everything you need; a +fervent hope that you may make good, and bring home with you in the fall +a silver cup or trophy. Then, carefully folding each and every garment +with almost reverent care, you vow to keep your trunk in order. If any +one should mention the fact to you, you would be indignant at the idea +of not caring a jot at the end of the season whether you collected your +belongings or left them lying around loose. + +Among the gifts you have thus far received are a compass, a kodak and a +housewife filled with thread, needles, buttons, etc. There does not seem +to be one thing wanting to make life one long, sweet song unless it is +the canoe which you hope for next year. All through life that one little +thing which would make us perfectly happy, if we had it, and yet the +perfect happiness is not for mortals. Truly, the poet knew what he was +talking about when he said, + + "Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, + Is our destined end or way; + But to act, that each to-morrow + Find us farther than to-day." + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +Leaving the City. + + +A few days before we leave for Camp all the boys, new and old, are +invited to meet at the home of the Director to become acquainted with +one another. It is called a rally, and truly the boys do rally around +the Director, whose greatest fault is that he loves mankind too much, +for his idea of Heaven is that it is filled with boys alone. One look in +his face will convince the most skeptical, and association for even a +brief season with him makes a boy feel truer and better. + +The principal part of the rally consists of partaking bountifully of ice +cream, cake and lemonade, while exchanging yarns with old friends, +making new acquaintances, thinking up new jokes, and enjoying the +shining hours. The faculty hobnob with each other, and, taking it +altogether, it is a delightful afternoon, one to be remembered as a red +letter day. + +Even the old Camp nurse calls around, to be greeted by both her friends +and enemies; to renew her friendship for all, mentally picking out new +favorites, while keeping a warm spot in her heart for old boys. There is +something in the air that starts her off right away using camp +slanguage, and behaving like one of the boys. She just cannot help +getting into the spirit of the thing. All the way over to the rally she +had told herself that she must act in a dignified way becoming to a +woman of 80 in the shade, then the minute she catches sight of the crowd +she throws dignity to the winds, saying she'll none of it, is ready for +a tussle with or without gloves, snaps her fingers at old Father Time. +Let the sands run down if they must, but until the last grain has run, +she hopes to be with her boys, to tease, to love, to try and care for +them. If they need a mother's care, all right; she is there. Are they in +want of a chum? Well, in a pinch she will do. As long as she can make +them happy in her poor little way, what cares she if she does make a +goose of herself? + +You see that, after all, the keynote of life is LOVE. With it, the very +poorest home is happy; without it, a palace is dreary. So poor old +Nursie starts out by loving the Director, and right on down the line, +finding good qualities in the worst and tamest boy there. She is +devoutly thankful for the chance to spend some weeks with those who love +her, despite her years and looks. + +But we must not get mushy. So let's travel along and get to the starting +point, or how shall we ever get there? + +The day before we leave New York the expressman calls for our trunks, +bags, etc., which ends our troubles as far as they are concerned. We +never see anything of them until we get to Camp, yet they have been on +their way just the same as we. There they stand on the Campus, waiting +to be put into the tents. They are filled with good things to decorate +and make these little homes look like college rooms. + +The long-looked-for day is here at last. A farewell look around to see +that we have forgotten nothing, we make a solemn promise to write +regularly, to keep our teeth clean, not to eat much trash, to keep out +of danger, not to get wet, to mind the Director and faculty; in fact, to +be good, good, good. + +Compared to the excitement at the depot, the Tower of Babel was a +peaceful village. Of course, it is a fool comparison to compare the +anxious parents' wanderings to that of a lot of hens who have just been +decapitated, yet they will feel so terribly anxious at the parting +moment. Every mother wants her boy looked after, never mind the rest. +The boy himself doesn't want to be fussed over, and most awfully hates +to be petted in public. + +Yes, sir! I have known boys who would kick at being petted in public, +and yet were perfectly willing to have some one lie down with them at +night, telling them fairy stories until they were sleepy. They never +entirely get over that, either, only the tables are reversed in later +years, they being the ones to tell the fairy stories. + +The gates are opened; one wild rush for the cars; mothers kissing the +wrong boys in their excitement; everybody trying to get away from +somebody else, the inevitable small boy with fiendish cunning letting go +of your hand, shouts, laughter, tears and prayers, follow us as we step +aboard the special train reserved for our Camp, "Good-bye, dear--Be a +good boy--Write soon--Clean your teeth--Don't poke your head out of the +window--Tell the Nurse about your medicine--Tell the faculty about your +clothes--Ask the doctor to keep an eye on you--Let the Director 'phone +me as soon as you get there"--these, and a thousand and one more +questions and orders, follow us as we slowly glide out of the train +shed. + +We soothe the nervous parents, honestly promising them to look after +their darlings, send them home with sometimes a heavy heart at the +thought of parting from their children, yet thankful that they can give +them advantages that they themselves could not always have in their +youth. There are, of course, exceptions; many a father realizes that he +has not the knack of training his boys and being wise, decides to let +others do it for him. For what on earth is sadder than parent and child +who do not understand each other, constantly pulling at the wrong end of +the rope, growing farther and farther apart as the years go by. + +Before the train is in the tunnel the little chaps are peeling off their +collars, ties and all the clothes they dare, having been almost roasted, +that hot June evening, before starting. + +The porter is ordered to make up berths at once. You really would think +they wanted to go to bed. It looks that way for a minute, but is only a +huge bluff. While ample room has been allowed for all, the rascals +prefer getting into each other's berths. Only the very little boys go +to sleep before 10 or 11 p. m. Such a glorious time as they have! But +even the wildest boy must let up some time until his storage batteries +are recharged. At last quiet prevails, and for the next few hours +nothing is heard but the click of the rails, the warning whistle, the +brakeman passing through the cars with shining lantern, one or another +of the faculty seeing that all's well, our Director himself looking out +for the comfort of the little ones. + +Biddy herself, on the job, like the old woman of nursery rhyme who had +so many children she didn't know what to do, is put down at one end of +the car with all the littlest ones. These she can watch (when she's +awake), and gather under her wings in case of storm. There is no storm, +unless one of protest at the general racket made. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +On the Way to Camp. + + +The night passes at last. With the first streak of daylight boys jump up +and dress quickly, for we are due at Portland a little after 7 a. m. + +Our breakfast has been ordered ahead. All we have to do is to eat it, +not like the famous recipe for cooking a hare; ours has been caught, +skinned and cooked. It seems to fill the bill, for with good appetite we +fall to, causing even the waiters, who are used to almost everything, to +gasp at the way the food disappears. + +About half an hour is allowed us at the station. Then "All aboard" for +Oxford. What a beautiful country we are passing through! The late spring +here makes everything look beautifully tender and green; rolling +country, which, after all, is the perfect landscape, passes before us. +After the heat and dust of the city, how cool and refreshing this is! +Comfortable farm houses, lovely orchards, with the trees heavy with +young fruit, winding streams, songbirds on every side, overhead a sky of +tenderest blue, with here and there a fleck of white--even the cattle +grazing in the fields seem to know that we are coming, for they low, and +the calves run along the inside of the fence seeming to recognize +kindred spirits. Through this most beautiful section of country we ride +for one and one-half hours, stopping at Oxford. + +Carriages are waiting for the 6-mile ride to Camp. We thought Nature in +her most lavish mood had shown us the best she had while we were on the +train, but here were more and more surprises in store for us. Were you +to take a little of Lake George, mix it with some shady lanes in +England, add the clear atmosphere of the Catskills, sprinkle around a +few of the prettiest lakes in Switzerland, borrow the Italian skies for +a covering, even then, Maine, in this section, can give the rest of the +country cards and spades and beat them at that. + +We are really very glad, though, when we come in sight of Camp. Even the +loveliest drive won't satisfy a boy who is anxious to get to his tent. +He wants to get out of his city clothes, and into Camp attire. What a +beautiful scene opens before us! The lake, like a sheet of polished +silver, rows of tents waiting for tenants, the tables already set for +dinner, all the house help on hand smiling a welcome, and willing to +make every one feel quickly at home. + +Wagon after wagon drives up and discharges its load of living freight. +They climb out any way, over the back, over the dashboard, over the +wheels, the farmers threatening to sue for damages for injuries +inflicted upon their ancient turnouts. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +First Day in Camp. + + +Before we can locate ourselves the bugle sounds for mess. Each of the +instructors has a certain number of boys in his care, so there is not +the slightest confusion. + +There is not a roof garden or a palm room or any other make-believe +place for eating outdoors in the city that can compare with this. To eat +out-of-doors with such air, such views, such food! Those who are hungry +pitch right in; those with little appetite begin to eat, gaining a love +for the food as they go along. Second helpings of everything are called +for and eaten, until at last the waistband protests at such pressure +being put upon it. + +As soon as the signal is given to leave the table every boy takes quick +advantage of it. We see them, running here and there, looking for their +bags and boxes. For the next few hours they are as busy as the +proverbial bee. + +Boys, who, when at home, have not even as much as taken their changes of +linen out of the bureau, who since infancy have been washed, combed, +brushed and dressed by fond mothers and nurses, here learn for the first +time what it is to do for themselves. + +It is a joyful revelation to them to find out how much they can do. +Heretofore they have not only been willing to let others do for them but +have demanded it; now, when they need a bath, there is no one to prepare +it for them, so they just go ahead and gather their belongings together +and run down to the lake. No shutting of windows and taking a bath in a +torrid temperature, with some one handy to rub your back, following that +with an alcohol rub. I guess not. You go into water that sparkles, slop +around if you cannot swim; swim around if you cannot slop. The water +just soaks out all the impurities. Then out you jump. Sometimes you dry +with a towel, most of the time the sun dries you, and of all the lovely +towels on the face of this earth the pleasant sunshine, woven with +gentle breezes, is the one and only towel for me. + +In the city a chap just hurries into the water, soaps the washrag, +debates, if he is in a hurry, whether to wash from head to foot or just +touch the dirty places lightly and depend upon the towel to do the rest. +Sometimes he sits down in the tub and doesn't wash at all; just sits +there, thinking, like a bump on a log, until he is warned of the flight +of time; then jumps out again, not half clean. + +But at Camp the joy of going into the water is doubled, nay, trebled, by +the knowledge that you cannot go in when you want to, but must wait +until the proper hour; and this, our first day there, is about the +middle of the afternoon. + +Most of us fancy we can swim well until we go into a large body of +water. There is all the difference in the world between making a fast +sprint in a tank, under cover, with no currents or wind or shoaling +water to impede one's movements. That is why so many boys have to find +out for themselves the difference. Many boys who have held records for +indoor swimming make rather poor showing when it comes to long-distance +swimming in the open. + +Our first afternoon at Camp passes so quickly that before you can say +Jack Robinson it is time for supper. We have not done one-quarter of the +self-imposed tasks. How can a fellow do much when he just has to stop +every few seconds to look out of his tent? The water allures with its +sparkle, the woods invite you to come and rest in their shade; the +Campus begs for your company; baseball diamonds plead for just one game; +tennis courts spread their nets to catch the player; basketball courts +coax with their goals on high; the running track dares you to sprint +just once around. What, with flags floating, sun shining, life and +animation everywhere, is it any wonder that supper time finds us this +day with happiness in our hearts, trunks upset, tents half decorated, +letters to parents begun, everything started and nothing finished? On +this, our first day, there is not one boy in a hundred who could put +his share of the tent in order. + +Take, for instance, the Kodak fiend. How can he bother with such things +as arranging his toilet articles, when the sun is just right for +snapping a few views? He surely can put his share in order when the +shadows begin to fall. He uses up a roll of films without much result, +because in his hurry to snapshot the entire country in one afternoon he +makes mistakes. Later on he will discriminate, to his advantage, and by +the end of the season show some pictures worth while. + +Then there is the boy who has brought his musical instrument along to +Camp. No matter whether it is a mandolin or a guitar, a violin or a +drum, a banjo or jewsharp, it is an instrument, isn't it? sometimes of +pleasure, most of the time of torture to the sensitive nerves, still +with the best of intentions he tightens the keys, looks up at the ridge +pole for inspiration and lets her go. He may play some selection from +Beethoven or Chopin in a way to touch one's heart, causing work to cease +while he plays. Then again it may be ragtime played out of time and +tune, making one's fingers itch to slap him and destroy his musical +instrument; but, no matter what it is, it is done for pleasure, and is +accepted as such by his admiring tentmates. + +So much for art and music. Then there is the boy who is anxious to start +a game. That chap is to be really pitied. No matter how many times he +puts the bat in the corner of his tent it has a sneaking way of rolling +back again to his feet. Could it speak, it would probably, in a wooden +sort of voice, ask what he had brought it along for. No bat with a bit +of self-respecting feeling in its wooden heart likes to look new. It +feels that its chief charm is to be useful more than ornamental, and if +you are at all doubtful about the sympathetic feeling between a baseball +bat and a good player, then just go to any one of the good games and +watch the batters. Many a time have I been amused at their antics. They +take up an apparently respectable old bat, swing it around, feel its +weight, hit the ground with it, and just when you think that the bat in +self-defense will swat them one they throw it down in disgust. The bat +often rolls back again, asking for another trial. Has it not been +created for just this kind of work? Then what right has a man to throw +it down without a trial? + +To an outsider there seems to be madness in their methods. Yet it may be +the reverse, just as some people are created for one special line of +work, so may even a piece of wood be better fitted to form a plank that +stays in one place, while another piece of wood has so much life in it, +whether you will or not, if you use that particular bat you are bound to +win. + +But for all-round madness, commend me to the tennis player. He is +hopeless from the start, and all he knows about love is what he wins in +the game. They will go without meals, play at all hours, and are as +greedy as can be about holding on to courts. Yet tennis could be made a +sentimental game. What with its couples, playing for love and courts, +and nets, Cupid himself might take a hand in arranging the matches. + +Well, the tennis fiend goes out, whether it is hot or cold, that first +afternoon, finds a partner, runs, jumps and leaps all afternoon after +two little white balls, with never a care as to whether his share of +the tent is in order or not. + +That is baseball and tennis for you, gentle reader. + +Next, on this our first day, there is the boy who wants a boat and the +boy who wants a swim. + +No wonder poets have made verses about boating since time first was. +Talk about the poetry of motion! To lie in the bottom of a roomy boat on +a still lake on a sunny afternoon, the water lapping the sides in a +gentle, soothing way, making us think of our mothers when they held us +on their laps, just rocking so slowly and easily that we felt as if we +cuddled up to her, her arms tight around us (as though to ward off all +evil), and our head leaning on her breast, that heaven itself could +offer nothing sweeter than this--indeed, if one had one's choice +between being a little cherub a la Raphael, with cunning wings growing +out of his shoulder blades, or just sitting on mother's lap and being +loved, I rather think heaven would be short of cherubs, while every +mother's lap would be filled. + +Then why call a boy lazy who likes to lie idly in a boat, with his face +turned up to the blue heavens? He probably is planning wonderful things +to do when he grows up; in the meantime feeling an echo of the past, +stirring his inmost being. + +But of all the villains, the boy who wants a swim is the worst. He will +do you the honor to ask for it, and is perfectly happy if you grant +permission. He is evidently descended from some one of the original +fishes who went into Noah's Ark. His nature craves water. + +Long living on shore has rid his skin of any scaly look, but the fish +blood is there just the same. He can dive to the bottom of the pool and +stay there looking up at you with glassy eyes, for all the world like a +sulky trout. When he leaps in the water you are reminded of a porpoise +splashing through the foam at the vessel's bow. Again cutting through +the water, half-submerged, how like a shark chasing its prey, this may +consist of some harmless old female, who is gently ambling along. The +first thing she knows some monster of the deep has grabbed her by the +leg and is dragging her under water. She shrieks as in her struggles she +fancies some dread sea monster is taking her to its lair. With almost +superhuman effort she breaks loose, when the monster arises to laugh at +her fright. It is the born swimmer, the descendant of prehistoric +fishes, and the worst punishment you can give him is to keep him out of +the water. + +So much for the boatman and swimmer. By supper time most of the boys +have laid the foundation for an elegant coat of tan, some will be badly +sunburnt by to-morrow, for Old Sol dearly loves to scorch the tender +skin of the city youth. It is useless to warn them about stripping all +their clothes off too soon. How are they going to get a good coat of tan +on by the end of the season if they don't begin right away? The only +thing to do is to put plenty of oil on, and if "pain still treads on the +heels of pleasure" they will learn the wisdom of making haste slowly. + +We have a delightful supper. All of the boys do ample justice to it. +Afterwards they lounge around for a short period, when again the bugle +blows "Quarters." + +Getting undressed in a tent with three other boys is lots of fun. There +is no clothes closet to hang your clothes in, just a line made of rope +or wire stretched across that serves as a clothes horse. The night is +cool, and both front and back flaps of the tent are wide open to the +breezes. Just half an hour is allowed to prepare for bed. Then the +bugler sounds "Taps," the most beautiful call of all. Lights go out and +silence reigns. Here and there laughter may be heard, but the majority +of the boys are so tired that their heads have hardly touched the +pillows before they are asleep, after one of the longest and happiest +days of their lives. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +Routine. + + +Bright and early the next morning the bugler sounds reveille. Every one +jumps out of bed, although a few have already been up since daylight, so +eager are they to be real Campers. + +As soon as every one is out of bed the setting up exercises take place. +For fifteen minutes the boys, under the leadership of the instructors, +go through a course of calisthenics, after which they go down to the +water for a scrub and plunge, brush their teeth and get their clothes +on. By that time the bugle calls to them to get into line, ready to +march to the table for breakfast. + +All who are not on line-in will find themselves marching round the +Campus, which is a block square, several times. Good exercise for them, +at the same time teaching them the truth about "Time and tide waiting +for no man." + +Another good meal awaits us, plenty of good, substantial food, that will +put strength into us and at the same time tickle our palate. + +After breakfast we find that it is not all play at Camp. Some are +inclined to loaf; some would like to wander around; others, with some +definite object in view, plan to go out for practice runs or games. But, +hold on, noble youths, you have slept in your beds, have you not? Well, +like Mr. Squeers' method, we will ask you to spell "bed," then go and +make it up. Also you have upset your tents. Again, you are given +gracious permission to tidy them also. + +Here we have no willing mothers, no handy chambermaids, to put +everything in apple-pie order. This is truly Camp, and you are simply +soldiers Camping. + +The Director may have an orderly to do his work, but, as for the rest of +the Campers, it is every man for himself, from the instructors down to +the smallest boy. Each and every one must do his share. Beds are made, +tents swept out, clothes hung up, and when the bugle again calls +"Inspection" each and every boy must be at his tent. + +The Director, accompanied by his staff, inspects, marking for and +against each tent. Accordingly, there is keen competition between the +boys to see who has the most orderly tent for the season. Prizes are +awarded to the tent that has the best record. All this conduces to neat +habits, and lets the boys see there is more to be gained by doing the +right than the wrong thing. + +Again the bugle calls for "Assembly." This is one of the most +interesting events of the day. Here we can all sit under the shade of +beautiful trees and listen to the orders being given out; the schedule +of the games to be played; the list of those to be punished for breaking +the rules, etc., etc. On this occasion the bad boy, knowing full well +that he has been marked for punishment and is going to get it anyway, +does a little more to amuse his friends while he annoys those in office. + +As soon as the orders are given the boys are dismissed, some to go on +the field for a game of tennis, others for baseball, others for walking +trips. For the little boys there is tether ball and the junior baseball +diamond. In fact, whatever is for the big boys is good for his little +brothers, excepting football. + +In the midst of the fun we hear the bugle again. That is the swimming +call; so hurry with your bats, tennis rackets and any other thing you +may be doing at this particular moment. Get your swimming trunks and +rush down to the dock. + +Now for fun. Those who can swim, how gracefully they dive in, swim under +water, and just when your heart is in your mouth for fear they are +drowned up they come in the opposite direction. + +The boys who are not very good swimmers make up for skill by lots of +splashing about in the shallow water. They duck each other, try to +float, and act for all the world like a school of young porpoises. I +myself like to go out with them. They take me for a friendly old mother +whale and climb all over me, never so happy as when they get me down +under the water. Then sometimes I take a large, roomy boat, invite them +in and pole them around the lake to their enjoyment and my own, too. + +But this chapter tells of routine, so we must obey the whistle when it +blows. That means all out, and any one caught in after that is kept out +for two or three times--about the worst kind of punishment you could +give a boy. + +Fortunately, the boys have very little dressing to do, a pair of running +pants and a pair of sneakers being considered full dress. Long before +the bugle tells them to form in line they are ready and hungry. + +This ends the morning. We have been warned to write home to parents, but +the study period after dinner is the time appointed for that. After a +bountiful dinner we see them prepared to write. The big boy will write +willingly to some of his folks and loves to write to the girls. He does +not have to be reminded that Wednesday and Sunday are letter writing +days. The middle sized chap needs a little urging, but the little bear +is the one who forgets. He may be so homesick that you dare hardly speak +to him on that subject, yet he has to be forced to write regularly. + +There are exceptions, of course. Take little Jimsey, for instance, whom +I found crying. The minute I looked at him I knew right away what kind +of malady he was afflicted with. Says I to him: "Jimsey, old boy, have +you written home to your family yet?" "No," he answered, "I don't know +how to spell all the words right. You see, I have never been away from +home before and never had to write letters to my mother." "Oh, if that's +all that ails you, I am the boss letter writer. So, come along with me, +young man, and you can dictate and I will write." "Can I do that?" he +wanted to know. "Of course you can. The Director will say it is all +right." And this is what Jimsey wrote to his mother, at least he +dictated and I wrote it: + + "Dear Mother, Darling: + + "We are here, and I am happy, but so homesick to see + you. Do you feel homesick to see me? Let me know. I + never thought the world was such a big, lonely place. + Is it because you are not with me to hold my hand? I + am going to be brave and bite my under lip, and as + Biddy says 'Keep a stiff upper lip.' She says half the + real truly battles in life have been won by folks + keeping up their courage. I don't want to come home, + but, mother, if you are passing this way, won't you + stop in for a little while?" + + "By that time I shall be cured of this complaint. + Biddy says its called himevay. It makes you feel weepy + all the time, and when night comes and the lights are + out that is the time you feel it the worst. Mother, + dear, don't pet little brother too much, because he + will miss it like I do when he comes to Camp. I know + he is only a little boy now, but if you had stopped + petting me when I was three months old I should have + got used to it by now and not miss you so much. + + "If I was not so lonely I could tell you about this + lovely place, but I have such a lot to tell you of how + I feel. Biddy says I might just as well make this a + purely personal letter and get the whole thing out of + my system. That, she said, would leave me the rest of + the season to describe the other things. + + "When the lights are out and from my cot bed I look + out of the tent I can see the sky. The moon is way up + high, and lots of little stars are shining. Is it the + same moon you can see from your window? I hope it is, + because you can wish to see me when you look up and I + will wish to see you. Then there are so many funny + noises. The water seems to be creeping up the shore a + little way, then falls back again. What makes it do + that, mother? Then some little baby birds keep calling + for their mother bird, 'Peep, peep, peep,' just like + that. Are they cold, do you think, or are they afraid + of falling out of the tree? + + "Then all sorts of funny little insects keep flying + through the tents. Two or three have little lights in + their stomachs, because I saw them. They came and + crawled over my netting and the light went out, then + in again. Wouldn't it be lovely if we could light our + own way like that? + + "Give father a great, big hug and tell him his big boy + is trying to be a man. Kiss little brother for me, and + don't hold his hand any more or he will get so used to + it. Biddy says if I want to sleep in her room I can, + and then I won't be alone. Well, I will try it in the + tent to-night, because if you are going to keep a + brave front you have got to do it now. Good-bye, + mother, darling. I kiss your photo every night. Write + soon to your lonely little boy, JIMSEY." + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +Afternoon Sports. + + +After the study period is over the teams go up to the baseball field for +a few games. What exciting times they do have! The boys are divided, and +for the sake of sport given colors. So instead of New York and Chicago +it is the Red and the Blue. + +Thus early in the season they are only friendly games. It is only later +in the season, when the trophy and cups are to be fought for, that they +play with all their heart and soul. + +Now it is fun, fast and furious, to see which side is the strongest. +Those who are not playing sit around, cheering or jeering as the case +may be. It is all good, healthy sport, and again when the bugle blows +for swimming they are ready. + +What a rush for towels. The water is a little cooler this afternoon than +this morning, but when one has exercised so vigorously it seems just +right. + +Courage comes to the timid. They strike out into deeper water, find that +it is friendly to them, and begin to do fancy strokes. + +The good swimmers have started a race with other experts. They mean to +swim to the island opposite without any stopover, and are watched by an +admiring crowd of youngsters. + +Care is taken that no boy goes beyond his depth unless he is a good +swimmer. Instructors, in boats, constantly patrol the course, watching +every move the boys make. + +Well do I remember a funny incident that happened to a visitor last +summer. He was a grown man, who said he had been swimming in the Bay of +Fundy. As a starter he went in where the little shavers go, and, mark +you, in about four feet of water, he went down. One of the faculty, who +was watching the boys, saw him disappear. He jumped overboard with his +cigar still in his mouth, dived under, brought him up, climbed back into +his boat, and calmly went on smoking, leaving the Bay of Fundy hero to +wade out. + +Some of the boys prefer a short swim, then a row; others just spend the +entire time on the chutes, sliding down, either head first or feet +first, diving, splashing and climbing back to the float, to do it all +over again, looking like a lot of Greek gods in their scanty swimming +trunks. + +How careful one is in the city about covering up the body quickly for +fear of taking cold! Out here the greatest pleasure is after the swim to +be in the air and let the sun and wind dry and toughen one. No chill, no +cold, just a pleasant glow. Any boy who does this day after day cannot +take a cold if he tried to all winter. He is immune from the nasty colds +that beset one in this changeable climate. + +Is it any wonder that the boys love to be in Camp, where they can strip +and get close to Nature? + +I have often wondered what Heaven is like, and think it must at least +have most beautiful rivers, and flowing streams, where one can bathe. + +That is my idea of what Paradise ought to be. Of course, there could be +a whole lot of things up there that we have wanted so badly on this +earth and could not get, yet for me, the blessed privilege of bathing +and swimming in waters pure is celestial. + +Maybe the Lord in His goodness took a little bit out of Heaven and +planted it in the State of Maine. For where will you go, in this +country, outside of that State, and find such a harmonious blending of +climate, temperature, water, land, sky and sea as we find there? + +But while I am rhapsodizing on the beauties of this State, let me not +forget that time flies, and again the bugle sounds the call, "All out." + +This time the boys are willing to dress quietly, and spend the next hour +resting up after the many duties and pleasures of the day. + +There is only a short period between the time we leave the water and the +call for supper. When the first call sounds every boy jumps up without +a second invitation from the faculty to get into line. + +The signal is again given. The line turns right about face, marches to +the stirring music of fife and drum, keeping time and forming one of the +pleasantest sights we have to show to our visitors. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +Evening Games. + + +After supper sometimes the porch is cleared for a friendly boxing match +or wrestling bout. The boys are chosen who in size and strength are +pretty well matched. + +There is a well-padded mat, and if the wrestlers stand up first they are +stripped. The referee reads the rules to them. They are cautioned +against any foul or losing their tempers, and then, at the signal, +turned loose. + +Do they wrestle? Do they tussle? Do they struggle with might and main to +put one another down? You try to find out whether they are wrestling +according to Graeco-Roman methods or catch-as-catch-can, and decide it +must be a mixture of both. After a spirited round time is called. Each +of them goes to his corner to be fanned in a strictly professional way +by his seconds. + +After one minute's rest they are at it again hammer and tongs, give and +take, like two old-timers, all over the mat, first one, then the other +having the advantage. They begin to show signs of being winded, so the +referee blows his whistle, and again they repair to their respective +corners. + +After another minute's rest they stand forth for the final round. In +this you see some mighty pretty holds. Were they stronger men probably +they would be throwing each other over their shoulders, but, being boys, +they can't do that. The last round is declared a draw, and as each won +one of the other rounds, there is a happy shaking of hands as they go +back to their friends. + +The next bout being between larger boys, is more interesting. Here we +see two splendid types of young manhood. They stand on the mat measuring +each other with their eyes, planning just where to take hold, when the +whistle blows to begin. + +The referee reads the rules to them, lets them clearly understand that +he wants no nonsense. "Go ahead," he says, "play the game fair and never +mind who wins." + +They take each other's hand, the whistle blows and the fun is on. This +is genuine, dyed-in-the-wool sport, this is, and all the boys are +yelling their heads off for their favorite. + +"Go it, old Socks!" "Give it to him, Chesty!" "Say, what did you let him +get away with that for?" These and many more such exclamations are heard +on all sides. + +How easy it is for one to sit on the fence and criticise the other +fellow, to tell him just what to do and how to do it! But what a +different proposition it looks like when you try it yourself? + +The first round is finished and the boys are sitting back almost as +tired as the wrestlers. They are being taken care of by the men +appointed for that task. As soon as they are rested, they stand up, for +all the world like a pair of young bucks in the springtime, who are +eager to lock antlers and so long as they conquer the other fellow, +don't care how much damage is done to them. + +The second round is called; both boys rush in, each eager to be at the +other. This is a most spirited and enjoyable affair. It is first one +then the other, until one is dizzy watching them. Such beautiful holds! +such daring! such a muscular exhibition, that the boys fairly go wild, +and when this bout is declared a draw, one cannot hear himself think for +the racket. + +The third and last round is got over in short time. One of the chaps, +watching his chance, puts the other down and of course when his +shoulders touch it is all over. + +Now for the boxing! We thought we had tasted the cup of happiness to the +last drop when the wrestling was on, but no, we had not. There was the +sweetest drop yet to be quaffed, and we quaffed it alright, alright, +that merry evening. + +As usual, the very smallest boys were picked out for the first bout; +light weight gloves strapped on, the mat removed, the youngsters told +what they were not to do and then turned loose. + +They put up a manly little exhibition and at the end of the first round +it was only by a hairbreadth that it wasn't called a draw. + +In the second round they went at it a little mite more furiously, and +the prize ring rules had to be read to them by the Referee. They +themselves did not know whether they were fighting with Queensbury rules +or plain Johnson tactics. Just having the time of their lives, it was +nip and tuck with them, all around the ring; so much so, that when the +whistle blew the round was declared a draw and the little chaps being +slightly winded, it was decided to let them off the third round. + +The next two to step up for the pleasure of boxing were larger boys. + +These were well matched in every respect, both as to size, muscle and +grit. We knew they would make good. They were both anxious to please +their friends, and apart from that were chums. Could two bosom friends +come together and try to get the best of each other? That was the +thought uppermost in every one's mind. Well, they did, fought like +little men, a square, game fight, each bound to win to show there was no +queer business; but there were only two rounds fought. Then as each had +won one, the boxing bout was ended, to the satisfaction of audience and +performers. + +But we have other ways of amusing ourselves beside the two I have just +mentioned. + +The boys who love chess will find partners to play with, and can sit +contented, making one and a half moves during the entire evening, if it +so please them to deliberate like that. + +The checker fiends can play checkers to their heart's content, jumping +his men and crowning a man king without half the fuss the usual +crowning of kings calls for. + +He just sticks one checker on the top of another checker, when he has +got to the top row, looks his opponent in the eye, and says "King," then +begins to waltz backward and forward up and down, sweeping all the poor +little men he finds in his way into the discard. He seems to forget the +time when he was only a little man himself. How like live men that is! +While some will be considerate of those they have left behind them in +the race for fame and fortune, others will step over them or push them +out of their way. + +That old time game of dominoes must not be forgotten. How many weary +hours it has beguiled away! New games may come and new games will go, +when we are tired of them, but our pleasant little oblong friends from +blank blank to double six will always find a welcome here. + +Then Lotto. Why, I am anything but a spring chicken, yet Lotto was an +old game when I was young. What a hurry and flurry to cover with bits of +glass the numbers as quickly as they were called, and what a joyful yell +when you were out first! + +On warm nights the boys sit out of doors on the Campus. Some one starts +up a college song and the fun begins. All the old time and all the new +songs. Among the voices a young tenor is heard; he leads, all the rest +joining in the chorus. + +Such a medley of sounds--the boy who can sing and is willing, the boy +who can't sing and wants to; never mind, when one is young everything +goes; it is only when one grows old that one becomes hypercritical. + +The night birds cease their songs, so entranced are they at the human +warbling. The only feathered night prowler who will not keep quiet is +the owl, who persists in joining in the chorus, his part being a +question, Who? Who? and then flying quickly away. + +These are all innocent little amusements to while away the time until +"quarters" sound. + +We have other pleasures of a different nature, but those I will leave +for another chapter. + +"Another evening gone!" you say. "Why, I have done hardly anything at +all, and meant to do so much." It is that way every evening. We plan to +do all sorts of things, but what with games, songs, feats of strength, +spinning of yarns, the time goes all too quickly. + +The instructors walk about telling their charges to get a move on. +Everybody goes to his tent to undress quickly, plan for another day's +fun and frolic; then the bugler blows "Taps" and once more we wrap our +covers around us, lying down to peaceful slumber. "So long, Ned." "So +long, Joe." "Good night, fellows." + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Camping Trips. + + +One would imagine that being at Camp was enough for the average boy, but +it is not always so. After the first novelty has worn off they want to +go around seeing other points of interest. Therefore, the weekly Camping +trips are planned for them. + +We take one day each week, plan some place for each group of boys, who, +in charge of their instructor, go out either for a tramping trip or by +boat. + +One group, for instance, plan to take boats and provisions, row up +stream for several miles, make their camp on some island, cook their +meals, rest up, swim, enjoy themselves by exploring the island, +returning in time for supper. + +The next group plan a walking trip; that is much harder on them than the +trip by water. They must carry their own supplies, consisting of all +kinds of food, potatoes, bread, meat, eggs, coffee, sugar, milk, +matches, paper, fruit, besides a cup for each boy, a frying pan, coffee +pot and pail for water. + +Here you see the way boys act more than on any other trip. The unselfish +chap will cheerfully fill his pockets with raw potatoes, try and roll a +can of tomatoes, a pound of butter and half dozen eggs altogether, in +his rubber coat; put the matches in his tin cup and stagger away. What +does it matter if the can of tomatoes does object to being smeared with +the butter or the eggs protest at the undue pressure that is put upon +them? + +When some one yells at him that a streak of yellow is running down his +left leg he retorts with, "I don't care if it is. Lots of fellows have +streaks of yellow, but they don't want to show it." + +We clean him up, show him how to pack hard substances together, and the +advantage of putting frail objects by themselves; also that butter is +apt to melt if stored away inside one's blouse. That crowd is started on +its way quite happy, although the lazy boy is grumbling at having to +carry the coffee-pot and frying-pan, while the little chap is leaving a +trail of potatoes behind him. + +Then there is the lazy lot who don't care to walk, and don't want to row +a boat. What do they want? + +They will take their share of grub and go up to the ball field. Mind +you, they demand some of everything, particularly the food that is easy +of preparation. The one and only idea that seems to percolate through +their brains is to get a whole lot of food; to make as little effort as +possible; to help themselves; to fuss over everything; to be on the +verge of starting a half dozen times, only to come back again with some +new demand, just like people who decide to take short trips, they know +not where, just to get away. + +For the rest of the day you may be sure that whenever you look up +towards the baseball field you will see one or another of that special +party about to come down to the house for more supplies, or just to see +what is going on. + +How much happier they would have been, had they gone with the crowd! +Nine times out of ten if you let a boy have his way, he is not satisfied +in the end, and then is ready to put the blame on the country, the lake, +the faculty, the dog, but not himself. + +There was another lot of boys who were always under the impression that +the stay-at-homes were going to have so much better time, so much better +food, something better than the rest of the crowd, the sort of chaps +that are a little afraid of missing a trick. + +Their special stunt was to ask the doctor to look at their ears or +throat, complain of an all-gone feeling in the pit of the stomach, a +slightly dizzy feeling, toothache or cramps. + +When a boy really makes up his mind to stay home there is no limit to +his ingenuity in thinking up some plausible excuse. It would take a +Philadelphia lawyer to get the best of him. + +The only way to take care of those poor little, sick, helpless chaps is +to have the cook prepare the plainest kind of fare for them. Leave them +beautifully alone and the day will drag along on leaden wings. Long +before the rest of the boys return they will be heartily tired of +playing sick, and the next camping trip that is planned will be among +the first lot of boys to want to go on a long jaunt. + +There is heaps of fun in cooking your own dinner. What does it matter if +the chicken is scorched on the outside while raw in the middle? The +potatoes with crisp skins but underdone in the centre? Corn just warmed +through? Coffee hot if muddy? Paper plates? Butter mixed with pepper? +Salt mixed with sugar? Water and milk blending beautifully together? +Bread and pie in close embrace? Pickles and jam exchanging flavors? As +one good little boy said: "What did it matter? Even if you separated +them ever so carefully, they were bound to mix up in your stomach; so +if they were mixed up beforehand it saved time and trouble afterwards." + +You couldn't serve such a meal as the above indoors. It wouldn't taste +right, and it would not look right. It needs the open air, with a +background of green forest; a gentle breeze blowing the smoke in one's +eyes as you watch the fish frying; the cool water at your feet inviting +you to jump in, to cool your fevered brow and wash some of the smudge +off yourself at the same time. To say nothing of a crowd of hungry boys +who have left their manners and fussy notions at home! Here they can get +along without a waiter standing at the back of their chair, without an +anxious mother coaxing them to eat the tenderloin, so long as they can +see their full share coming to them, they are happy. + +I know lots of boys who at home are waited upon hand and foot. Yet these +same congenial spirits can work like Trojans when out for a day's sport, +can build dandy fireplaces with no better material than sand wet with +water and bound with cobble stones. + +The same boys can cook a meal fit for a king. I don't mean the King of +the Cannibal Islands, but a real ruler, because from what I have read +the cannibals are not so very particular. Anything that comes their way, +so long as it will make a large, juicy meal, will do. They don't care +whether the meal is composed of a real good, young missionary or an old +tough trader. They would even take a party of elderly spinsters and cook +them for quite a while, adding some extra seasoning. + +But these boys I have in mind can cook fish, chicken, potatoes and +coffee in a way to make you thankful you are living, both before and +after the meal. + +After the meal is over the question of washing up comes before the +board. Most boys would prefer to throw the whole business in the lake, +but, having pledged ourselves to see that they were returned promptly to +the kitchen, we cannot allow that. + +As usual, there are always one or two who are more willing than the +rest. They start in to scrape the debris together, put water on the fire +to get hot, and in many ways show that there was lost to mankind a good +girl when that boy was created. + +No matter where one travels, Nature is charming in her virgin freshness. +Then look at the difference as soon as human beings step in. The ground +is torn up, the flowers trampled underfoot, trees chopped down, empty +cans left lying around, on every side upset, and untidiness! Wouldn't it +be nice if we just tried to leave the woods and shore as nearly like we +found it, not an eyesore, but a pleasure to go back to again? + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +Odds and Ends, Including Prayers. + + +When the days begin to grow hotter and longer most people plan to leave +the City. Whether they go to the seashore or to the mountains, to the +lake district or some quiet village, they carefully (or so it seems to +me) put away their religion along with their winter clothes. + +You will find people who are regular attendants at their respective +churches all winter long staying away from church, Sunday after Sunday, +throughout the summer. + +It makes not the slightest difference whether Jew or Gentile, Catholic +or Scientist, they all stay away more or less during the summer, and +even at Camp, when the call to prayers is sounded, they come in a +half-hearted way. + +Can one really get along for months without religion? Have they soaked +up, absorbed, into their systems enough during the cold weather to tide +them over the warm? Can the average church-goer, no matter what church +he goes to, store away in his heart and brain enough religion to last, +or must he keep on returning to the Fountainhead to be renewed and +refreshed? + +As I said, the boys straggled in to listen to a true man of God, but +some of them came because they had promised to do so, a few just because +they really wanted to be there, and the rest because it is human nature +to follow a leader. + +What excuses we always have ready on hand to show why we have not gone +to the House of God! It is too hot, it is too cold, it is dusty, it is +wet, no clothes fit to wear, the Sunday dinner to cook, too lazy to get +up, all these and a lot more, just because the House of God stands with +doors wide open! + +You can walk in without the trouble of going to the ticket office for a +reserved seat. You don't have to stand in line, glad to buy a +standing-room-only ticket. If you desire music, it is there in its +purest form for you to listen to. Do you care for singing? Then there +you can hear anthems, hymns and oratorios as they never are sung +anywhere else. + +It needs the sacred silence of the House of God, the subdued coloring, +the general air of peace and holiness to bring these things fully to +your heart, yet you have to be coaxed to go there. + +The House of God has always seemed to me like the house of a very dear +friend. Of course, being so far away, we don't think we must pay our +respects in person to the Lord. If we have a dear friend (even though +full of faults) we keep in touch with him, call upon him, let him know +in many ways that we are his very dear friend. Then why not go to the +House of God for the same purpose, with the same kind feeling in our +heart? + +Then the boys sat in silence while the man of God prayed for them, for +the good of their souls, that they might grow up doing at all times, +whether in company or alone, the right thing in the sight of the Lord, +blessed them, sent them on their way, with purer thoughts to help them +out of the many pitfalls that beset the feet of youth. + +After services are ended we allow the boys to play games. Of what use +would it be to compel them to sit quiet all day reading books that they +did not care for? Besides, a forced religion isn't worth powder to blow +it up. + +Let us hope that when fall comes and they take their religion (they have +so gently packed away in camphor) out it will not show any signs of +decay, no moths or other evidences of dissolution, but a bright, loving +light to lead their footsteps to His Throne. + +Sunday at Camp is much like any other day, excepting that the laundry is +given out and the outgoing wash collected. + +The boys form into line under the direction of the faculty, are sent +down in companies of ten according to their numbers, to the laundry +room, where they receive the clean wash, consisting of personal clothes, +besides sheets, towels and pillow slips, take them up to their tents, +put them in their trunks, excepting what they put into immediate use. + +After breakfast they gather up all the soiled wash, make out a duplicate +list, and have them ready when the man calls at each tent for them. +Quite a clever system that works out all right. + +Sunday afternoon is spent on the water or some game is started up. The +usual swimming is indulged in, and by supper time everybody is ready to +peck a bit of food, even if they have dined later and had a most +bountiful repast. + +In the evening the fun begins. Generally on Sunday the Literary Society +has an open meeting. Everything goes, from a banjo solo to an imitation +fight between two noted prize-fighters. + +The little boys recite, the big ones give monologues, our celebrated +orchestra renders stirring selections, and the entire Camp joins in the +chorus. + +The instructors cheerfully help out. It matters not what you ask them to +do! Sing a solo? Why, yes; he will be delighted. Sing a duet? Pleased to +oblige such an appreciative audience. Join in a quartette? Why, nothing +would give him greater happiness. + +It makes no difference how silly they have to act. They just go ahead. +Anything to please the boys and keep them in good spirits. + +Were Hammerstein ever to come out to Camp on a Sunday evening he would +find more real talent on our little stage than he has at his own +vaudeville house. + +The evening ends very happily, all voting it a bully good show. They +give three cheers for the performers, and with a final cheer for good +measure, "Quarters" are sounded. + +It is a happy crowd that slowly wends its way to the tents, and many a +laugh is heard as they go over the evening's performance. + +The faculty clear the place, leaving everything in apple-pie order for +the morrow. "Taps" are sounded by the bugler and another happy day is +done. + +As we grow older it may take more to please us, but I feel confident +that some of these days will be remembered long after we have grown up. +Life would, indeed, be for many of us a very sad thing if we had not +childhood's happy days to look back on. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +Football. + + +Why there should be such excitement about a game of football I have +never been able to find out. When all is said and done you can hardly +see the players. They are bunched together most of the time. They stand +bent over, looking for all the world as though they were about to play +leapfrog. + +Then some under-sized little shrimp of a fellow begins to yell 4-11-44, +7-28-7-11, and all manner of numbers; he grows fearfully excited over +the stupidity of his team; they evidently don't understand the signals. + +In a perfect frenzy of passion and despair he raises his voice and +almost weeps. Sometimes he says things that are not in the polite letter +writer; not the things that a gentle youth would send in a letter to +his best girl, but the rest of the team don't seem to mind it at all. +The other side is doing the same. They have also a man whose special +mission in life seems to be howling with all his might while madly +springing up and down. + +Again they form and await the whistle of the umpire. Every man acts as +though the eyes of the entire sporting world were upon him. + +Gee! If they can only get the start; what they won't do to the other +side! The whistle blows, one yard gained after a terrific struggle; form +again, more numbers yelled in a voice hoarse from much shouting, then +they are off again! A splendid kick causing the ball to form a perfect +curve as it sails through the air, one great big chap fairly springs up +several feet to catch it as it comes down; he runs, and his side, when +the whistle blows, have gained five yards. I stand idly watching them, +wishing that the game was more familiar to me. It must be a good game, +after all is said and done, or people would not go wild about it. + +The first half is over. Now the umpire is quite a busy man. Let us trust +he has taken out a traveling life insurance policy, for he certainly +needs it as he wanders up and down. Each side is filing its protests. If +he is to believe them they have each been guilty of everything but +piracy on the high seas. + +Several boys have been knocked out for a minute. They are being attended +to by the surgeon and staff--a liberal sprinkling of water besides +massage sets them up again quite eager to join the fray. + +The coach calls his crowd around him, scolds some, praises others, warns +all to go carefully. The little chap, whose special mission in life +seems to be to cuss and yell numbers as fast as he can get them out, is +on hand; watches his opportunity to remind them that when he says +8-7-6-5-4 he does not mean 93-2-15; begs them, for sweet love's sake, to +go in and win. + +The referee blows the whistle. Both sides form. They toss up for the +first choice, and off they go. + +In spite of one's desire to sit quietly and let them chew each other up +like a pack of Kilkenny cats, until nothing but the tails are left, you +find yourself yelling, jumping, running along with the rest of the +crowd. + +"A goal! a goal!" they shriek, and all because one boy has thrown the +ball over. Phew! what excitement! what joy for the winners! sympathy +for the losers! a happy blending of praise and blame! + +No matter where you go it is just as bad; that is, in any +English-speaking country. + +This fall I saw, while in Lincoln, England, a tremendous crowd coming +out of the railroad station. They were pushing and jostling each other. +Some were packed six deep in cabs, riding in butchers' carts, on +bicycles, on tricycles. I had almost said icicles, because they were +going any way so long as they got there. My curiosity at last got the +best of me, and I stopped a good-natured looking man. "My friend," I +said, "what are you all in such a hurry for? Is there a hanging going +on, or has England declared herself a Republic?" + +He looked at me with a pitiful smile, as though to pity my ignorance. + +"No, Madam," he said, "it is a game of football, and they kick off at +2.30," and off he ran. + +On this particular day the Reds won, to the everlasting sorrow of the +Blues. + +Boys are nice chaps, anyhow. Just as soon as the game is over there is +not one bit of hard feeling between victor and vanquished. They shake +hands, say better luck next time and are ready for the next game. + +If we could carry that spirit with us out into the world, what a lot of +good it would do us, as well as the other poor soul who has lost in the +game of life. At least let us try and give the other chap a fair show, a +run for his money, so to say. Then if we do come out ahead it won't +matter so much. A kind word, a loving thought, means a lot to the chap +who has lost, while to us it affords some satisfaction to have won +modestly, not to fly on the top of the fence, flap our wings and crow +like the victorious cock. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +Boating. + + +Boating has always been a much-sought-after pastime. The boat, even as +little children, we were very fond of was one called Noah's Ark. Ours +was filled with cute little animals, and trees, and houses, that gave us +great pleasure to arrange, always taking care to make them walk two by +two, each couple of bears or elephants or cats, or any other animal, +never on any account to put a rat with a cat or a tiger with a goat, as +we were taught that they had to pair off the right way. + +Noah's ark was a good old boat. From what I can make out it must have +been somewhat like a present-day houseboat, while the lower half was +like a cattle carrier. + +Jolly time Friend Noah must have had to preserve order. Of course, the +fear of being thrown overboard probably kept them behaving fairly well. +Still it must have been a dreary time for all, not like the boating at +Camp. + +The Vikings with their war vessels manned by dozens of slaves, some of +them below decks where they had to sit chained together, plying the long +sweeps for dear life--death for them if they failed--death for them at +the end always. Poor, poor fellows! I never read about them but my heart +aches. + +What thousands of human beings have been sacrificed to bring our +civilization up to its present humane standard! That was another kind of +boating for you. + +We can go on and on, down to the present time, and find in every period +something to interest, to shock, to awaken our truest sympathy for +those who have gone before, but as this is not a history of boats and +boatmen, just an account of our outings, I will not digress any longer. + +In the beginning of the season we don't care what kind of a boat we go +out in so long as it is a boat, but in a few days we begin to notice the +great difference between a flat-bottomed boat and a dory, between a +canoe-shaped boat and one with bow and stern. The advantages of each and +every one are quickly mastered, until at the end of the first week we +have pinned our faith to one particular kind, to the exclusion of all +others. Then our usual selfishness begins to show. We charter that boat, +and woe be to the fellow who takes it. + +A boat that you are used to is like a friend. You seem to get right in +mood with it, can tell to a second when to humor it, and in return the +boat answers to every move you make. If you like a boat and have been +out in it, no matter whether the wind comes up suddenly or a storm +threatens, you feel perfectly safe. You can take one oar, stand up at +one end and make her go like an obedient steed, ride the waves, turn any +way you wish, fool around as long as you like, then make a home run up +to the dock with flying colors. + +You can do that with a canoe-shaped boat, because, if you are turned +around by the current, all you have to do is to turn yourself, and +either end of the boat is the stern, as you wish. But so much for a +rowboat. + +Have you ever tried going out in one of those dinky little sailboats? +That is Simon-pure sport for you. When the boat is loaded with her +living freight she is probably about six inches above the water line. +Any little sudden gust causes her to keel 'way over. Between the jolly +captain trying to get the benefit of every puff of wind and the nervous +passengers you have the time of your life. All other boating fades away +compared to being in a sailboat with just enough breeze to send her +along while causing her to keel over at the slightest move. You lie on +your stomach on the bottom, letting any bilge water slopping around +loose soak into your chest. Of course, you have a swimming suit on. That +is advisable, in case you went overboard or the boat turned turtle, a +custom our little boat showed a tendency to do on the slightest +provocation. + +She wasn't the kind of boat that you would have wanted to take a nervous +mother out in or any one, in fact, that was not well able to swim; but +with congenial companions, who could take care of themselves, there was +more fun to be got out of that little boat than any in Camp. + +Then there were the motor boats; just made for the rapid consumption of +oil. Their motto was: "Maximum of oil with minimum of speed," made out +of deference to the Standard Oil Company. No man not extremely wealthy +could afford to own one of them. Between drinking oil by the gallon and +quarrelling with their igniter they were in dry dock for repairs most of +the season. + +The real pets of the Camp were the four-oared barges. You felt yourself +some boatman when you went out in one of them. With a nifty coxswain in +the stern to keep time for you, plenty of room to make your stroke, one +of the best fellows as stroke oar, there was not a pleasanter sensation +going than to go for a good, long row. + +Sometimes you caught a crab, that caused some little delay, while you +were spoken to in a real fatherly way by the coxswain. Then again you +persisted in making your time to suit yourself without any regard to +orders. On one side the oars pulled a much stronger stroke than the +other side, constantly skewing the boat, in spite of the best efforts of +our tiller ropes. About the only time you showed any kind of form was on +the homestretch. Then, playing to the gallery, you put your best efforts +into every move of your body, going by the Camp to the landing stage in +a manner to make even the Oxford and Cambridge crews look up and take +notice. + +All that was only practice. The real thing that counted was when the +races were planned. Then the boys began to work, to get up early in the +morning for special coaching trips, to train in every way, to leave off +all sweets; and when a boy does that, you may know he is in dead +earnest, until as the day drew near all they could talk, think, eat and +sleep was boat talk. + +It is a bad thing to wager on a boat race. Yet what a fascination there +is in boosting your own side up. You feel sure they will win. Haven't +you with heart, soul and mind urged them on for weeks? How can they +lose? + +You get out and cheer them along, ready to fight with tongue or fists +for the glory of your colors. You know it is against Camp rules to +wager; yet in the excitement of the moment you promise to forgive debts +if you lose and in every way show your faith in your side. + +They are ready to start. With many a cheery word for them you wish them +Godspeed, at the same time feeling a perfect hatred, for the time being, +for your opponents. Gee! if you could only go along with them to cheer +them on the course! + +They have started, rowing easily to the starting point. Oh! will they +never get there? And yet you have warned them about taking it easy to +the starting mark. At last they are there, are turning round; the pistol +is fired and they are off. "Come on, come on!" you yell, long before +they can hear you. They seem to be working with might and main, but what +is that? The other team seems to be getting ahead. No; it cannot be. It +should not be. In your wild excitement you fall off the rock you are +standing on, pulling into the water a couple of onlookers with you. What +does a wetting amount to, anyway? + +You dare not look when you get back on the rock again, yet, like some +horrible monster that fascinates you, you turn around, to see your +beloved Blues a boat's length behind. If praying would help them, they +can know that you prayed; if weeping for them would have been of any use +to save the day, you had done that, too; what was left but the deepest +despair. + +The Reds won, and my whole nature felt steeped in the deepest blue. + +The villain came up to me to claim his wager, with a grin all over his +face, making you think of a huge Cheshire cat. + +So ended the boat race I had set my heart upon. + + "But what is the use of repining, + Where there's a will there's a way; + To-morrow our team may be winning, + Although your team beat us to-day." + --Old Ballad. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +Final Contests--Track Work. + + +After training for weeks one begins to look for some satisfactory +results. It is about this time that the boys who have made a special +study of track work, under the guidance of a clever instructor, can +begin to feel enough confidence in his work to warrant his entering for +the final contests. + +Oftentimes the boy with the shortest legs has the keenest desire to +enter for the standing broad jump. Is it his fault if his legs have not +kept pace with his will and brain? You really feel the truest sympathy +for him because he always falls an inch or two short. Again he tries, +but no go. How can he help it? His spirit is willing, but his legs too +short. + +The big boy with legs so long that he looks like an animated compass as +he strides along is the next to try. + +Now you have pinned your faith to him. If he, with those legs, cannot go +in and wrest the honors, then who can? He makes a brave enough start, +but jumps so wildly that he falls, scattering the dirt all over without +gaining enough inches to speak of. + +Next to step forward is a spare-built medium sized boy, about the frying +size, with not one ounce of flesh to spare, fine bones, slim little +ankles, broad chest, good eye for measurement and plenty of strength to +carry him over. His followers have great belief in him and frankly tell +him they depend upon his work to gain their side so many extra points. + +Sometimes if we endow a man with all kinds of virtues, he will really +try and live up to them, if only to show us that he can make good. +Again he will make good because he wants to do so, both for his own sake +and ours. This boy was of that type, loved to do the best in his power +to oblige his friends and also because it pleased himself. + +He made good, as we all knew he would, winning for his side far more +points than they deserved. + +The excitement grew so that it was necessary to appoint deputy sheriffs +to keep the peace. + +All morning were the running, jumping, hurdle races, short sprints, long +sprints, broad jumps, standing high, hop skip and jump, every jump known +to mankind and a lot that are not known. + +The only jump that I did not see done was the one we all are very +familiar with, viz., "Jumping to a conclusion," and the reason that was +not practised was that there was no prize offered for it. + +The next event on the schedule was junior running races. All of the +little fellows who had ambition enough, combined with wind and muscle, +were entered. It is one thing to think you can run a race, but quite +another thing to keep on going after the first excitement is over. + +All you can think of as you run, run, run, is the beating of your heart, +your breath growing shorter, a sharp pain running through the calves of +your legs, a nasty stitch in your side, and then the worst and hardest +sound of all, the breathing of the fellow behind you. You feel without +looking back that he is gaining on you at every yard. + +"If you can only keep going," is your unspoken prayer, until you are +around the next turn. "Go it, old boy," you hear them yell. You don't +know whether it is intended for you or for the man behind you. Anyway +it spurs you on. Why shouldn't you take that yell for encouragement for +you? As you turn into the home stretch, the boys who are friendly to you +run alongside on the infield cheering and pacing you right up to the +wire. Oh! thank goodness, you have broken right through the line, to +fall, happy though exhausted, into the arms of your friends. + +One race after another is run off during the morning. It matters not +whether it is a junior, intermediate or senior race; the same rules and +regulations hold good, fair play, no crowding and handicaps where +needed. Then at the signal every man to do the best he can, win if +possible, never quit unless taken ill, run the race through, even though +it is a losing one for you. + +In every race there can only be one winner, several who are placed, and +the rest are grouped under one head and called "also rans." + +Whether it is horses or men the same spirit prevails. The horse with +grit will go ahead. Sometimes his shoes don't fit. His bridle is not +properly adjusted, hurting his poor mouth fearfully and causing it to +bleed. His harness is loose where it ought to be tight. Tight where it +ought to be loose. The driver is far more of a brute than the beast he +is driving, and yet you will see, in spite of all these drawbacks, that +horse, with so much grit, such a game sport, that he will come in +winning by a nose, though afterwards one can see him being led to his +stable with drooping head and limping feet. + +The same with a boy. If he has the pluck, grit, gameness, call it what +you like, he will go ahead in spite of all obstacles; win if possible, +come second if that is the best he can do, and if he lose, why, then he +will look the world in the face knowing he has done his level best. + + +Separate Games. + +Throwing the discus is another manly sport that calls for splendid +muscular action, accurate balancing, steady nerves, good eyes and quick +action. + +This game, old as the hills, is still very popular. Its followers try to +play it in both a scientific and artistic manner, taking poses that +remind us of Greek gods. There is keen competition between the +contestants, and prizes are awarded the winners. + + +Putting the Shot. + +This game might have been handed down from the time of David, who so +cleverly put his shot that Goliath was killed, to the surprise and joy +of his enemies. Like throwing the discus, it calls for strength, speed +and courage. It is a particularly good exercise for the arm and shoulder +muscles, but being rather strenuous, is a game for the older boys, who +enjoy it very much. Like all other games at Camp, prizes are awarded for +the best record. + + +Quoits. + +Still another of the good old games that is as popular on sea as on +land. The only difference is that the rings are made of rope for sea use +while of iron for those on shore. + +On board ship it looks quite easy to throw the ring over the stick, but +what with the motion of the vessel and poor calculation, it more often +rolls to one side than makes a ringer. + +On shore it is not so easy, either. The ground, from being pounded so +often by the iron quoits, becomes powdery, the stake is harder to find +as the player finds out. One ringer, out of a dozen throws, would be +called very fine playing. + +It is lots of sport; good to train the eye for measuring distances, the +arms to curb their strength, just as the least little bit too much +muscle sends the quoits 'way off, and last, teaches one to have infinite +patience. + + +Shuffle Board. + +Like quoits, we play this game at Camp as well as at sea. Compare our +dandy big table at Camp with firm floor to stand on with the deck of a +ship. You cannot begin to make the scores at sea that you can on land. +With the best of intentions you send your board along, thinking it will +send your opponents off while giving you an added score. Does it do that +for you? Well, not always. Most of the time yours goes off or stays on +the wrong square, deducting your score while adding to theirs. + +On our table at Camp the chances are better for both sides. We play many +a spirited game for fun during the season. When the final contests take +place this indoor game, as well as any other one, has its turn. Sides +are chosen, the losers dropping out while the winners play each other. +When the contestants get down to two men the final game is played. As +usual, the winner receives a prize. + +For the smaller fry the games of checkers, dominoes, etc., etc., offer a +chance to even the littlest Camper to compete and win a prize. + +Most of the boys would engage in these pastimes for fun, even if there +was not any reward offered, but the promise of some prize always stirs +up the indolent and timid boy. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +Visitors. + + +After the boys are settled at Camp for a few weeks they begin to look +forward to a visit from some of their folks. They plan what they are +going to do and what points of interest they will take them to, and hope +with all their heart, soul and mind that a large box of good things may +be sent up for the tent. + +What does it matter if they are forbidden to receive such articles? +Either by begging, pleading or some other excuse they let the Director +know that this is their first offence. They will only eat a little at a +time, and divide it with a lot of boys, thus lessening the danger of +overeating, and getting the credit of being generous at one and the same +time. + +Some parents take long trips themselves while their children are with +us. Other parents plan to come as a surprise. + +When they drive or auto in the first feeling that most mothers have is +amazement at the undressed condition of their offspring. As quickly as +they can get out of carriage or automobile they hasten to button up the +shirt, if the boy has one on, or to plead with him to put one on if his +is off. They feel the breezes blow and shiver at the thought of the boys +sleeping in such open tents; advise that the tent flaps be tightly +closed at night for fear of the boys taking cold. + +They seem to think we are a hardened, cruel crowd because we laugh at +their fears. It is not one bit of use trying to convince mother because +she won't be convinced. So we save our breath for father. Here we have +some ground upon which to sow our seed. We invite him to stay a day or +two; "Peel off," we tell him, and "be a boy again. Go in swimming. Go +out in a boat. Try a game of ball. Play a set of tennis. Do a little +sprint around the running track. We can offer you a lot more sports if +you will stay and visit us," we tell him. + +In the evenings we can play shuffle board, have some good music, some +singing that will make the cats on the back fence green with envy; then +last, but not least, we can have a camp-fire. Have you ever been out in +the country and helped build a real camp-fire? + +After supper every one is pressed into service to help gather the wood. +Little chaps stagger along under heavier loads than they can carry, +dropping two pieces for every one they pick up, but never saying die. I +just love those little gritty kids. + +The bigger boys and instructors carry regular old trees, reminding one +of an army of ants struggling along manfully to move their quarters. + +One or two capable men, who have the art of building bonfires down to a +fine point, stay on the field to receive the wood, pile it up and start +the fire going. + +That is the preliminary only. Are we going to have a corn roast? Then +the juicy ears of corn, two for every boy, are brought up to the field. +Plenty of good butter and salt in a large bowl is at hand. The boys, +visitors and all, form in line, march past the table, where the supplies +are heaped up, receive their portion, and hurry along. + +By this time the fire has died down to a bright red glow. The smoke and +blazes have stopped, the embers being just right to cook the corn; it is +stripped of its silk, then the leaves are carefully put back in place +and laid down where it will cook through without burning. + +Song, laughter and sport pass the time until a fragrant smell assures us +that something is doing. Gee whiz! Strip the leaves off. Butter it +generously. Never mind if the butter does run down your arm. Close your +eyes and sink your teeth into it. + +In polite homes they have corn holders, and dainty little knives for +splitting it open so that the butter can soak in, and all manner of +helps to make corn eating a dainty pleasure. They can have them in their +homes all they like, but out here, under this beautiful sky, dotted with +stars like tiny lanterns to show us what to do, give me my ear of sweet +corn and let me eat it this way. + +Sometimes we have a marshmallow roast, generally a treat from one of +our kind visitors, who may not have even stayed to enjoy it with us. + +After our fire is just right we serve out the marshmallows to the boys. +This time they have a very sharp-pointed stick, on which they gently +fasten one at a time, holding them close enough to the fire to roast +them. They say they are delicious, and, judging from the fact that +frequently they eat between them all, about 2,000 marshmallows, they +must be very palatable. Personally, I cannot vouch for them, as, somehow +or other, I don't like them, either cooked or raw, though my friends +persist in treating me to them. + +Another treat is a clambake and watermelon feast. That we have on the +shore. When packed in sea weed, all manner of good things are roasted, +including the faces and hands of the good-natured helpers. + +Sweet potatoes roasted this way are delicious, and chicken has an +entirely different taste than that cooked in the oven. There is +something for every kind of taste and appetite, and plenty to go around. + +The modest boy is helped to his share, the independent chap is allowed +to help himself, while the greedy fellow is held back for fear he will +overload and capsize. At last even the boy who is hard to please +declares he has had enough. So with a rousing cheer for the kind visitor +whose guests we have been, the bugler sounds "Quarters," a welcome sound +to us all. Sometimes the visitor asks if he can become a Camper for a +few days or a week. He will gladly pay for the great privilege, for such +it is, to be a boy again among boys. + +It is granted to him; not one extra for him, mind you. He must take +what the Campers have, the same fare, the same tents, the same beds. If +he wishes to join us on these conditions, well and good. Then he can +come in and welcome. + +From a responsible man of business in the city, in one short night he +turns Time back in his flight and becomes again a merry, happy boy, a +boy with a capacity for enjoying the simple pleasures of Camp life more +than any growing boy can understand. + +Hasn't he seen both sides of the picture? Doesn't he know that the +plain, clean way of living we have out there is the only true way to +exist? What kind of food can give him the satisfaction that this rough +fare does? When, with appetite sharpened by sleeping in the open air, +enough physical exercise to make his blood flow with renewed purity +through his system, he sits at table, he not idly wonders whether there +will be anything worth eating, but only hopes there will be two helpings +of everything. Like poor, little Oliver Twist, he asks for more. + +Such a Visitor will turn to and help the little chaps, will go down to +the beach with them, show them how to wash and take care of their +clothes, go in the water with them, and take them out in the boats. He +acts for all the world like a big, good-hearted brother. + +In return there isn't a Camper, from the Director down to the dog, that +doesn't adore him, and will at every and any time do anything in his +power to make his stay enjoyable. + +Our keenest regret is when the day comes for him to leave us. Not alone +does he carry back to the city renewed health, strength and spirits, but +the happiness of knowing that while he was taking a vacation for +himself he was endearing himself to every one at Camp. + +Of course, every visitor is not an angel in disguise. We could not +expect that. Some come; keep to themselves, and depart, without having +caused one ripple on our surface. Yet we are glad to see them, to do all +we can for their comfort, and then to wish them Godspeed at their going. + +A few come who are ripe with suggestions for the better way to run our +affairs. If it makes them happier to suggest, let them go ahead. It +won't hurt us any. When one is sure they are doing the right thing it +matters little what other people think. We keep on doing the right. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +Last Days. + + +To some of the boys last days at Camp bring sadness. They are the ones +who, having neither brother nor sister, begin to realize how lonely it +will be at home compared to the bustle out here. They love their +parents, are anxious to see them, glad to get back to their orderly +bedroom and to the daintily set table. All that kind of thing is good to +look forward to, yet how lonesome it will be. Of course, they will meet +at school and at each other's homes, but not be together all day and +night like this. + +They plan to be at each other's houses as often as possible; to never, +never forget each other, and be sure to share the same tent next +season. + +All the season long the untidy boy has opened his trunk, reached around +any old way for anything he might need at that particular moment, found +it, slammed the lid down without regard to hinges or lock. Day after day +he has done this, never once looking at his list so carefully pasted on +the inside of the cover. + +Anyway, what would be the use of looking at the list; it will be time +when he packs up to go home. Day after day you pick up quantities of +clothing belonging to boys who have thrown them around, remind them that +they will be short when they compare their list and stock on hand. They +don't care, and very often are saucy. So the time passes away until a +couple of days before Camp breaks up. + +Now is the time for vain regrets. Where is that bathing towel that they +left lying around loose for weeks? What has become of those swimming +trunks? Who has seen the mates of both these sneakers? These and fifty +more questions are asked of every one in sight. + +Sometimes you find some of your belongings under the tent, some in the +bath-house, one or two in the dark room used to keep out the light. +Several articles without labels you claim as your own, anything, +everything, to help fill that trunk. + +Some articles cannot be put in, owing to wear and tear, especially tear. +They have gone into the discard long ago. Then, again, some have been +borrowed and never returned. The average Camper does not think that "he +who goes a-borrowing 'goes a-sorrowing," and cheerfully asks for what he +wants, letting the lender do the sorrowing at the end of the season. + +The careful boy can pack his trunk, find almost all his clothes and +bats, balls, Kodaks, etc., etc., can even close his trunk without the +aid of the locksmith. There are more tidy than untidy boys, for which +may we be truly thankful. + +Along about the time everybody is packing up the boys, who have brought +along or bought while in Camp a felt hat, want to have all their friends +write their names on it. Some of them are works of art, and one feels +quite proud to put his name on, to be in company with so many celebrated +signatures. + +Often have I wondered what they do with them when they get home. Suppose +they hang them up on the walls of their bedrooms as trophies. + +After you have written on his hat, very often you write in some book for +him. About half the Camp is writing on each other's hats, pants or +books. Everywhere you go you will see boys armed with pens, making you +think of the old saying about the pen being mightier than the sword. + +A general resting up for everybody is advocated after the final +contests. That gives one a chance to relax and rest up before going +home. + +Lessons are stopped; the hour being devoted to siesta instead. + +Boys who have all the season neglected their letter-writing tasks begin +to get very busy. You will be besieged by requests for paper, envelopes +and stamps. They intend letting the family know they are coming. + +The boy who during the entire season has sent a blank piece of paper in +his envelope, by that means assuring them that no news is good news, now +undertakes to write a real letter to apprise them of his return. This +so frightens the family that they send a despatch asking if all's well. + +The little boys are all very anxious to be met at the depot, also to +remind the folks to have a good breakfast ready. + +Home-coming always seems sweeter if there is some one to meet us, but we +cannot all have loving fathers, devoted mothers, affectionate aunts, +sisters or cousins. So the boy who has no one to meet him is not left +all alone, but is personally seen to his home or train, as the case may +be. + +Music and song, games and jollity pass the time every evening until a +few nights before the end. Then our celebrated artists give a show. + +Whatever we should do without some of our friends I cannot say. What +cheerful spirits they bring to bear! How willing they are to do any and +every thing, from painting the scenery to painting their own faces! + +We can call upon them at any time for help, tell them "You must be a +villain, a hero, a lover, a drummer." No matter what we ask for, some of +them are ready and willing. + +The show cannot fail, the critics who sit in front, and who are more to +be dreaded than Alan Dale or Acton Davis, only spur us on to do the best +that is in us. We have rehearsed over and over again until those who +haven't clean forgot every word are letter perfect. + +Sometimes the villain will make a better hero. All right, we give him +that role. Again the heroine would look better as the father. That is +easily managed. Change clothes and you change sex at the same time. + +Nothing daunts us. We would not enjoy the show half so much if all were +smooth sailing. + +The night arrives at last to give it; you really would not think these +were all city boys, who were used to everything from grand opera to +vaudeville. So eager are they to help, to advise, to get the best seats, +that tremendous excitement prevails all over Camp. + +It is rather hard to dress a group of actors and actresses when your +principal stock in trade consists of two rolls of crepe paper, some +puffs of artificial hair and a few ribbons. Makes one think of "a rag +and a bone and a hank of hair." + +We have the rags and the hank of hair, and the boys furnish the bones. +We manage with the aid of tinfoil, crepe paper and odds and ends of our +personal wardrobe to make quite a decent showing. + +The show goes off without any hitch. Everybody is good-natured; the +critics assure us it was very good, and we clean up the mess, very happy +to have been of service once more. + +With a vote of thanks to all the willing workers who helped us, the boys +once more are glad to obey the bugler when he sounds "Quarters." + +They undress quickly, not at all minding going to bed with faces covered +with grease, paint or charcoal. Youth does not bother about its +complexion. By morning most of it is on the pillow slip, and soap and +water will clean up the rest. + +The theatrical effects are all carefully packed away, to do duty for +another season. The lamps are put out, the curtain rolled up, scenery +stored and finis written on the season's offerings. + +Lots of work. Lots of worry. Little to do with. Plenty of people to +please, and yet! What pleasure in pleasing others! How happy if only +they were satisfied! Could I have my choice, in all sincerity, give me +the chance to please the children and I could die happy. + +The bugler is blowing "Taps." The lights are going out. Once more a +sweet good-night to you. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +Awarding Prizes. + + +Every season it is just the same. As the last night draws near there is +great excitement among all the boys. Those who have earned medals, cups +or prizes try to appear unconcerned, while the rest of the Campers +handle, fondle and criticise the gifts. + +We ourselves, who expect none, and wouldn't know what to do with a medal +if one was given to us, are just as eager and joyful as the smallest +Camper there. + +When all is ready, what a hush! You can actually hear yourself think as +the Director stands up. He looks around with happy smile at the roomful +of waiting boys. Begins to read from a list in his hand the name of some +one fortunate fellow, who steps forward to receive his medal or cup, as +the case may be. Everybody must see it, read the inscription, look at +the engraving, look at the case to hold it, before returning it to the +winner and owner. + +It is the same with each and every boy, whether the medal is of gold, +silver or bronze, whether he received it for swimming or rowing, for +running or jumping, for feats of strength, like putting the shot or +throwing the discus. What matter if it was for football or baseball, +tennis or diving? It is a medal, given for merit, and as such +appreciated by both winner and friends. + +The most popular boy is awarded. The best all-around Camper is medalled. +There is hardly an act of courage or endurance that is passed by without +some recognition. Such an uproar as greets each new hero! + +While we enjoy it with them ever so much, yet we are glad when at last +they are all awarded, leaving us the pleasure of hearing the different +members of the faculty called upon. The bashful man hardly gets a +chance. He is guyed until he sits down. Indeed, there seems to be an +understanding between all the boys not to allow any of the faculty to +speak. It is one huge laugh from start to finish. + +Time after time another man is called upon to rise and express his +opinions, or, if he wishes, thank the boys for being so good to him +during the season. It's no go. He might just as well sit down and save +his breath to cool his porridge. + +The rest of the evening is given up to yelling, shouting, singing and +having a generally jolly time. + +Boys who are very wise have taken the precaution to lock all their +belongings up. Fear of burglars? No! A general rough house is looked +for on this last night. For fun they will dump each other's trunks or +beds. + +No one's property is sacred. You can carefully lock your door, but if +there is a crevice large enough to let a spider in they will crawl +through that, turn your room upside down, not leaving one article in its +place, then crawl out again, leaving both door and window locked. How +could they have gotten in? No one can tell. + +We have serious thoughts of bidding for a turret from some battleship +and using that as a room. Nothing lighter would be of any use. It is +long after the usual hour for "Taps" to sound, and we wonder why. The +bugler is there, but no bugle is to be found. Some boy has hidden it. So +on this, our last night in Camp we have to depend upon the instructors, +who collect their boys, march them to their tents and stay there, +keeping them company while they undress. + +Most of them are really too tired to try any games on the other tents, +and without any of the trouble we had anticipated they are very soon +ready for the signal. As "Taps" cannot be blown the whistle in the hands +of the Director is made to take its place. + +One shrill blast and the lights go out. "Good-night fellows, lots of fun +going home to-morrow." + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +Leaving Camp. + + +Bright and early they are all up and dressed, only as anxious to be off +as they were to get here the beginning of the season. + +Long before there is any possibility of the wagons coming for them they +stand, looking up the road, like sister Anne in the story of Bluebeard. + +Some of them are really ready. Most of them are not. It is always at the +last moment that one finds most important articles that ought to have +been snugly stowed away in the bottom of the trunks, lying under the +bed. + +One boy is stuffing all his soiled clothes in his rubber boots. Not such +a bad idea. You cannot make rubber boots go into a tiny little place, +so may as well fill them up. + +Another is tearing everything out of his trunk to repack it, having +found that there is no room on top for his blankets. Still another +solves his problem by throwing away everything he thinks he won't need +for the winter. Whether that suits his parents as well as it does him +history sayeth not. + +How the average mother is able to put such quantities of clothes and +shoes and sporting goods in that same trunk before it left home and have +room to spare has always been a mystery to him. Maybe if the mothers +were to let the boy himself do his packing, while they looked on, it +would teach the boy a good practical lesson, and at the end of the +season prevent many a heartache. + +By the time breakfast is over the wagons begin to arrive. Those who are +ready make a wild dash for the best-looking rig. "But not so quick, my +friend. You may as well climb out and wait for your instructors, who are +going along with you. No need of crowding. There is plenty of room for +all." + +Are they really so anxious to be off, or is it just the last bit of Camp +frolic? At the same time, from previous experience, my advice is to take +it easy up to a certain point. On this, our last day in Camp don't let +us neglect one thing that we ought to do for the good of the Camp, and +yet while we are putting everything in place, locking up all the +articles that ought to be locked, at the same time you help half a +hundred boys to get their belongings together. + +Tie one of the little boy's shoe laces, lend another one a collar +button, give a safety pin to another, find a lost hat for a third, put a +bandage on a fourth, close up bags, open trunks, strap suit cases, +fetch, carry and help anywhere, any one, anybody. Of course, you are +going to do all this. In your inmost heart you hope you will be able to +take one farewell swim, and still have time to dress like a civilized +being, but nothing is certain here. + +Just as you decide to put the drugs away and empty the bottles out so +they won't freeze during the winter, one of the boys comes into the +hospital to have a cut dressed. "How on the face of the earth did you do +that? And on the last day, too. Pity you could not remember to cut +yourself during office hours." His excuse is that he found his pocket +knife that he thought he had lost, in his other pants. Was so glad to +see it that he just opened it to see if it would cut. It did. + +We wash the wound, tie it up and shoo him out. Are we ever going to get +away? + +We had always divided the season into three periods, calling them as +they affected us, Mad, Glad and Sad. + +Mad the first part, until everything got into working order. Glad the +second part, because things were going along all right, and Sad the last +part, because we hated to leave. + +But to-day we have reversed it, and the Sad is first; the Mad is last. + +As I said a little while ago, my advice up to a certain point is to take +it easy, but in order to do so you had better carefully follow this +recipe: + +Take one horse, one wagon, one set of harness and one whip. You can, if +you wish, separate them, or, if you have room, leave them together. +Watch your opportunity and hide them deep in the woods, where they can +keep cool and quiet. When you are ready to use them step very carefully +up to the horse, grasp the bridle and, jumping into the wagon, with the +whip in your hand, drive off. + +You might invite one or two of your friends to go along, but be sure to +leave a seat for yourself. + +We have often heard of people sprinting for a wager, and we have been an +eye-witness of people who sprinted for a train, because they stayed back +too long. Therefore, by following the above famous recipe, you will find +it digestible and not hard to prepare. + +Now, having left Camp at last, we have another most beautiful ride +through shady roads, where the foliage is turning all colors, where +Nature with a most lavish paint brush is tinting the maples, turning +the apples into balls of gold and red, causing the golden rod to look +like a golden border alongside the road. What a riot of color! Wild +astors, gentian, foxgloves, everlasting flowers shading from yellow to +darkest brown! + +Summer still here, but autumn creeping in a little further each day! + +Every minute of that drive is pleasure. We laugh. We sing. We joke with +each other. What good friends we have all become! And yet how sad to +think that in a few short hours we may part, perhaps never to meet +again. Is it any wonder that I, who have had many partings, should feel +sad? Is life only to be made up of partings? Or are we to look forward +to happy meetings? + +Who knows? Anyway, nothing is to be gained by spoiling our last few +hours together. So again let us be merry and bright, adopting for our +motto, "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." + +The farmers come to the doors of the farm-houses to bid us good-bye and +Godspeed. The same motherly cows stand looking at us with their serious +eyes. The same frisky calves run along on the inside of the fence, a +little older, a little wiser, but still recognizing kindred spirits +among us, as when we travelled this road a few short weeks ago. + +How quickly the time has flown! It is only impetuous youth who desires +the time to fly. In later years he dreads to see it pass so quickly. If +it is a long lane that never has a turning, then ours has been quite a +long one. At last we come in sight of the depot. + +What a merry crowd! It is quite an event to see us come and go, almost +as good as the circus, but much cheaper. + +Any of the Campers who have any change left are busily trying to get rid +of it. They don't mean to be caught with any money on them when they get +home if they can help it. The druggist, the fruit store, the candy shop, +all get their share, and when the train pulls in, the boys can happily +state that they have only car fare left. + +The ride on the train affords plenty of enjoyment to old and young. The +passengers who are not Campers are very much amused at the antics of +those that are. + +When they were going to Camp, they spent the hours before they got there +by saying all they were going to do; now on leaving, they entertain each +other by retailing all the fun they have had while there. + +We get back to Portland in plenty of time for supper. + +Everything looks clean, dainty and appetizing. The boys tuck in as +though they never knew when they were going to get another square feed. + +At last Nature, good old soul that she is, cried, "Stop or take the +consequences," and most of them did. One or two who thought they had +room for just a little more stowed away enough to give them a nice +little stomach-ache, which ought to have taught them better. + +After supper we went aboard the train, and settled ourselves comfortably +until it was time to start. + +Our berths were assigned to us and, as on our outward trip, the little +shavers were put together at one end of the car in charge of instructors +and Biddy. + +Soon after we were all aboard, the train drew out of the station. For +some little time, boys visited one another in the different cars. Then +the long-lost bugle was discovered. The bugler was summoned and ordered +to blow "Quarters." Every man Jack of them at once obeyed, found out +where he was to sleep and in less than one hour, when Taps were sounded, +all were in bed. + +For the last time the bugler stood in turn in every car sounding Taps, +the porter ready to put the lights out. In that narrow space it sounded +very loud, very clear and most beautiful. + +"Good night, fellows; see you in the morning. Don't forget to come up to +the house to-morrow night." + +"Here, you, stop taking all the bed clothes." "Oh, you chaps in that +upper berth, don't throw cracker crumbs around." + +"Please, sir, can we have the window opened?" "Please, sir, can we have +the window closed?" Laughter, happiness and teasing until the last one +is asleep! + +Throughout the long night nothing is heard but the click of the rails as +the train drives on, the brakeman passing through with his green and red +lanterns, the faithful instructors seeing that all are covered, our +beloved Director himself looking out for the welfare of his flock. + +Biddy herself in her favorite corner. But like an old mother hen who has +carefully brought up the families of several other hens, now that her +chickens are able to scratch for themselves, and when nightfall comes +have wings strong enough to fly to the top of the roost, she feels she +can stretch her legs, then one wing, then the other, cramped by long +hovering, and with a sigh of complete satisfaction close her eyes in +sleep, secure in the thought that "He who slumbers not nor sleeps" will +watch and protect her flock. + +We still have to get dressed on the train, and that is something to look +forward to. + +Before daylight some of the boys are up and about. It is of no use +trying to sleep any more, so we may as well tidy ourselves up, wash our +faces, if there is any water, brush each other off, and try and look +just a bit tidy when we get to the station. + +Parents and friends will be so happy to see us that they will forgive +us, no matter how wild and woolly we look. + +To see such a company of tanned and healthy boys is well worth coming to +the depot and waiting for belated trains. + +As we hand over the last boy to his folks, what a lot of satisfaction it +affords us to know and feel we have played the game fair, and given +every one a square deal! + +Once more we hear the Camp calls, sounding strange here in the city. +Good byes are exchanged, thanks expressed, hopes for another season, and +at last they have all been taken away from us. + +We can go our way in peace, tracing, with happy finger, the word that +ends our season's labor. + + +(Finis) + +[Illustration] + + +Transcriber's Note: Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Camping, by Alexandra G. Lockwine + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41937 *** |