The Woodcraft Girls in the City. Roy Lillian Elizabeth
Why should it be? It is the simple ancient beliefs of the Indians who had no Bible as we have, and handed down these legends from one generation to another to teach their children respect and obedience to the Great Spirit,” replied Zan.
“You certainly can’t say that calling the Power above by the name of ‘Bill-of-Heaven’ is respect! I almost shivered when I heard Miss Miller use such blasphemy!” retorted Eleanor.
“Why Eleanor, you are mistaken! The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect. In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
“Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,” begged Jane.
“I told you before I began that you each must apply it for yourselves. I can sit down and find a suitable lesson in it for the short-comings of each one present,” laughed Miss Miller, rising to close the Council Meeting.
As the Woodcrafters left the building, Zan called after them: “Remember to bring a finished product of your carpentry for the next Council!”
CHAPTER FIVE – A PRIZE CHEST
The following week, every member of Wickeecheokee Band was busy after school, working hard on their carpentry. Some had decided to make wooden toys for the little ones, some preferred odd pieces of furniture, such as a foot-stool, a tabouret, a waste-paper-basket, etc. The older Woodcrafters were busy making more difficult things as they had had some practise in the handling of tools and wood. May Randall, not to be outdone by the older members, wanted to manufacture a Woodcraft Chest to hold the papers, beads, and other things she would collect in her Woodcraft work as time went on.
“I never dreamed this work could be so tedious,” sighed Ethel Clifford, whittling away at a bit of wood that had to dove-tail into the other section. She was making a set of fire-boards.
“One never realises how long a time hand-made articles take. That is why they always cost more than machine made objects,” added Anne Mason.
“I hope my tilting stools will look like the picture given in the Manual,” now said Mildred Howell. “If they don’t work I shall give up in despair.”
“I think they look great, Mil. Maybe you’ll get a coup,” remarked Zan, who looked up from the elaborate bead-loom she was decorating, having constructed the entire machine of wood.
“I just adore that bead-loom you made, Zan,” now said May Randall, working industriously at the chest she was etching in pyrography.
“I’ll tell you what, May! If the bead-loom you expect to make turns out half as fine as that chest, it will be better than mine,” praised Zan. “I never saw a girl handle tools as naturally and deftly as you do – for a greenhorn, too!”
May laughed in a pleased tone for honest praise is sweet.
“What is Eleanor Wilbur making, girls?” asked Hilda.
“I don’t know – she hasn’t been with us yet, you know,” replied Anne Mason, evasively.
“Is she doing anything else besides making trouble?” asked May Randall, in her blunt way.
“I’ll thank you to mind your own business, Miss May Randall,” called a voice from the door.
The girls flushed guiltily as they looked up and found Eleanor herself trembling with anger. She had stopped at Zan’s house to leave a borrowed book and the maid told her the girls were on the back-porch working. So she happened there unannounced.
“Well, are you, Eleanor?” persisted May, defiantly.
“I’ll tell you what’s troubling you, all right – you dog-in-the-manger, you! You’re afraid I’ll win out ahead of you in the test for membership, so you go to work in an underhanded way to prejudice the others against me,” declared Eleanor.
“Hardly, Miss Wilbur, for Zan just told us that Ethel handed her a letter to be read at the weekly Council. She is to go to California next month to be gone all Winter so she has withdrawn her application till Spring,” snapped May, with satisfaction.
“Then there are only five after all,” said Eleanor, a gleam of pleasure on her face.
“There may be only four – if one of the new members keeps on the undesirable pathway she has trodden since applying for membership!” taunted May, who had a sharp tongue at times.
“Pooh!” sounded from Eleanor and Jane banged her work down loudly upon the floor and said angrily:
“For pity’s sake, forget it – you two! We never had a single scrap like this when we were at Camp!”
“I’m not scrapping a bit,” defended Eleanor. “It is that hateful old thing over there. But as I am going now anyway, don’t bother to shut her up. I’m on my way to visit Miss Miller, so I will just mention the fact that Miss Randall is running the Tribe now, and she as old Guide can resign gracefully or be ousted by the new Guide!” sneered Eleanor, slamming the door as she left the porch.
“Can’t we put her out, girls! I am getting to hate her,” cried May, spitefully.
“You’re letting your anger get the best of you, May. It has already made you lose out in one test – same as Eleanor has. Besides, Eleanor may need Woodcraft more than any of us, because the work isn’t a matter of pastime as much as for improvement,” said Zan, who had had a private talk with the Guide and to her questions about ousting Eleanor, had been told some truths that made her think of Nita and the impatience the girls felt at her in Camp that Summer.
“Girls, since Zan spoke of May’s Woodcraft box I have been thinking – why can’t we have contests in work and give a prize to the one having the best product to show with the others at the exhibit?” said Elena, trying to change their current of thought.
“Let’s do it! The one to win this Saturday, to have a suitable prize awarded for the different points covered,” said Zan.
“It will be for neatness, utility, beauty, and time taken in the making,” suggested Jane.
“I wonder if Headquarters ever started contests with the Woodcrafters for certain requirements well-done?” wondered Nita.
“Let’s have Miss Miller write to find out. Maybe we can give them a new idea,” commented Hilda.
Silence followed for a few moments after that decision and Nita began humming a new Hawaiian air.
“That reminds me, Nita, did you find any new folk songs that we might adapt for dancing?” asked Jane.
“Oh, yes, I have a dandy! Want to see me do it while you take a little rest from work?” cried eager Nita.
Nita never lost an opportunity to dance, and it was her greatest delight to show her friends any new steps or figures she had improvised for a Woodcraft Folk Song or Dance, which really is true dancing from over-flowing joy in the heart – but not the so-called wanton dances in vogue at the present time.
The girls always enjoyed watching the graceful form as it bent low or whirled around in the Indian Acting Songs, so to-day they approved the suggestion to rest and be entertained by Nita.
“I shall have to sing the words in French as Miss Miller and I haven’t translated them yet. The air is familiar to most of you and you must hum it with me. Now I will sing and slowly step the bars while you try to study the action and practise it at home,” announced Nita.
Sur le pont d’Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse;
Sur le pont d’Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse en rond,
Les beaux messieurs font comm’ ga,
Et puis encor comm’ ga:
Sur