Part 32 (1/2)

When Zan and Hilda returned to the camp-fire the Guide asked Hilda to broil the ham while Zan spread the breakfast cloth.

”What can I do?” asked Jane, coming over.

”You can get a pail of fresh water from the Falls and fill the cups at each plate,” returned the Guide.

That breakfast was appreciated thoroughly by everyone, for the bread was hot and crisp and the ham fried as brown as any ever served by Southern cook.

”After we finish breakfast and have cleared away the dishes, we must explore the immediate neighbourhood to find out if we are on a main trail where visitors are liable to come and interrupt our peace,” said Miss Miller.

The camp ch.o.r.es done, the Tribe started for a hike, intending to circle their camp-site and look for possible intruders. They had followed the trail but a short distance before Miss Miller spied some fine white birches. Some of these had been cut down as being in the way for the proposed roadways of the park. The Guide immediately found a use for the large sheets of bark that were peeling from the trunks.

”Girls, we will postpone our scouting for a time when there is no important work at hand, but now do let us collect as much of this splendid birch bark while it is offered us without damaging standing trees.”

The Guide then showed the eager Woodcrafters how to peel the bark to keep it in large sections and not split it into strips. When everyone was laden with as much bark as could possibly be carried, they started for camp and deposited their freight on the ground.

”You need not waste a bit of this bark-even this bit will make the outside of a dainty pen-wiper. It can be cut oblong and decorated with gold-paint. With leaves of felt or flannel between the two sections, and these tied together with a cord or ribbon, it makes a pretty memento.”

”I suppose Miss Miller will find endless ways to use this tinder, just as she did for the sea-sh.o.r.e pebbles and sh.e.l.ls,” remarked May, laughingly.

”I can think of enough ideas right now to keep you girls busy until Christmas,” rejoined the Guide, also laughingly.

”For instance?” questioned Zan, curious to hear the items.

”Well, you can make needle-cases, pin-cus.h.i.+ons, boxes for neckties for the boys, boxes for handkerchiefs for parents, picture frames, veneering for rustic furniture, Tally Book covers, camp utensils-such as dishes, pots, pans, and platters, toilet sets, and many other things.”

”That's right! I never thought of using birch bark for such things,”

declared Elena.

”Make a record of it in the Tally!” teased Zan, for Elena was acquiring the habit of entering everything in that book.

”If we should find any sweet gra.s.s on our walks while here, we must be sure and gather it, as it is what is needed to sew up the seams of birch bark. If the gra.s.s is wound about with red linen thread it makes it much stronger and looks pretty, too. The bark must be punched with a row of holes so the gra.s.s-binding can pa.s.s through without tearing. I think we have a punch at home such as children use in a kindergarten school.”

”Miss Miller, do you know of other articles to make out of wild-wood things?” asked May, with awe at the Guide's knowledge.

”Well, I think pine cones make the oddest and prettiest things. The small cones combined with birch bark are lovely. I have made frames by glueing cones in patterns on thin bark-covered wooden frames. I have a large picture of George Was.h.i.+ngton at home that I framed in this way years ago. Then, too, I will show you a work-box that I made for my mother. It was made of a cigar-box and covered with bark. On top of the lid, and about the sides, I glued different kinds of cones and stems.

Then I varnished the whole thing and it was beautiful, in my estimation.

It has lasted to this day, and I made it over five years ago.”

”I waxed some Autumn leaves last year and we used them over the windows and doors until Christmas time. Everyone said they looked _so_ pretty,”

said Elena.

”Why can't we gather some of these beautiful leaves and do the same thing with them, Miss Miller?” asked Jane, eagerly.

”We must wax them with sperm and iron them as soon as they are cut from the branches. You see, the colours remain exactly the same as when they were gathered if you wax them before they have time to dry. Whole branches can be waxed this way and used for decorative purposes.

Florists to-day use great ma.s.ses of waxed Autumn leaves in their exhibits, or for back-grounds through the Winter months. But care must be taken when ironing the spermaceti over the leaves that the hot iron does not touch the stem or wood of the branch. If it does, the leaf will immediately fall off.”

So much time had been taken by the collecting and descriptions of articles made of birch bark, that it was noon before anyone dreamed it was more than ten o'clock.