“That is awfully dear of you, Betty. For ‘half a cent’ I’d come. But I don’t think I can.”
“Think about it, anyhow,” Betty insisted.
CHAPTER XXIII
“STUNT NIGHT” WITH SQUIRRELS’ INN
Several things had conspired to put off the White Mountain and Wiscasset trips, till within about ten days of the close of camp. The first was a three days’ jaunt, when the girls were taken first by boat, then by truck, with their packs, to the foot of Mt. Washington, which they were to climb. The second led to historic little Wiscasset, part of the way by boat, the rest a hike, except for the little girls who were taken all the way by launch. The night was spent under the stars near the old block house, meals were carried in the launches, and the return the next day was on the same plan, partly by boat, partly on foot.
Patty despaired of having any practice for the Squirrels’ Inn “stunt”, but concluded that inasmuch as they were not attempting any formal performance before a critical audience, one or two hasty rehearsals of the program as a whole in the club room would do. Only Frances and Hilary were going to Mt. Washington, but the other girls all went to Wiscasset.
At last the fateful night arrived, stage property was quickly collected, each girl having her own peculiar accoutrement to gather, and Miss Patricia was on hand with the program in full, ready to prompt or to take part with the performers. At the piano was a musical councillor, who was to play the accompaniments, and Eloise, who had been ill when her own klondike had their evening, had been asked to help with the singing. That it was a musical program might be taken for granted by any who knew Miss West’s tastes and her chief avocation. But it is not to be supposed that she would undertake any classical performance as a “stunt”. The music consisted of the popular airs; the songs were little verses illustrating Merrymeeting activities, all bound together by one central idea.
That announcement of the numbers might be avoided, the girls had prepared small programs written on ordinary yellow tablet paper, cut and folded. The audience upon the floor of the club room read upon the outside:
Squirrels’ Inn
Presents
The Merrymeeting Follies