“I don’t mean every minute, but there will be things to fix and hunt up. We can have some good times in between at the club house, and play tennis or anything we want to, you know, but we leave Tuesday afternoon, and by Wednesday hardly anybody will be at camp.”
“Doesn’t it make you sick to think about it? Maybe I’ll never be able to come back here!” Helen’s eyes looked misty.
“We mustn’t think about it,” said Isabel. “Cheer up. Suppose you could never go home and see your folks.”
“Listen to the practical Isabel,” laughed Lilian. “That’s right, Isabel; always look forward to the next nice thing that you’re going to do!”
“By the way, girls,” said Isabel, “the last Moon will be read Sunday, and I promised to see everybody and ask for a contribution. Every one of you can hand in a personal or some little paragraph about something that has happened in your klondike. I’m coming around Saturday and if you haven’t written anything I’m going to sit down and wait till you do. No promises go!”
“Might as well do it, girls,” said Eloise. “When the energetic Isabel has a duty to perform, it is a case of ‘do it now’. O, dear, what fun we have had!”
“Are having, going to have,” insisted Isabel. “Don’t start any mourning, anybody. We’ll probably have enough of waterworks at the end, and I, for one, don’t want to begin now.”
“You funny, nice, dear old Isabel,” said Cathalina, reaching a hand over to rumple Isabel’s curly head.
Rapidly passed these last day of camp. The last games of the August tournament were played. Reports of attainment and points earned were handed in by the director of athletics, the swimming instructor and other councillors. Excitement more or less suppressed spread among the girls as they consulted with each other about whom to choose and vote for in regard to the prize cups. From so many bright, helpful and popular girls, who should be chosen as the best camper among the seniors, the intermediates and the juniors? The girls were warned against “campaigning” for their favorites. In this, points did not count, except as indicating an interest in the activities. The best “all-around camper” would not necessarily be the one who was first in any particular activity. Former years in camp, giving what we might call “cumulative” helpfulness and loyalty, counted also.
The annual “minstrels” at the boys’ camp was one of the great events. Gay boat-loads of girls on that happy night went down to Boothbay Camp, gave enthusiastic support and applause to the entertainment furnished by the boys, enjoyed every feature, and joined heartily in the singing of popular or camp songs while the curtains were drawn between “acts.” By lantern and flashlight they again filled the boats for the unusual experience of a ride home on the river after dark. A big flashlight served occasionally as search light, but the pilot knew his river even without a moon.