THE GREYCLIFF GIRLS IN CAMP
CHAPTER I
THE TRIP TO CAMP
The Greycliff girls who had decided to go to the girls’ camp in Maine with Patricia West, their English teacher, were busy getting ready their camp equipment in the short time which elapsed between the close of school and their departure for camp. School had closed early in June and Merrymeeting Camp did not open until July 5th, but Miss West, who had been a councillor at camp for several seasons, was to have charge of a delightful and instructive trip that was offered by the camp authorities to any of the older girls who wanted to take it. This would give them the opportunity to see Niagara, Toronto, Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence and Thousand Islands, Montreal, and the White Mountains. The trip was so planned that the girls would see the best part of the scenery by day, and would have rest at hotels from the necessary sleeping car and boat travel. All reservations were made on boat and train and at hotels, and in the case of the girls leaving with the Cincinnati parties, even baggage was called for at the homes and the tickets purchased.
Letters went back and forth. Hilary Lancaster was now living in Cincinnati, which was also Miss West’s home. Helen Paget and Evelyn Calvert, two Southern girls who had been at Greycliff, were to join Hilary, visiting her a day or two and starting with her party. Cathalina Van Buskirk and Lilian North were to join them at Buffalo; Betty Barnes, at Toronto, where she was visiting her aunt.
“The whole ‘quartet’ of our suite will be together on this trip,” wrote Lilian to Hilary, “and more of our special friends at camp,—won’t it be jolly? I’ve never seen Niagara, nor ever been out of the United States. I wrote to Eloise and urged her to come, but she says that she can not possibly get ready so soon and will have to meet us at camp if she gets there at all!”
It was the last Thursday in June, and the train to Buffalo was to leave at 6:05 P.M. Cincinnati was steaming with heat during one of those days which the beautiful Queen City can serve to its inhabitants in summer. Perspiration shone on faces and trickled down backs. The Central Union Station was like an oven, but cheerful, happy faces and lively conversation, anticipatory of interesting experiences, brightened the farewells.
Both Dr. and Mrs. Lancaster, with Mary, Gordon and Tommy, were there to see Hilary and June off; for June, to her great delight, was going too. Dr. Lancaster had packed the whole family, with their guests, Helen and Evelyn, into his car, recently presented to him by his congregation, and brought them from the parsonage to the station. Already Miss West was there, with three first-year high-school girls, Jean Marshall, Marjorie White and Rhoda Jenkins, known later at camp as “Jenkie” or “Jenks”.
“Think of the cool breezes in Maine,” said Dr. Lancaster, as he delivered several small suit-cases to their owners and took out a big white handkerchief, “to catch his tears”, as Tommy said.
“Tommy and I are going to our aunt’s for a visit,” said Gordon to Miss West, for he wanted it to be known that he was not entirely left out of good times. “And Father says that p’raps we can go to Boothbay Camp next summer. The oldest got to go first in our family!”
Time sped on as they chatted, till presently the iron gates opened and with Miss West and the tickets in the lead, the girls passed through. A few friends were permitted to accompany them and escort them to the train.