“Olga,” Laura’s arm was around the girl’s shoulders, her voice very low and tender, “you say that now you cannot do a single bit of Camp Fire work?”
Olga looked up in surprise. “How can I—when I can’t be with the girls at all, nor attend the meetings?”
“Do you know what I think is the best Camp Fire service the girls have done? It is the work in their own homes. Mrs. Bicknell says that Eva is getting to be a real comfort to her. She helps with the housework and the younger children as she never used to do, and her influence is making the younger ones so much easier to manage.”
“But, Miss Laura, I don’t see how that is Camp Fire work,” Olga said.
“Don’t you?” Very softly Laura repeated, “‘Love is the joy of service so deep that self is forgotten.’ And isn’t the home the place above all others where Camp Fire Girls should render service?”
“I—never—thought of it—that way,” Olga said very slowly.
“But isn’t it so?” Laura persisted. “Think now.”
“Yes—of course it is so. Miss Laura, it will—it will make it easier to think of it as Camp Fire service, for I did so hate to be out of it all—all the Camp Fire work, I mean. I’ll try to think of it that way after this. And—and I guess there isn’t any way out. I suppose I ought not to long so for a way out, if I am going to be a faithful Torch Bearer.” She made a brave attempt to smile.
“There is a way out—I am sure of it, but we may not find it just at once. Meantime you have a great opportunity, Olga. Don’t you see? It is easy to be happy as you were in August at the camp, when you were growing stronger every day, and had just begun to realise what Camp Fire might mean to you in your service for and with the girls, and their love for you. Once you had opened your heart, you could not help being happy. But now it is different. Now you must be happy not because of, but in spite of, circumstances. And so if you keep the law of the Camp Fire to give service—a service that it is very hard for you to give—and to be happy in spite of the trying things in your life—don’t you see how much more your happiness will mean—how much deeper and stronger and finer it will be?”
“Yes, I see.”