“Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,” begged Jane.
“I told you before I began that you each must apply it for yourselves. I can sit down and find a suitable lesson in it for the short-comings of each one present,” laughed Miss Miller, rising to close the Council Meeting.
As the Woodcrafters left the building, Zan called after them: “Remember to bring a finished product of your carpentry for the next Council!”
[CHAPTER FIVE—A PRIZE CHEST]
The following week, every member of Wickeecheokee Band was busy after school, working hard on their carpentry. Some had decided to make wooden toys for the little ones, some preferred odd pieces of furniture, such as a foot-stool, a tabouret, a waste-paper-basket, etc. The older Woodcrafters were busy making more difficult things as they had had some practise in the handling of tools and wood. May Randall, not to be outdone by the older members, wanted to manufacture a Woodcraft Chest to hold the papers, beads, and other things she would collect in her Woodcraft work as time went on.
“I never dreamed this work could be so tedious,” sighed Ethel Clifford, whittling away at a bit of wood that had to dove-tail into the other section. She was making a set of fire-boards.
“One never realises how long a time hand-made articles take. That is why they always cost more than machine made objects,” added Anne Mason.
“I hope my tilting stools will look like the picture given in the Manual,” now said Mildred Howell. “If they don’t work I shall give up in despair.”
“I think they look great, Mil. Maybe you’ll get a coup,” remarked Zan, who looked up from the elaborate bead-loom she was decorating, having constructed the entire machine of wood.
“I just adore that bead-loom you made, Zan,” now said May Randall, working industriously at the chest she was etching in pyrography.