In a few more weeks Miss Patricia’s American tractor, which was indeed a “strange god in a machine,” would be able to turn these fields into plowed land ready for the spring planting.
But now in a meadow, while still some distance away, Yvonne beheld an American, a French and a British flag set up on temporary staffs, and blending their colors and designs in a symbolic fashion as they floated in the wind.
Yvonne paused for a moment to watch the group of her acquaintances and friends.
Standing apart from the girls were Miss Patricia Lord, Mrs. Burton, and the two visitors who had arrived only a few days before. They were the guests whose approaching visit to the farm house Miss Patricia had so openly deplored, one of them Mrs. Bishop and the other Monsieur Duval, both of them ship acquaintances. Mrs. Bishop was in France to represent an American magazine and was at present intending to write a series of articles on the reclamation work along the Aisne and the Marne.
Monsieur Duval had given no explanation for his appearance save to announce that he had some especial work on hand for his government in the southern districts of France.
In spite of the fact that fuel was of such tremendous value in France at the present time, the Camp Fire girls had permitted themselves the extravagance of a fire to inaugurate their first outdoor Camp Fire ceremony. The boxes in which Miss Patricia’s various purchases had come to the farm had proved useful for more than one service.
In a circle near the camp fire were eight young French girls who this afternoon were to receive the wood-gatherers’ rings. Just beyond them the American girls were seated.
Peggy had been chosen to present the rings.
Possibly they were waiting for Yvonne’s arrival, for no sooner had she slipped silently into her place than Peggy Webster arose and recited the Wood-gatherer’s Desire.
“As fagots are brought from the forest,
Firmly held by the sinews which bind them,
I will cleave to my Camp Fire sisters
Wherever, whenever I find them.
“I will strive to grow strong like the pine tree,
To be pure in my deepest desire;
To be true to the truth that is in me
And follow the Law of the Fire.”