Jane L. Stewart

A Campfire Girl's Test of Friendship Jane L. Stewart

?Oh, what a glorious day!? cried Bessie King, the first of the members of the Manasquan Camp Fire Girls of America to emerge from the sleeping house of Camp Sunset, on Lake Dean, and to see the sun sparkling on the water of the lake. She was not long alone in her enjoyment of the scene, however. ?Oh, it?s lovely!? said Dolly Ransom, as, rubbing her eyes sleepily, since it was only a little after six, she joined her friend on the porch. ?This is really the first time we?ve had a chance to see what the lake looks like. It?s been covered with that dense smoke ever since we?ve been here.? ?Well, the smoke has nearly all gone, Dolly. The change in the wind not only helped to put out the fire, but it?s driving the smoke away from us.? ?The smoke isn?t all gone, though, Bessie. Look over there. It?s still rising from the other end of the woods on the other side of the lake, but it isn?t bothering us over here any more.? ?What a pity it is that we?ve got to go away just as the weather gives us a chance to enjoy it here! But then I guess we?ll have a good time when we do go away, anyhow. We thought we weren?t going to enjoy it here, but it hasn?t been so bad, after all, has it?? ?No, because it ended well, Bessie. But if those girls in the camp next door had had their way, we wouldn?t have had a single pleasant thing to remember about staying here, would we?? ?They?ve had their lesson, I think, Dolly. Perhaps they won?t be so ready to look down on the Camp Fire Girls after this?and I?m sure they would be nice and friendly if we stayed.?