On a cold and star-lit evening,
In the second moon of winter,
Met the
Camp Fire girls together
Camp of Sagamore and
Mystic,
In a sacred house of worship
In the good old town of
Medford.
Listen, while I tell the story
Of that bright and happy evening,
When we wore our Indian dresses
And our many-colored headbands
To that ceremonial meeting.
Of our number there were present
Nine and twenty bright-faced maidens.
Entered, Sagamore and
Mystic;
Made the fire sign together,
Sign of fame and curling woodsmoke
Curling slowly, slowly upwards
To the great mysterious Spirit;
Then so softly all together
Said the ode to the great Spirit,
Sang we then the mystic fire song
Sang it all with joyous voices.
Afterwards, with hands uplifted
Paid our tribute to the colors
To the emblem of our freedom
To the flag of our great nation.
[p. 59] How the rafters rang with music!
Music of our national anthem
And our Camp Fire cry, ‘
Wo-he-lo.’
See! before the firelight standing
Three tall candles all unlighted
Waiting for Nioda's coming
Waiting for the maid She-she-bens,
Waiting for the maid
Jaswedo.
Each one knelt before her candle
In her hand a lighted taper,
Touched it to the candle, saying,
“Work and Health and Love are lighted With the magic word ‘ Wo-he-lo.’
”
Stood outside the camp a maiden
To become one of our number,
Stood before the guardian saying
Earnest words of her desire
To become a Camp Fire maiden.
Then, replied the guardian to her
After all her words were spoken,
“You are now one of our number Camps of
Sagamore and
Mystic.
”
Then bestowed upon their members
Twelve in number well-won honors
So, unto each necklace adding,
Precious beads of many colors,
Six unto the
Camp of Sagamore,
Six unto the
Camp of Mystic.
Then, into the Wood-gatherers' circle
There were gathered nine new members,
Four from
Mystic,
Five from
Sagamore.
On each hand was placed a token
Silver ring of seven fagots and the circles of ‘Wo-he-lo.’
Then our closing song together
Sang we all the ‘Day is Over.’
And unto their homes departed
All the loyal Camp Fire maidens.