a suffragette, and standing on a soap box she'll address
the street rabble, perhaps wearing a large bonnet and standing beside a
kettle holiday time ringing a bell and holding out a tambourine,--a
Salvation Army woman. Oh! what a fool I was to let her go away from my
influence," and she sobbed,--"to toil and save for her to make a
brilliant match. See the way she rewards me. Why did I bring into this
world such an ungrateful child! It's all that wretched Camp Fire
business."

Then Ethel gently put her arm around her mother and told her that only
since she had been a Camp Fire girl had she appreciated how hard she had
worked for her. "I know, Mamma," she said, "how you and Papa, and even
Grandmamma, have sacrificed for me. I see myself as I have been, (not as
I am now)--a selfish, wicked girl, not even appreciating what you have
done for me, and I am appalled. I am going to do for you now. I am going
to see the roses come back into your cheeks and the wrinkles leave your
pretty face. Uncle John is Papa's senior by ten years but he looks much
younger--why? Because Papa is bent and worn getting money for me--for
us to make a show on. Everything is sham, Mamma, and let us give it
up--let us keep only friends who care for us ourselves and we shall be
happier. I shall take you up to camp next summer. You can help us so
much; you are so clever and can teach the girls. And as for a grand
marriage for me, I'll promise never to marry at all unless you approve of
the man, and I may make a better marriage than you dream of. So just let
us be happy and natural and live within our means," and she took her
sobbing mother in her arms.

Ethel Hollister's Second Summer as a Camp Fire Girl

CHAPTER I

ETHEL'S PLANS

The morning after Ethel had declared herself her mother came up to her
room. She could see that Mrs. Hollister had not slept and her eyes were
red from weeping. Ethel kissed her, saying:

"Mamma, we are going to be very happy together--you and I. I don't want
to disappoint you, dear, nor would I do so willingly; but I simply can
not live as I've been living. Sit down and let us talk."

Then she told of Aunt Susan,--of her kindness, unselfishness and
self-sacrifice. She told of Mattie and how they had helped her, and
of her Uncle John; of Patty and Judge Sands; and lastly of Kate and
what a wonderful character she was.

"Wait, dear, I want to show you my ceremonial gown," and she quickly
slipped it on.