230 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



THE GIRLS STAND AROUND THE FIRE AND REPEAT THE FIRE INVOCATION. 



frequently do we have inquiries read- 

 ing - like this, "If we become a member 

 of the AA what will we get for our 

 membership?" The thing, my friend, 

 to worry you is not what you get, but 

 what you give. The getting will come 

 right when you do your part in giving. 

 That lesson is impressed upon the 

 Camj) Fire Girls at the start. You 

 have not come to us as to a bargain 

 counter to get more for your money 

 or for your time than yon have re- 

 ceived elsewhere, bnt an ideal opportu- 

 nity has been given you to contribute 

 something for the good of others. From 

 all points of the compass in the woods 

 come in the fagot gatherers to make 

 the fire. 



Occasionally we have a member who 

 seems so filled with the modern com- 

 mercial spirit, the desire for marked 

 down prices, that he first survevs the 

 field to ascertain what he is "going to 

 get for his money" — a trifling fifty 

 cents a year for membershio. Our 

 association would never have existed 

 if some one had not come forward, and 

 unselfishly aided others for years of 

 strenuous endeavor. Snnpose our first 

 President, Mr. Harland TT. Ballard, 

 had taken a oencil at the beginning of 

 the A A, and had tried to figure out 

 what he would ^et by starting such an 

 organization. But he did not. No, 

 he saw the opportunity to help voung 

 peoole, and he urgred and inspired them 

 to be gatherers of observations for the 

 common good. 



Bnt to return to the Camp Fire Girls. 

 When each girl has gathered her bit 

 of fuel she is animated by this desire: 



"Seek beauty, 



Give service, 



Pursue knowledge, 



Be trustworthy. 



Hold on to the health. 



Glorify work, 



Be happy." 

 And after she has brought in wood 

 for three months with other gatherers 

 she repeats this each time the fire is 

 made : 



: 'The Fire Maker's Desire. 



As fuel is brought to the fire 



So I purpose to bring 



My strength. 



My ambition, 



My heart's desire, 



My joy 



And my sorrow 



To the fire 



Of humankind ; 



For I will tend 



As my fathers have tended, 



And my father's fathers, 



Since time began, 



The fire that is called 



The love of man for man, 



The love of man for God." 

 I have heard it urged by wav of 

 criticism that the Camn Fire Girls, 

 and the Boy Scouts, and the Audubon 

 Societies, and the humane societies, 

 and the AA Chanters, have as an incen- 

 tive sonic scheme to get something. 

 There are even those who seem to 

 think that the preacher has only his 

 salary in view. The wavs and means 

 of life must be provided for, bnt there 

 are many in every department of en- 

 deavor that are working' unselfishly, 

 and are sacrificing themselves for the 



