THE CAMP-FIRE 



of minutest detail. All these belong to 

 the camp-fire, whether it is built in con- 

 formity to scientific rules or piled clum- 

 sily by unskilled hands. What satisfac- 

 tion there is in the partnership of build- 

 ing this altar of the camp, for though 

 a master of woodcraft superintends, all 

 may take a hand in its erection ; the 

 youngest and the weakest may contrib- 

 ute a stick that will brighten the blaze. 



What hospitality the glow of the 

 camp-fire proclaims in inviting always 

 one more to the elastic circle of light 

 and warmth, that if always complete, yet 

 expands to receive another guest. A 

 pillar of cloud by day, of fire by night, it 

 is a beacon that guides the wanderer to 

 shelter and comfort. 



The Indian weed has never such per- 

 fect flavor as when, contending with heat 

 and smoke, one lights his pipe with a 

 coal or an elusive flame, snatched from 

 the embers of the camp-fire, and by no 

 other fireside does the nicotian vapor sg 

 soothe the perturbed senses, bring such 

 lazy contentment, nor conjure such pleas- 

 105 



