Page:St. Nicholas, vol. 40.1 (1912-1913).djvu/791

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NATURE AND SCIENCE FOR YOUNG FOLKS
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fire. Each has her own field to glean from and to develop. But while she is working in her own part of the field, others are working elsewhere. She strives to excel, and so do they, a commendable preliminary to the fire-building, which typifies the work of life.

“THE GIRLS STAND IN A CIRCLE AROUND THE GATHERED FAGOTS.”

Having brought the symbols to one common social center, they cannot fail to have impressed upon their minds the advantages of cooperation, and that any community, even the world itself, is, after all, only a unit. It is one fire from the contributions of many workers.

When the wood-gatherer has fulfilled these duties for a period of not less than three months, she advances to the next degree, that of fire-maker. While she is merely a wood-gatherer, she expresses her desire as follows:

Seek beauty.
Give service.
Pursue knowledge.
Be trustworthy.
Hold on to health.
Glorify work.
Be happy.”

AROUND THE FIRE—“SO SHE TAKES SOME OF THIS FIRE AND CARRIES IT TO OTHERS.”

But after a candidacy of three months, satisfactory to the Guardians, she is permitted to become a fire-maker, and then no longer does she have isolated work, but joins with others in the