the painted coconut-shell for a handle,
its gleeful rattle fairly turned.girls' heads
with the joy of June.

"I think we'll have to ask you to repeat
that dance to-night for the benefit
of the boys, your guests," said the Scoutmaster,
who was manipulating the phonograph.
"Fairyland wouldn't be 'in it'
with the human leaves tripping in pink
and gold and green and--no ordinary
man knows what!"

Fairyland, indeed, seemed beaten hollow
as "across the lake in golden glory" the
waning sunbeams of early June bathed
the little floating pier, wreathed in laurel
and daisy chains, then climbed with flagging
feet, like a tired angel, the sod-steps
cut into the side of the steep cliff, and,
gaining the top, joined their rose-colored
brothers skipping among girlish forms
in every fair hue imaginable, claiming
partners in a dance as of Northern Lights
before ever their human brothers, the scouts
in gilded khaki, got a chance at a reel.

[[214]]

p213 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p214w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p215

v?