The Brownie Scouts in the Circus

The Brownie Scouts gather on Connie Williams’ porch, a lively troop of seven girls led by the enthusiastic Miss Jean Gordon. With dark‑haired Veve racing in late, cheeky Jane, bright‑eyed Connie, and the rest of the crew—Eileen, Rosemary, Belinda, and Sunny—they set off for a late‑afternoon hike to Pearson Ravine, a wooded park just beyond Rosedale. Their plan includes a picnic, a campfire, and a bit of friendly competition as they draw lots to guard the simmering stew.

Once at the ravine, the girls scramble to clear a fireplace, peel potatoes, and toss bacon, onions, and succotash into a big tin can, filling the air with a mouth‑watering aroma. While Miss Gordon and a few scouts wander toward the lily‑covered lagoon, the others keep watch, sharing jokes and nervous glances at the croaking bullfrog below the bridge. The adventure feels like the perfect prelude to something even more extraordinary—a surprise that promises to turn their ordinary hike into a circus‑sized escapade.