The Brownie Scouts in the Cherry Festival

By Mildred Augustine Wirt Benson

Subjects: Quilting, Migrant agricultural laborers, Money-making projects for children, Brownie Girl Scouts, Social conditions, Juvenile fiction, Mexicans

Description: Restless Veve McGuire finds making a crazy quilt rather tiresome. The Brownie Scouts plan to sell the quilt to make money, but Veve thinks she can find an easier way to earn money. Veve searches through the newspaper and spots an advertisement for cherry pickers. Veve suggests that the Brownies earn money by picking cherries. Miss Gordon is at first skeptical, but finally agrees to the plan. Veve and Connie inquire at Mr. Wingate's orchard but are rudely turned away. The girls have more luck at Mr. Hooper's orchard and begin work the following day. Veve discovers that picking cherries is not as much fun as she thought it would be and spends more of her time looking around than picking cherries. Veve learns that Mr. Hooper will soon lose his orchard because his sister's last will leaves it to Mr. Hooper's cousin, Mr. Wingate. Mr. Hooper thinks the will was forged, but he cannot prove it without a sample of his sister's handwriting. Meanwhile, the Brownies plan a quilt show and borrow quilts to display at the show. They combine the quilt show with a cherry festival and invite many people. During the cherry festival, Veve makes a surprising discovery that solves Mr. Hooper's troubles and guarantees that he will not lose his orchard.