SCOUT NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21634, 1 February 1934, Page 14

SCOUT NOTES

[By Grey Wolf.] THE GOOD TURN. Wolf Cubs' have a way of making themselves happy, it is very simple. It is not done by playing at Cub games, -by going into camp, by exploring the country;- but by making other people happy. That is to say, every day they do a kindness to someone. It does not matter who tho person is, friend, stranger, man, woman, or child. Like the knights of old, they prefer to do it to a woman or child. The kindness need not be a big thing* There are generally plenty of chances of doing an act of politeness in our own homes, such as helping to do some little job about the house; or, if away from home, helping someone across a busy street. Be always ready to carry a parcel .for-anybody,-to give up your seat iu acrowded " train,,.or show people the way,; : To open doors for ladies, to help old people,: blind men or children to cross >the street," to give " water to thirsty-.dogs'dr horses, tb. protect. birds nfrom having their nests destroyed and robbed by other boys-t-these. and many other good lurhs any ; Wolf Cub can do, and must do, if lie.'.is--'-acting up to his promise to do good turns. If you take money for it it is not a good turn, but just a piece of work that lias been paid for. Having done a good turn, a Wolf Cub should not blag about it; but go and do another until it becomes a good habit. One day an old gentleman, a friend of the Chief Scout, was attacked in the street by a rough, who hit him in the stomach and snatched away his;gold watch, and ran away with it.," A Scout, however, was near, and he alone dashed away" in pursuit. Ho was not able" to catch the thigf, hut lie pressed so close : that the man, fearing that ho, might bo caught with the watch: in his possession, dropped it, and ran -on,-• The- Scout ])ickcd up tho wateli", ‘ and! as, he was' nimble to overtake the thief; he came back to the old gentleman, gave him back his watch, wont and called a cab, and after helping the old man into it, went off without saying a word r.i'oout who he was or what troop ho was from. The Scout had done his duty in the proper way, without expecting (.hanks or reward, and then, having finished,his task, went quietly away. , AVdlf :Cubs should’’ hrivp sharp eyes. If they look in .their Wolf Cub’s handbook,. which Akela will always let them see, ..they will see a picture ,of a Wolf Cub, :_aud,. if they look; carefully, will see; that’ there'-are two* knots in his scarf. , The lower-one, is wfiat a Cub ties to remind him to do his-good turn for the'day. As soon as ho does a good turn-he unties .the knot. " There is another thing that they will notice if they have sharp eyes, and that 'is that in each of the pictures the Cub is grinning. If they look at a real wolf or even a big dog when he is running about, they will see that he is wearing a grin. So, too, tire boy-cub should bo always smiling. Even if they do not feel like smiling, they should remember that a Wolf Cub never cries, but if they are in difficulty, pain trouble, -nr. danger they always grin and 'bear A JAPANESE CUB. During the afternoon of September 1. 1923, after, a terrible earthquake in Japan, there .gathered on the reclaimed land at the foot of the bluff at Yoko,hama a crowd of people who had escaped from being killed by;the falling houses. Some were unhurt, hut nearly .all had some cut or wound.'arid some were terri'bly damaged. The Briitsh chaplain moved about attending to the worst cases, and doing jhis best to cheer people up. Suddenly iri the long grass he .saw a small boy lying, and he was trying to recognise the boy, when a hand went up, arid a faint voice said : “I’m here, Mr Strong. All the rest arc in Heaven.” “ All the rest,” meant his father, mother, sister,, governess, and a friend, though afterwards it was found that, his mother had escaped injury. He was Frank Purington, Wolf Cub" of nine years old. one of the brightest boys of tho settlement, with his right arm and left foot crushed to a milp. They came at last to remove him to a 'boat, and as they tried to raise him he gave a little whimper, but he' pulled himself together with the thought that as he was a Cub he must not cry. Instead, he said: “Please be careful of this arm and leg. as they hurt a lot.” They carried him gently to the boat, and put him aboard the Dongola, and as they laid him down he told them how to put him so that his wounds hurt least. The next morning, when the doctor approached him he said: “ Don’t bother about me, doctor. Look after the others. My time’s up.” Soon after he died. May we all not take a lesson from this boy, and “ Grin and bear it.” A Cub book will be awarded to the Cub who sends in the best six reasons why be wishes to' become a Scout. There is.no entrance fee. The Cub’s name and address, together with his pack, must 'bo written on the back of the entry, so that it is not visible to the judges. Entries close with the Editor, Scout Notes, Box 131, Dunedin, on February 5. The winning entry will bs given in these notes.