AN IMPROBABLE STORY

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20388, 31 December 1937, Page 14 (Supplement)

AN IMPROBABLE STORY

(By “ Grey Wolf.”)

Filsher Jack came out of the clubroom. smiling and whistling. He was feeling very lighthearted, Tor he had successfully repeated the Scout Law to his P.L. that night. The learning or the law had been a trial; he had found it ps difficult to remember as “verses or 'Scripture”; and to pass the test meant a load off his mind. Jack felt so Jolly that he had to let off steam. He snatched orr a small boy’s cap as he passed and kicked it into a puddle. The small boy wept aloud and Jack felt very big and manly. At the greengrocer's he treated himself to a banana. The skin he “ rocketed ” (three times round and chuck up behind your back!). It went up splendidly, and he really didn’t notice that it struck an old woman as It came dowh—and anyway ho, didn’t mean to. At the corner of the street, he ran into a pal and stopped to pass on a bit or news about the family of a friend in the troop. It happened to be true, and not very creditable. He had been asked to keep it private, but it was spicy gossip, and he could not keep it to himself. lie reached his door, and went in. “Did you get Slssie's hoots?” called his mother. “ Er—they are not ready,” said Jack. In point or fact he had rorgotten to call, but he knew he could go early next day, so no one need know. Besides, ttie boots probably were not ready—the cobbler was always behind time. “ You’re a bit late, Jack,” said bis rather. “ Get your supper and go to bed —and don’t keep the light burning for an hour like you did last night.” “ Righto, Dad.” But Jack Just wanted to finish a yarn he was reading, and he knew his elder brother would not lie In Tor an hour. So he flung his things over the crack of the door to prevent the light showing—and read. (query: How many times did Jack put his root through the Scout Law that night?)

A SCOUT IS A FELLOW WHO DOES THINGS

The, law does not say that a Scout is a boy who does not do this and that. A liov might shut himself up at home and never go out except to school, never 101 l lies, never talk smut, never be cruel to animals, never say anything disloyal—- '• never do nuthln’ " —ln fact, but he would not be a Scout. A boy or man is obeying the Scout Law when lie goes out and does things, helps other people, tights bullying, and uncleanliness wherever he finds them, wears a cheerful grin under difficulties, saves animals from pain, and so ou.

A MESSAGE TO BCOUTERS A new year is ahead of you and maybe last year was arduous and you have wondered whether it was worth all the sacrifice or time and patience. We have all relt that way. I know, and when I came across this passage in an old “ Scouter,” I was perusing, I felt an enlightening of spirit and I pass it on to you: “ When you look at your boys they are sending you a message something like this:— “You are our officer. We are trying to be good Cubs, Scouts or Rovers. We expect you to show us the way. We admire you and look up to you. We hope you will help us.” There Is a beautirul French poem, some lines of which run as follows: “ Sons of men—so beautiful Because you are not men. We dream in you a wonderful dream That you may grow up better than we are And keep all the divine brightness in your eyes.” God created man in his own image. Help your boys to keep some or the beauty and nobleness of that character and say to yourselves:— “ O, put me In touch with the heart of a boy, Let me study his doubts and his rears. Oh, let me show him the way or life, And help him avoid his tears. For the heart of a boy in its buoyancy Is a heart that is pure and Tree. Oh, put me In touch with the heart or a boy, The heart of a man to be.” Wishing you all that you wish for yourselves in 1938.—Yours, \ A FELLOW SCOUTER. Hamutana will be pleased to receive any reports rrom Scout camps or any individual Scouts on tour of any matter thnt is of interest to this column. We want to keep this column open all the. year round. So rush those reports along! CAMP GAMES JUMPING THE BAG The players form a circle. A Scouter swings round a football or a bag (stuffed with anything handy) tied to a length or rope. As the bag conies round each player jumps to avoid being touched (or even knocked down). Players who are touched leave the circle, and the game goes on till the winner remains. CAMP SKITTLES (Hungarian.) A game very popular with Scouts. Played exactly like our Table Skittle game, but the ball is a large one, about 9in. in diameter, suspended from a tree. The skittles were about l loot high and arranged under the tree and lightly driven into the ground. The idea Is to swing the ball so as to knock the skittles down. A bag of sand makes a good ball. Horseback games are very popular and there are several to choose from. Horseback wrestling, in which the riders try to unseat each other; Pony Express race, in which “ ponies ” spaced at intervals, carry a rider who changes “ponies ” without touching the ground, and the old favourite Chariot Race.

RIDERS AND HORSES

The “ horses ” with the “ riders ” on their backs, stand—one or two yards apari —in a circle. The “ riders ” pass a football or any soft round article .round tlie circle, without letting it fall, while the “horses.” by twisting and turning their bodies (feet must not he. moved). Iry in cause them lo miss. When a ball is dropped by a ” rider,” his •• horse ” recovers it. All - riders ” dismount and da-li !.. a certain point. Once he lays his hands on the bail the horse shouts - stop!” when every rider must stand still. The horse now tries to bit any rider with the ball. The rider can move ids body but not bis feet. ir the horse succeeds the teams change; ir he rails, tile game goes on as before, but the horses have to carry the riders back to the circle.