CHAPTER I

HOW TO BECOME A TENDERFOOT

THE SCOUT PROMISE

ON my honour I will try—

TO DO MY DUTY TO GOD AND TO MY COUNTRY. TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES. TO OBEY THE SCOUT LAW.

THE SCOUT LAW

1. A Scout’s honor is to be trusted. 2. A Scout is loyal. 3. A Scout’s duty is to be useful and to help others. 4. A Scout is a friend to all, and a sister to every other Girl Scout. 5. A Scout is courteous. 6. A Scout Keeps herself pure. 7. A Scout is a friend to animals. 8. A Scout obeys order. 9. A Girl Scout is cheerful. 10. A Scout is thrifty.

WHAT IS A GIRL SCOUT?

This is a Girl Scout.

She is in her uniform, wearing her badges of rank and awards for proficiency.

The stripes on her left breast and the badge in her hat show that she is a Patrol Leader—that is, she commands a group of seven other Scouts who form the “Patrol.” She carries in her hand the flag of the Patrol. The badge on her right breast is that for “War Service”—meaning that she has done public service during the war.

What Do Girl Scouts Do?

Look on the cover and you will see that they are jolly people who enjoy themselves, they are a happy sisterhood who do good turns to other people.

In Europe Girl Scouts are called Girl Guides and this is what they have done abroad during the Great War.

In the towns they have helped at the Military Hospitals as assistants to the ward-maids, cooks, and laundry women. In the Government offices, such as the War Office, the Admiralty, and other great departments of the State, they have acted as orderlies and messengers. They have taken up work in factories, or as motor-drivers, or on farms, in order to release men to go to the front.

At home and in their club-rooms they have made bandages for the wounded, and warm clothing for the men at the Front and in the Fleet.

(S.T. stands for “Stand tall and Sit tall”)

In the country they have collected eggs for the sick, and on the moors have gathered sphagnum moss for the hospitals.

Over in France a great Recreation and Rest Hut for the soldiers has been supplied by the Guides with funds earned through their work. It is managed by Guide officers, or ex-Guides. Among the older Guides there are many who have done noble work with the Hospitals at home and overseas; there was one in particular who went through great adventures in Serbia during the invasion of that country.

At home in many of the great cities the Scouts have turned their Headquarters’ Club-Rooms into “Hostels.” That is, they have made them into small hospitals ready for taking in people injured in air-raids by the enemy.

So altogether the Scouts have shown themselves to be a pretty useful lot in many different kinds of works during the war, and, mind you, they are only girls between the ages of 11 and 18. But they have done their bit in the Great War as far as they were able, and have done it well.

There are 64,000 of them, and they are very smart, and ready for any job that may be demanded of them.

They were not raised for this special work during the war, for they began some years before it, but their motto is “Be Prepared,” and it was their business to train themselves to be ready for anything that might happen, even the most unlikely thing.

So even when war came they were “all there” and ready for it.

It is not only in Great Britain that they have been doing this, but—in Canada and Australia, West, East, and South Africa, New Zealand, the Falkland Islands, West Indies, and India. The Scouts are a vast sisterhood of girls, ready to do anything they can for their country and Empire.

In this book I will show you as briefly as possible how you become a Scout, and what you have to do to make yourself fit for service. And I can tell you right off now that one thing you’ve got to do is to laugh and enjoy it all; you can’t help doing so when you get into it.

What the Guides Do

As a Guide your first duty is to be helpful to other people, both in small everyday matters and also under the worst of circumstances. You have to imagine to yourself what sort of things might possibly happen, and how you should deal with them when they occur. Then you will know what to do.

I was present when a German aeroplane dropped a bomb on to a railway station in London. There was the usual busy scene of people seeing to their luggage, saying good-bye and going off by train, when with a sudden bang a whole car was blown to bits, and the adjoining ones were in a blaze; seven or eight of those active in getting into the train were flung down—mangled and dead; while some thirty more were smashed, broken, and bleeding, but still alive. The suddenness of it made it all the more horrifying. But one of the first people I noticed as keeping their heads was a smartly dressed young lady kneeling by an injured working-man; his thigh was smashed and bleeding terribly; she had ripped up his trouser with her knife, and with strips of it had bound a pad to the wound; she found a cup somehow and filled it with water for him from the overhead hose for filling engines. Instead of being hysterical and useless, she was as cool and ready to do the right thing as if she had been in bomb-raids every day of her life. Well, that is what any girl can do if she only prepares herself for it.

Long before there was any idea of the war the Scouts had been taught to think out and to practise what they should do supposing such a thing as war happened in their own country, or that people should get injured by bombs or by accidents in their neighbourhood.

In order to be able to deal with such cases the first thing that you have to know is how to go out in the country and find the wounded by following their tracks to where they have crawled away to hide themselves or get water; you must know how to bind up their wounds temporarily; how to light a fire and boil up some hot soup, or fomentations for their injuries; you must be able to signal to other Scouts in the distance in order to call up help; you must be able to make a shelter out of the brush-wood around you, or to rig up a stretcher or means of carrying the injured on carts or barrows and so to get them in to hospital.

Then you have to know how to turn a room or a cellar into a ward, how to make up beds and apparatus for the use of the sick and wounded; how to nurse them; how to change their bandages; how to cook their food; what sort of ventilation is necessary; how to wash the linen and so on.

Convalescent Nursing

Finally there comes the convalescent stage when your patients are getting better, and you have to give them more nourishing food, cooked in a tempting manner, and you have to keep their minds active and cheerful by being able to read or sing to them, and so to cheer them back to life.

These are things which have to be learnt in peace-time, and because they were learnt by the Scouts beforehand, these girls were able to do their bit so well when war came.

Frontier Life

But they have to Be Prepared for many other things besides sickness. It falls to the lot of very many girls to take up life Overseas, and very often it is a rough life, and one full of adventures and romance.

But although this sounds nice in books and stories it is no fun for a girl who has had everything done for her at home, to find herself stranded in an outlandish place with no one available to help her, no water or gas laid on, no shops, or bakers, no cooks, no doctors.

She has to do everything for herself. This is where so many women, who had charge of ambulances in Serbia and other countries during the war, came out so splendidly, doing everything for themselves, and showing the greatest possible courage and handiness in the difficulties and dangers of active service.

(S.T.)

A story which should appeal with special force to Girl Scouts is that of Emilienne Moreau.

She is a French girl, and was living at Loos where the heavy fighting took place in October, 1915.

When the Germans took the place and held it, after their retreat from the Marne a year before, she, with her family, remained there and made the best of things under the German occupation.

She lived with her aged father and invalid mother, a sister, and a small brother of ten.

The father, broken in health and spirits by the presence of the hated Germans, died. Loos was practically empty of inhabitants, business was at a standstill—it was impossible to get a coffin even in which to bury the poor man.

So this girl, with the help of her young brother, got hold of some planks and themselves made one for their father’s body.

In September she noticed that the German garrison of the place were getting disturbed. More men were put into the town, and more defensive works were made. Shells began to fall, and the firing to become more intense day by day.

Instead of hiding in the cellar she climbed into the roof, where through a hole in the tiles, she was able to see the fighting that went on between the German defenders and the Highlanders who were attacking.

For several days it continued, but the Scotsmen finally got into the town and drove the Germans out from street to street with hand-to-hand fightings.

In a hidden corner five Germans kept fighting our troops unseen until this girl discovered their position.

She got hold of some hand-grenades and threw them in among them, killing three of them. The two survivors attacked her with bayonets, but she had armed herself with the revolver belonging to a dead British officer, and as they came at her she turned it on them with quick and steady aim and shot them both.

Then she went to work, regardless of the danger of rifle fire and shrapnel, tending the wounded, rendering first-aid, bringing water and blankets to them, thereby saving their lives and easing the pain of a number of British soldiers.

Our officers found her doing these things. She was personally thanked and congratulated by the British general for her valuable assistance to the medical staff, and for her courage and gallant help against the enemy, and she was later on awarded the French Military Cross “for valour on the field of battle.” Later we heard that Emilienne Moreau was a French Girl Scout, and what this gallant French girl did, her sister Girl Scouts in Britain would, I hope, also do in similar circumstances.

But it could only be done when a girl has trained herself as the Scouts do to be plucky, to be handy, to keep cool, to know what is the right thing to do—and to do it at no matter what risk to herself.

Frontierswomen

I have met many fine frontierswomen in my time. In Matabeleland, when the natives rose against us, Mrs. Selous, the wife of the great elephant hunter, was alone in her home, thirty miles away from the nearest town. Some natives living close by came and asked her for the loan of as many axes as she could spare, as they wanted to chop firewood. Shortly afterwards her husband, who had been away shooting, came galloping in, and told her to saddle and mount her horse at once and to get away as the natives were “up” and murdering the white inhabitants.

Being a frontierswoman it did not take her long to catch and saddle up her horse, and in a few minutes she and her husband had left their home, and were riding for their lives towards Bulawayo. Before they were out of sight of their house they could see smoke and flames already issuing from it. The natives who had borrowed the axes had done so with the object of murdering them, and finding that they had escaped, were now wreaking their vengeance on their property. It was just Mrs. Selous’ promptness, cool-headedness, and ability to ride that saved her life.

Another woman at that time was similarly out on her farm, while her husband was away in some other part of the country. The natives surrounded her house in the night and attacked her faithful native servants. Knowing her danger, she slept in her clothes, and realising what was the matter when she heard the noise of the attack, she seized her revolver and, slipping out of the house through a back window, she escaped into the garden and hid herself behind a tombstone there. In the early dawn the marauders departed, and she came out of her hiding-place to find her home wrecked and her faithful servants all killed. A relief party of white men soon after arrived from the nearest township, and found her quite self-possessed and calm. The only excitement she showed was her intense relief at the fact that one of the attackers had seized her sewing machine and was making off with it when he was killed by one of her men, and had dropped the machine at a spot where it just escaped falling down the well. So she rode back to Salisbury in triumph with her rescuers, clutching her beloved sewing machine. She had no sooner reached safety than she discovered that she had dropped her revolver, and she insisted on going back again to find it. You might think that she could have got a new revolver in the town, but that was not the question. The revolver was a favourite of hers, because, although old and rather out of gear, she had once killed a lion with it.

She had many other exciting adventures in Rhodesia which I have not space to tell here, but she was a splendid type of what a London girl can do when put to it in places of difficulty and danger, if only she has trained herself.

(S.T.)

The story of Laura Secord, the heroine of Canada, shows what a frontierswoman may be called upon to do, and what she can do if only she has Been Preparing herself in strength of mind and body like a Scout.

Canada was at war with the United States over a hundred years ago. Battles between the Americans and the English were being fought on all sides in that unhappy year 1812. After the engagement on Queenstown Heights a terror-stricken woman went tramping over the field where the slain were lying in search of her husband. Laura Secord had heard that her husband had been wounded and left there for dead; but on finding him, to her joy she discovered that he was still alive, though badly injured.

It was during his long illness that a report was brought to Laura Secord that the Americans were again coming to surprise the English, unknown to the general.

Owing to her pluck and determination, Laura achieved a famous deed of heroism and saved her country by taking the information of the advance of the enemy right away to the commanding officer of the British troops. Through difficulties and dangers she sped without a fear for her own safety; she trudged on through forests and bogs, going twenty miles round out of the beaten track so as to avoid being traced. In the dusk of the evening her path was checked by a deep stream. Here she felt almost hopeless, until she found a tree-trunk fallen across the water, and by this she managed to scramble to the opposite bank. Whilst dreading what might happen at home to her invalid husband and her little children left behind, Laura Secord still pressed forward through the darkness, tired and weak, till she at length reached the British camp, and was able to unburden her mind and give the news of the danger to the officer in command. All present were struck with admiration for her gallant effort, and with the knowledge of the impending danger thus gained, the British were able to BE PREPARED.

Now, did not this Laura Secord, though quite untrained, do every part of the duty of a Girl Scout? She showed SENSE OF DUTY in leaving all that was dearest to her to go off to the commander.

She showed cleverness and RESOURCE in getting through the American outposts by driving her cow in front of her, pretending that she was merely taking her out to graze.

She showed ENDURANCE going such a long journey rapidly and well, being healthy and fit for hard work.

Also CAMPAIGNING in being able to find her way by a circuitous route through forests and by night, and yet not seen by the enemy—SAVING LIFE, too, not only of the soldiers in the force, but eventually of all her nation, by freeing her country of the enemy.

She showed PATRIOTISM by sacrificing her own wishes for the good of her country, and risking her life for the good of her nation.

Why “Scouts”?

On the North-West Frontier of India there is a famous Corps of soldiers known as the Scouts, and their duty is to be always ready to turn out at any moment to repel raids by the hostile tribes across the Border, and to prevent them from coming down into the peaceful plains of India. This body of men must be prepared for every kind of fighting. Sometimes on foot, sometimes on horseback, sometimes in the mountains, often with pioneer work, wading through rivers and making bridges, and so on. But they have to be a skilful lot of men, brave and enduring, ready to turn out at any time, winter or summer, or to sacrifice themselves if necessary in order that peace may reign throughout India while they keep down any hostile raids against it. So they are true handymen in every sense of the word, and true patriots.

When people speak of Scouts in Europe one naturally thinks of those men who are mountaineers in Switzerland and other mountainous place, who can guide people over the most difficult parts by their own bravery and skill in tackling obstacles, by helpfulness to those with them, and by their bodily strength of wind and limb. They are splendid fellows those guides, and yet if they were told to go across the same amount of miles on an open flat plain it would be nothing to them, it would not be interesting, and they would not be able to display those grand qualities which they show directly the country is a bit broken up into mountains. It is no fun to them to walk by easy paths, the whole excitement of life is facing difficulties and dangers and apparent impossibilities, and in the end getting a chance of attaining the summit of the mountain they have wanted to reach.

Well, I think it is the case with most girls nowadays. They do not want to sit down and lead an idle life, not to have everything done for them, nor to have a very easy time. They don’t want merely to walk across the plain, they would much rather show themselves handy people, able to help others and ready, if necessary, to sacrifice themselves for others just like the Scouts on the North-west Frontier. And they also want to tackle difficult jobs themselves in their life, to face mountains and difficulties and dangers, and to go at them having prepared themselves to be skilful and brave; and also they would like to help other people to get over their difficulties also. When they attain success after facing difficulties, then they feel really happy and triumphant. It is a big satisfaction to them to have succeeded and to have made other people succeed also. That is what the Girl Scouts want to do, just like the mountaineer guides do among the mountains.

Then, too, a woman who can do things is looked up to by others, both men and women, and they are always ready to follow her advice and example, so there she becomes a Scout too. And later on if she has children of her own, or if she becomes a teacher of children, she can be a really good Scout to them.

In fact, if one caricatured a Scout one would draw her thus:—“Turn to the right and keep straight on.” And for these reasons the name Scout was given to them originally.

By means of games and activities which the Scouts practise they are able to learn the different things which will help them to get on in life, and show the way to others to get on also. Thus camping and signalling, first aid work, camp cooking, and all these things that the Scouts practise are all going to be helpful to them afterwards in making them strong, resourceful women, skilful and helpful to others, and strong in body as well as in mind, and what is more it makes them a jolly cheery lot of comrades also.

“Be Prepared!”

The motto of the Scouts on which they work is “Be Prepared,” that is, be ready for any kind of duty that may be thrust upon them, and what is more, to know what to do by having practised it beforehand in the case of any kind of accident or any kind of work that they may be asked to take up. Thousands of women have done splendid work in this war, but thousands more would have been able to do good work also had they only Been Prepared for it beforehand by learning a few things that are useful to them outside their mere school work or work in their own home. And that is what the Scouts are learning in all their games and camp work; they mean to be useful in other ways besides what they are taught in school.

How to Join

You join a Troop in your neighborhood and become a member of one of the Patrols in it. A Patrol is a group of eight girls, under the command of a Patrol Leader. Each Patrol is called after a bird or a flower, and has that flower or bird embroidered on its flag. The Patrol is the team for play or for work, and each Patrol endeavors—or at least considers itself—to be the best in the Troop.

If there is no Troop in your neighborhood you can become a “_Lone Scout_.” That is, you can make the promise, carry out the Scout Law and all the practices by yourself, and you can wear the uniform and win the badges.

For this you must report and be registered. That is, if you cannot hear of a Scout officer near you, write to the Secretary at Headquarters, tell her where you live and she will put you in touch with the nearest officer who will register you and help you.

Scout Ranks

At first you rank as a Candidate until you pass your Tenderfoot tests. Then you can go on and rise to the following ranks:—

Candidate. Tenderfoot. Second-Class Scout. First-Class Scout. Corporal. Patrol Leader. Senior Scout or Citizen Scout.

HOW TO BECOME A TENDERFOOT

(S.T.)

A. You must learn the _Scout Law_.

B. You must make the _Scout’s Promise_.

C. You must learn the _Salute and the Woodcraft Signs_ of the Scouts.

D. You must understand how the _Flag_ is made up, and how it should be flown.

E. You must be able to tie _knots_ and know what they are used for; any four of the following:—

Reef-knot, Sheet bend, Clove-hitch, Bowline, Fisherman’s knot, Sheepshank.

F. Elementary Scout’s Drill.

This may seem to be rather a lot of things to learn, but they are really very easy, and I will show you in the next few pages how to do it without much trouble.

When you can do these you will no longer be a Candidate, you will be admitted into the Scouts as a “Tenderfoot,” and can then go on and win badges.

The Tenderfoot Badge

The Badge of the Girl Scouts is the “Trefoil” (three leaves), which represent the three promises made on joining, as the three fingers held up in the salute also do.

The proper place for the Tenderfoot Badge is in the centre of the loose ends of the tie.

A. THE GIRL SCOUT’S LAW

1. A GIRL SCOUT’S HONOR IS TO BE TRUSTED.

If a Scout says “On my honour it is so,” that means that it _is_ so just as if she had taken a most solemn oath.

Similarly, if a captain says to a Scout, “I trust you on your honor to do this,” the Scout is bound to carry out the order to the very best of her ability, and to let nothing interfere with her doing so.

If a Scout were to break her honor by telling a lie, or by not carrying out an order exactly when trusted on her honor to do so, she would cease to be a Scout, for the time being, and she may be required to hand over her Scout badge.

2. A SCOUT IS LOYAL

to the President and to her officers, to her mother and father, to her employers, to those who may be under her, and to her friends. She must stick to them through thick and thin against any one who is their enemy, or who even talks badly of them. A Scout will not talk ill of them herself.

3. A SCOUT’S DUTY IS TO BE USEFUL AND TO HELP OTHERS.

She is to do her duty before anything else, even though she gives up her own pleasure, or comfort, or safety to do it. When in difficulty to know which of two things to do, she must ask herself, “Which is my duty?”—that is, “Which is best for other people?”—and do that one. She must Be Prepared at any time to save life and to help injured persons. And _she should do at least one good turn_ to somebody every day.

4. A SCOUT IS A FRIEND TO ALL, AND A SISTER TO EVERY OTHER SCOUT.

Thus, if a Scout meets another Scout, even though a stranger to her, she may speak to her, and help her in any way that she can, either to carry out the duty she is then doing, or by giving her food, or, as far as possible, anything that she may be in want of. A Scout must never be a SNOB. A snob is one who looks down upon another because she is poorer, or who is poor and resents another because she is rich. A Scout is like Kim—“Little friend to all the world.”

5. A SCOUT IS COURTEOUS—

that is, she is polite to all—but especially to old people and invalids, cripples, etc. And she must not take any reward for being helpful or courteous.

6. A GIRL SCOUT KEEPS HERSELF PURE. SHE IS CLEAN IN WORD, IN THOUGHT, IN DEED.

She is strong enough in her mind to be above talking or listening to dirty subjects. She keeps herself pure, clean-minded, and womanly.

7. A SCOUT IS A FRIEND TO ANIMALS.

She should save them as far as possible from pain, and should not kill any animal unnecessarily, not even the smallest of God’s creatures.

8. A SCOUT OBEYS ORDERS

of her parents, patrol leader, or Captain without question. Even if she gets an order she does not like she must do as soldiers and sailors do—she must carry it out all the same _because it is her duty_. After she has done it she can come and state any reasons against it; but she must carry out the order at once. That is discipline.

9. A GIRL SCOUT IS CHEERFUL

under all difficulties. When she gets an order she should obey it cheerily and readily, not in a slow, hang-dog sort of way, and should sing even if she dislikes it.

When she is in trouble or in pain it will at once relieve her if she forces herself to smile—to “grin and bear it.”

Scouts never grumble at hardships, nor whine at each other, nor frown when put out.

A Scout goes about with a smile and singing. It cheers her and cheers other people, especially in time of danger, for she keeps it up then all the same.

10. A SCOUT IS THRIFTY—

that is, she saves every penny she can, and puts it into the bank, so that she may have money to keep herself when out of work, and thus not make herself a burden to others; or that she may have money to give away to others when they need it.

How Camping Teaches the Scout Law

Last year a man went out into the woods to try and see if he could live like the prehistoric men used to do; that is to say, he took nothing with him in the way of food or equipment or even clothing—he went just as he was, and started out to make his own living as best he could. Of course the first thing he had to do was to make some sort of tool or weapon by which he could kill some animals, cut his wood and make his fire and so on. So he made a stone axe, and with that was able to cut out branches of trees so that he could make a trap in which he eventually caught a bear and killed it. He then cut up the bear and used the skin for blankets and the flesh for food. He also cut sticks and made a little instrument by which he was able to ignite bits of wood and so start his fire. He also searched out various roots and berries and leaves, which he was able to cook and make into good food, and he even went so far as to make charcoal and to cut slips of bark from the trees and draw pictures of the scenery and animals around him. In this way he lived for over a month in the wild, and came out in the end very much better in health and spirits and with a great experience of life. For he had learned to shift entirely for himself and to be independent of the different things we get in civilisation to keep us going in comfort.

That is why we go into camp a good deal in the Boy Scout and in the Girl Scout movements, because in camp life we learn to do without so many things which while we are in houses we think are necessary, and find that we can do for ourselves many things where we used to think ourselves helpless. And before going into camp it is just as well to learn some of the things that will be most useful to you when you get there. And that is what we teach in the Headquarters of the Girl Scout Troops before they go out and take the field. For instance, you must know how to light your own fire; how to collect dry enough wood to make it burn; because you will not find gas stoves out in the wild. Then you have to learn how to find your own water, and good water that will not make you ill. You have not a whole cooking range or a kitchen full of cooking pots, and so you have to learn to cook your food in the simplest way with the means at your hand, such as a simple cooking pot or a roasting stick or an oven made with your own hands out of an old tin box or something of that kind.

Nature Study

It is only while in camp that one can really learn to study Nature in the proper way and not as you merely do it inside the school; because here you are face to face with Nature at all hours of the day and night. For the first time you live under the stars and can watch them by the hour and see what they really look like, and realise what an enormous expanse of almost endless space they cover. You know from your lessons at school that our sun warms and lights up a large number of different worlds like ours, all circling round it in the Heavens. And when you hold up a coin at arm’s length and look at the sky, the coin covers no less than two hundred of those suns, each with their different little worlds circling round them. And you then begin to realise what an enormous endless space the Heavens comprise. You realise perhaps for the first time the enormous work of God.

Then also in camp you are living among plants of every kind, and you can study them in their natural state, how they grow and what they look like, instead of merely seeing pictures of them in books or dried specimens of them in collections.

All round you, too, are the birds and animals and insects, and the more you know of them the more you begin to like them and to take an interest in them; and once you take an interest in them you do not want to hurt them in any way. You would not rob a bird’s nest; you would not bully an animal; you would not kill an insect—once you have realised what its life and habits are. In this way, therefore, you fulfil the Scout Law of becoming a friend to animals.

By living in camp you begin to find that though there are many discomforts and difficulties to be got over, they can be got over with a little trouble and especially if you smile at them and tackle them.

Then living among other comrades in camp you have to be helpful and do good turns at almost every minute, and you have to exercise a great deal of give and take and good temper, otherwise the camp would become unbearable.

(S.T.)

So you carry out the different laws of courteousness, of helpfulness, and friendliness to others that come in the Scout Law. Also you pick up the idea of how necessary it is to keep everything in its place, and to keep your kit and tent and ground as clean as possible; otherwise you get into a horrible state of dirt, and dirt brings flies and other inconveniences.

You save every particle of food and in this way you learn not only cleanliness, but thrift and economy. And you very soon realise how cheaply you can live in camp, and how very much enjoyment you can get for very little money. And as you live in the fresh, pure air of God you find that your own thoughts are clean and pure as the air around you. There is hardly one of the Scout Laws that is not better carried out after you have been living and practising it in camp.

B. THE SCOUT PROMISE

On my honour I will try—

1. TO DO MY DUTY TO GOD AND TO MY COUNTRY. 2. TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES. 3. TO OBEY THE SCOUT LAW.

Duty to God

An old British chieftain, some thirteen hundred years ago, said:

“Our life has always seemed to me like the flight of a sparrow through the great hall, when one is sitting at meals with the log-fire blazing on the hearth, while all is storm and darkness outside. He comes in, no one knows from where, and hovers for a short time in the warmth and light, and then flies forth again into the darkness. And so it is with the life of a man; he comes no one knows from where; he is here in the world for a short time, till he flies forth again, no one knows whither. But now you show us that if we do our duty during our life we shall not fly out into darkness again, when life is ended, since Christ has opened a door, for us to enter a brighter room, a heaven where we can go and dwell in peace for ever.”

Religion seems a very simple thing:

1st. To trust in God. 2nd. To do good to other people.

The Knights

The old knights, who were the scouts of the nation, were very religious. They were always careful to attend religious service, especially before going into battle or undertaking any serious difficulty. They considered it was the right thing always to be prepared for death. In the great church of Malta you can see to-day where the old knights used to pray, and they all stood up and drew their swords during the reading of the Creed, as a sign that they were prepared to defend the gospel with their swords and lives. Besides worshipping God in church, the knights always recognised His work in the things which He made, such as animals, plants, and scenery. And so it is with the Scouts to-day, that wherever they go they love the woodlands, the mountains, and the prairies, and they like to watch and know about the animals that inhabit them, and the wonders of the flowers and plants. No man is much good, either to himself or to others, unless he believes in God and obeys His laws. So every Scout should have a religion.

Regiments in God’s Army

There are many kinds of religion, such as Roman Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Mohammedans, and so on, but the main point about them is that they all worship God, although in different ways. They are like an army which serves one king, though it is divided into different branches, such as cavalry, artillery, and infantry, and these wear different uniforms. So, when you meet a girl of a different religion from your own, you should not be hostile to her, but recognise that she is still serving the same king as you.

In doing your duty to God always be grateful to Him. Whenever you enjoy a pleasure or a good game, or succeed in doing a good thing, thank Him for it, if only with a word or two, just as you say grace after a meal. And it is a good thing to bless other people. For instance, if you see a train starting off, just pray for God’s blessing on all that are in the train.

In doing your duty towards man be helpful and generous, and also always be grateful for any kindness done to you, and be careful to show that you are grateful.

How to Become a Star

Remember that a present given to you is not yours until you have thanked the giver for it. While you are the sparrow flying through the hall, that is to say, while you are living your life on this earth, try and do something good which may remain after you. One writer says:

“I often think that when the sun goes down the world is hidden by a big blanket from the light of heaven, but the stars are little holes pierced in that blanket by those who have done good deeds in this world. The stars are not all the same size; some are big, some little, and some men have done great deeds and others have done small deeds, but they have made their hole in the blanket by doing good before they went to heaven.”

Try and make your hole in the blanket by good work while you are on the earth.

IT IS SOMETHING TO BE GOOD, BUT IT IS FAR BETTER TO DO GOOD.

Duty to God and Country

Have you ever thought what a lot we owe to the Kaiser William of Germany. If he had not tried for world power, we should never have come together so closely as we have done with all our brothers and sisters overseas.

C. SIGNS AND SIGNALS

The Scout’s Salute

The right hand raised level with shoulder, palm to the front, thumb resting on the nail of the little finger, and the other three fingers upright pointing upward.

That is the Scout Salute.

The three fingers held up (like the three points of a Scout Badge) remind her of her three promises in the Scout Promise.

1. To do her duty to God and Country. 2. To help others. 3. To obey the Scout Law.

When a Scout meets another for the first time in the day, whether she is a comrade or a stranger, she salutes.

She always salutes an officer—that is a Patrol Leader or a Captain.

Also the hoisting of the Flag, the colors of a regiment, the playing of Star Spangled Banner.

When the National Anthem is played the Scouts do not salute, but merely stand at attention.

When marching in Troop or Patrol formation do not salute with the hand. When passing other Troops or a superior officer, the officer or Patrol Leader in charge alone will salute with the hand, at the same time giving the command, “Eyes right,” or “Eyes left,” as the case may be, on which every Scout will turn her head sharply in that direction till the officer gives the word “Eyes front.”

It is more than ever necessary to hold yourself smartly when giving the salute, otherwise you would make a very slovenly show of it.

Woodcraft Signs

Scout signs on the ground or wall, etc., close to the right-hand side of the road.

Road to be followed.

Letter hidden five paces from here in the direction of the arrow.

This path not to be followed.

“I have gone home.”

(Signed) Patrol Leader.

At night sticks with a wisp of grass round them or stones should be laid on the road in similar forms so that they can be felt with the hand.

[_Practise this._]

Signals and Signs

When a Captain wants to call her Scouts together she sounds her whistle. Then they _double_ to the Captain.

_Whistle signals_ are there:—

One long blast means “Halt,” “Silence,” “Alert,” “Look out for my next signal,” or “Cease.” (Stop what you’re doing, look out for next command.)

A succession of long, slow blasts means “Go out,” “Get farther away,” or “Advance,” “Extend,” “Scatter.”

A succession of short, sharp blasts means “Rally,” “Close in,” “Come together,” “Fall in.”

A succession of short and long blasts alternately means “Alarm,” “Look out,” “Be ready,” “Man your alarm posts.”

Three short blasts followed by one long one from Scout Captain calls up the patrol leaders—that is, “Leaders come here!”

Any whistle signal must be instantly obeyed at the double as fast as ever you can run, no matter what other job you may be doing at the time.

_Hand signals_ (which can also be made by patrol leaders with their patrol flags when necessary):—

Hand Signals

“_Advance_,” “Forward.”—Swing the arm from rear to front, below the shoulder.

“_Retire._”—Circle the arm above the head.

“_Halt._”—Raise the arm to full extension above the head, etc.

“_Double._”—The closed fist moved up and down between your shoulder and thigh.

“_Quick Time._”—To change from the “Double” to the Quick Time, raise the hand to the shoulder.

“_Reinforce._”—Swing the arm from the rear to the front above the shoulder.

“_Lie down._”—With the open hand make two or three slight movements towards the ground.

“_Wheel._”—Extend your arm in line with your shoulder and make a circular movement in the direction required.

“_Incline._”—Extend your arm in line with your shoulder and make a turn with your body in the direction required.

Observation

_Stalking._—A Scout has to be sharp at seeing things if she is going to be any good as a Scout. She has to notice every little track and every little sign, and it is this studying of tracks and following them out and finding out their meaning which we include under the name of stalking. For instance, if you want to find a bird’s-nest you have to stalk. That is to say, you watch a bird flying into a bush and guess where its nest is, and follow it up and find the nest. With some birds it is a most difficult thing to find their nests; take, for instance, the skylark or the snipe. But those who know the birds, especially the snipe, will recognise their call. The snipe when she is alarmed gives quite a different call from when she is happy and flying about. She has a particular call when she has young ones about. So that those who have watched and listened and know her call when they hear it know pretty well where the young ones are or where the nest is and so on.

_Tracking._—The native hunters in most wild countries follow their game by watching for tracks on the ground, and they become so expert at seeing the slightest sign of a footmark on the ground that they can follow up their prey when an ordinary civilized man can see no sign whatever. But the great reason for looking for signs and tracks is that from these you can read a meaning. It is exactly like reading a book. You will see the different letters, each letter combining to make a word, and the words then make sense; and there are also commas and full-stops and colons; all of these alter the meaning of the sense. They are all little signs which one who is practised and has learnt reading makes into sense at once, whereas a savage who has never learned could make no sense of it at all. And so it is with tracking.

_Reading Signs._—As you know a soldier Scout in war can only get his information about the enemy by watching for the smallest signs both on the ground and in the far distance. In the war of Texas against Mexico in the last century, it was very important that the general commanding the Mexican Army should be captured when the defeat of that army was accomplished by the Texans. He had disappeared; but some of the Scouts of the Texan force were out scouting for the enemy when they saw in the distance some deer were suddenly startled by something they could not see and ran away. The Texan Scouts were at once suspicious, and went to the spot as fast as they could. There they found a soldier of the Mexicans evidently trying to escape. When they caught him and opened his tunic they found underneath he was wearing a silk shirt, which was not usual with a private in the Army. They took him to Headquarters, and there found that he was the Commander-in-Chief of the Mexican Army, trying to escape disguised as a soldier. And had it not been that they had noticed the deer being startled, it is probable that they would not have caught him.

_Sherlock Holmesing._—In just the same way detectives, when they are following up a crime, have to act on the very smallest clues, and if they did not use their wits and notice these the criminal would probably escape.

Well, I want Girl Scouts to learn to be almost like detectives in their sharpness in noticing small signs and reading the meaning of them, not merely for the purpose of studying animals and birds, but also for studying their human fellow creatures.

It is by noticing small signs of distress or poverty in people that you can often help them in the best way. Generally those people who most need help are the ones who hide their distress; and if you are clever and notice little signs such as unhappiness, you can then give them or offer them help in some way or other. In this way you learn sympathy for fellow-creatures—not merely to be a friend of animals, but also to be a friend of your fellow-men in this world; and that again is carrying out the Girl Scout Law of helping others and being friendly to all.

_Nature in the City._—This noticing of small things, especially in animal life, not only gives you great interest, but it also gives you great fun and enjoyment in life. Even if you live in a city you can do a certain amount of observation of birds and animals. You would think there is not much fun to be got out of it in a city, and yet if you begin to notice and know all about the sparrows you begin to find there is a great deal of character and amusement to be got out of them, by watching their ways and habits, their nesting, and their way of teaching their young ones to fly.

_Dissecting._—If you go to the butcher’s and get him to give you a sheep’s foot and you carefully open it up with a sharp penknife you will see how wonderfully every bone and joint and sinew is made and fitted into the machine which enables the foot to move and the sheep to get along. Then, if you think it out, you know that if you go away across the sea to the other end of the world, to Australia or New Zealand, and take a sheep’s foot there and dissect it in the same way you find it exactly and identically the same over there as it is here. God’s work is the same all over the world. People don’t notice these things and don’t think about them as a rule, and when you begin to think it out you begin to see what a wonderful work it is of God’s, who made all these different animals in their own form, all alike, and yet so different from the other kind of animals, fishes, or birds. You begin to realise then what a wonderful Creator has made the world and all that is in it.

D. OUR FLAG

Scouts in uniform will always salute the colors (or standard of a regiment) when they pass. There are generally two such standards, one the “Stars and Stripes,” and the other the “Regimental Colors.”

The Army and Government buildings fly the stars and stripes.

Description of the American Flag

The flag to-day has thirteen alternate stripes of red and white, with a blue field in the corner bearing forty-eight stars. The thirteen stripes symbolize the thirteen original states, and the stars stand for the states now in the Union. The five pointed star is used, it is said at Betsey Ross’s suggestion. This five pointed star is the seal of King Solomon, and the sign of infinity. Even the colors of the flag mean something: red stands for valor, blue for justice, and white for purity.

Pledge of Allegiance

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

When you pledge your allegiance make the full salute, keeping the hand at the brow until you say “flag,” when you extend the hand, still in the salute position, palm up, pointing toward the flag. Hold the hand out thus until the end of the pledge.

How to Fly the Flag and Show Respect to It

1. The flag should not be hoisted before sunrise nor allowed to remain up after sunset.

2. At retreat, sunset, civilian spectators should stand at attention, Scouts may give their salute.

3. When the national colors are passing on parade or review the spectators should if walking, halt, and if sitting, rise and stand at attention and uncover.

4. When the flag is flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning it should be hoisted to full staff at the conclusion of the funeral. In placing the flag at half-mast, it should first be hoisted to the top of the staff and then be lowered to position. Preliminary to lowering from half-mast it should first be raised to top.

5. On Memorial Day, May 30th, the flag should fly at half-mast from sunrise till noon, and at full mast from noon to sunset.

6. The flag at half-mast is a sign of mourning.

7. The flag flown upside down is a signal of distress.

8. No national flag is ever hung above the flag of another nation. When the flags of two or more nations are displayed they should be on separate staffs or on separate halyards, and on the same level. In America the Stars and Stripes are always given the place of honor on the right.

9. An old torn or soiled flag should be destroyed privately and respectfully, preferably by burning.

E. KNOTS AND HOW TO TIE THEM

While making your knots S.T.

Knots

Strings or ropes are used almost daily by every one in some form or other, and yet people often break their nails and teeth gnawing at their own knots to untie them. Time spent in learning a few simple reliable knots is not time wasted, but quite the contrary.

To tie a knot seems a very simple thing and yet there are right and wrong ways of doing it, and Scouts ought to know the right way. For sometimes even lives depend on a knot being properly tied, as with sailors or men in building trades, and in case of fire-rescue.

The right kind of a knot is one which you can tie easily and be certain it will hold under any normal strain, and which you can easily undo.

A bad knot called a “granny” is one which slips when you pull hard, or which gets jammed so tight that you cannot untie it.

Of course there are several ways of tying the same knot, and so if your sailor uncle can show you a good way to make a bowline don’t tell him the one in this book is the only way.

The Parts of a Rope

The End.

The Bight or Loop, formed by turning the rope back on itself.

The Standing Part, or long portion of the rope.

Whipping

Rope ends that ravel are annoying and before working your scout rope too hard in practicing all these knots it is a good plan to whip the ends.

This is how you do it. Hold the rope end in your right hand. Take about 10 inches of twine, make a loop and lay it parallel on the rope so that the end of the twine extends about two inches beyond the end of the rope. Hold it firmly and with your left hand wind the standing part of your twine around your rope neatly up toward your right thumb. When you have bound the twine loop on to the rope for say an inch, then tuck your winding end through the loop, pull both ends of the twine, and cut them off close to the rope.

Now you are ready to work. There are two simple devices which will help you to learn the knots in the Tenderfoot test more easily, so it is well to master them first.

One is the

Overhand Knot

which is the very easiest of all to make. It is the first half of the square knot, and is a part of many other knots.

Back the end around the standing part and through the bight and draw tight.

The other is the

Running Noose

If you hang out some clothes on the line when there is a thunderstorm in the air, it will be well to tie up your clothes line with a slip knot at each end, as clothes and all can be taken down in a hurry. A slip knot made in one end of your cord, can be useful when you want to tie up a big parcel, for you can get a good “purchase” on the cord; it is also good in hitching a horse to a post.

Make a bight. Put your thumb and finger through it and pull up a loop of the free end of the rope.

Reef or Square Knot

The square knot (or reef knot) is the best simple all round knot, as it will not slip or jam and is easily untied. It is the safest knot to tie your parcels with when mailing them. It is also used to join two ropes, mend the clothes line, and for a hundred other uses. It is called a reef knot because it is used to reduce the size of a sail on a boat. As it is flat it is much used in First Aid, for tying a sling or triangular bandage.

Take an end of rope in each hand. Cross right end over the left and twist; then the same end (which is now in your left hand) over the other end, and twist again. Then pull the standing parts.

If you are left-handed, of course you would naturally first put your left end over your right. The thing to remember in tying a square knot is that the ends must alternate; otherwise you get a “granny,” or “lubber’s” knot.

Sheet Bend

The Sheet Bend (or Weaver’s knot) is good to use when you want to join a thick line to a thin one, or attach a rope to a loop or ring. They use this knot on steamboats when the big hawser can’t be thrown on shore, but a light line can be attached and easily thrown to the dock. It is a good knot for Scouts to use when making a guard line to keep back crowds, at a rally for instance. With this knot you can join your wool when knitting, and it is an excellent way to attach a fly to a fishing line.

Make a loop AB with one rope; pass the end, C, of your other rope through this loop, round both sides of the loop and down under its own standing part. Pull firmly.

Clove Hitch (or Builder’s Knot)

The clove hitch is used when fastening two poles together as in scaffolding, as either end will stand a strain without slipping either lengthwise or downwards. It is also used to tie a boat to a stake, or in First Aid to tie on a splint.

Pass the end around the post, below the standing part; around the post again, over the standing part, and tuck it down between the standing part and the turn.

Half Hitch

The half hitch is a very useful thing to know. It is not really a knot, but a loop used in tying many of the harder knots. A double half hitch is needed to make a secure knot and is used for fastening awning ropes, flag rope, etc. The more it is strained the faster it holds. It is a simple way of making a rope fast in a hurry, where a long continued strain is not expected, thus it is used in tying a boat’s painter, which is not a man but a rope fastened to the bow of a small boat.

Bowline

A Bowline makes a noose that is permanent, neither jamming nor slipping. It is useful in hoisting and lowering, as in case of fire, rescuing from drowning, a painter’s chair, etc. It is also used in a guard line, as a halter for animals, or wherever a safe loop is needed.

Take end in right hand: measure with your left sufficient rope for the loop you want; make a bight in your left hand and hold it. Now take the end of the rope in your right hand, put it up through the bight, round the standing part, and down through the bight again: pulling the end and both sides of your permanent loop with the right hand against the standing part in your left hand; (three against one).

Sheepshank

A scout would not waste a rope by cutting it but would shorten it by making a sheepshank. This will stand a great strain without slipping, but will loosen when held slack.

Lay the rope out straight. Cross your hands and take hold of the rope. Take up the slack by drawing your hands past each other. Hold the three parts of the rope between the loop and the end, and put it over the loop, leaving sufficient loop sticking out so the half hitch won’t slip off it; then pull. Do the same at the other end, and put it over the loop, leaving sufficient loop sticking out so the half hitch won’t slip off it; then pull. It can be untied by a quick jerk of the outside ropes forming the bights. To shorten a rope permanently this way, pass the ends through the loops, and the knot will hold for any length of time.

Fisherman’s Knot

This knot is used to tie two unequal thicknesses of rope. It gets its name from the fact that it is always employed in joining silkworm gut for fishing purposes.

Lay the two ropes parallel, the ends pointing different ways. Tie an overhand knot on rope one with the end of rope two, and then tie an overhand knot on rope two with the end of rope one. Now pull the standing parts and the knots will jam against each other and remain firm. To untie, pull the short ends apart, and then loosen.

When a girl has passed her Tenderfoot test, she is ready to become a full-fledged Scout. She pays to Headquarters her registration fee, 25 cents, and receives the registration card which is a sort of certificate of membership and shows that her name is registered at Headquarters. Now she is entitled to wear the uniform. And more than all, she makes her Scout promise solemnly before the troop, and thus becomes one of the Scout sisterhood. This is not an appropriate occasion on which to admit the public, or to make any great show or fuss.

F. DRILL AND EXERCISE

Scouts learn drill to enable them to be moved quickly from one point to another in good order. Drill also sets them up, and makes them smart and quick.

It strengthens the muscles which support the body, and by keeping the body upright the lungs and heart get plenty of room to work, and the inside organs are kept in the proper position for good digestion of food, and so on. A slouching position, on the other hand, depresses all the organs, and prevents them doing their work properly, so that a stooping person is generally weak and often ill. Growing girls are very apt to slouch, and should therefore do all they can to get out of the habit by plenty of physical exercises and drill.

Stand upright when you are standing, and when you are sitting down sit upright, with your back well into the back part of the chair.

On the word “Alert,” the Scout stands upright with both feet together, hands hanging naturally at the sides, fingers straight, and looking straight to her front.

A Scout will never build up a healthy, sound body if she is not prudent about her health. Elder girls can easily help the younger ones by leading them to tell of their state, and should urge them not to go long marches if they are not fit, or allow their feet to remain damp or cold at such times, as it is very bad for them. They may not feel it at the time, but it may lead to illnesses years afterwards. It is their duty to promote their health and to nurse it into a good sound condition, which will make them hardy in after life.

Scout Setting Up Exercises

I. Positions

1. _Standing:_ Feet parallel, few inches apart. Stand erect, top of head high (note: top of head is above ears. Forehead is not the top), chin parallel with floor, arms easy at side. The ears, shoulders, hips and ankles should be in a straight line, weight over ankles.

2. _Sitting:_ Keep back straight in sitting, lower back against the back of the chair, and feet on the floor. Note: Arm stretch positions named in exercises

—downward straight at sides. —upward close to ears. —sideward on shoulder level. —forward at shoulder level.

When doing exercises, remember always to keep good standing position. Execute the exercises in brisk rhythm, without jerks. Repeat each several times, but not so much that it tires you.

II. Breathing

1. Arms from downward through forward, to upward stretch counting “one.” Arms down counting “two.” Take deep breath as arms go up, and breathe out as arms come down.

2. Arms from downward through forward, to upward, counting “one,” to side stretch, counting “two,” taking full breath, accenting “two” with side stretch. Down to side counting “three.”

Count while doing these exercises, accent on “_one_.”

III. Arms

1. From downward to side stretch counting “one,” return to downward counting “two.”

2. From side to upward stretch counting “one” (look up), return to side, counting “two.”

3. From downward to forward stretch, counting “one” (don’t slump), return to down, counting “two.”

4. From arms easy, at side, to down stretch, counting “one” (don’t hump), return to arms easy, counting “two.”

5. Arms easy, turn palms out, expanding chest and flattening shoulder blades, stretching down, counting “one,” return to arms easy, counting “two.”

6. Elbows, on shoulder line, and bent, palms horizontal, tips of middle fingers together, thumb touching chest. Move elbows back, flattening shoulder blades, finger tips separating (thumbs make a line outward on chest), counting “one,” return, counting “two.”

7. From last position, elbows bent, stretch arms, sideways, backwards, counting “one,” return, counting “two.”

8. Arms upward stretch, close to ear, body bent continuously side to side. (Do not twist.)

IV. Legs

(These exercises cannot be done in stiff shoes.)

1. From good standing position, roll feet outward, weight on outside of feet, toes curled in, counting “one,” return counting “two.”

2. Alternate foot stretch. Foot stretch is done by raising the heel, bending the knee, the toes and ball of foot remaining on floor. Count “one,” “two,” one count for each foot.

3. Alternate foot stretch, at same time bending the knee, of weight bearing leg, count as in ex. 2. Keep body straight, hips steady.

4. Double knee bend (bend both knees, raising heels, keeping back straight). The knees should bend straight forward over the feet. Count “one” on bend, “two” on return.

5. Alternate backward kick, bending at knee only, counting as in ex. 2.

6. Same as exercise 5 in double quick time. (This is running in place.)

7. Alternate front high knee bend, raising foot from floor. Count as in ex. 2. Keep body straight.

8. Same as exercise 7, in double quick time.

9. Deep double knee bend, raising heels from floor, bringing arms from downward to side stretch with the bend. (This helps to keep balance.)

10. Arms upward stretch, body bent front, hands touching floor.

V. From Lying Position

1. Legs alternately upward stretch, making right angle with the body.

2. Same exercise both legs together.

3. Same as exercise 2, letting feet go back over head.

NOTE: The best time to take these exercises is before dressing in the morning or the last thing at night before going to bed. Corsets should never be worn during exercises where the arms are raised above the height of the shoulders. No matter how loose they may be, it causes actual injury. Keep watch and see that the feet remain parallel. The tendency with most people is for them to turn out.

A New England farmer’s wife was baking several kinds of pies for Thanksgiving. To distinguish them she marked some T. M. for “’tis mince” and the rest she marked T. M. for “’tain’t mince.” When you are reading this book you will now and then see two mysterious letters which you will promptly obey whether you are sitting or standing. They are the letters S. T. and they mean Sit Tall and Stand Tall.

Tenderfoot Investiture

The Captain calls “Fall in.” The troop is formed in a horse shoe, with the Captain and the Lieutenant in the gap. When ordered to come forward by the Captain the Patrol Leader brings the Tenderfoot to be invested to the center, where they stand facing the Captain.

The Captain then asks: “Do you know what your honor means?” The Tenderfoot replies: “Yes, it means that I can be trusted to be truthful and honest” (or words to that effect).

Captain: “Can I trust you on your honor to do your duty to God and to your country, to help other people at all times, and to obey the Scout Law.”

Tenderfoot: “On my honor I will try to do my duty to God and to my country, to help other people at all times, and to obey the Scout Law.”

The Captain then says: “I trust you, on your honor, to keep this promise.”

While the recruit is making her promises aloud, all the Scouts remember their own promises, and vow anew to keep them.

The Captain orders: “Invest,”—and pins on her trefoil badge, explaining that it is her Scout’s life. If, for misbehavior her trefoil or life has to be taken from her, she becomes a dead Scout for the time the Captain orders—a day or a week—and is in disgrace. The badge may be worn at all times, but the uniform is worn only when the patrol meets.

The new Scout is then initiated into the mysteries of the secret passwords, “Be Prepared” (said backwards), or “Little Friend of all the World.”

The Scout should salute the Captain, when she gives her her badge.

The lieutenant hands the new Tenderfoot her registration card, and her hat. (This part of the ceremony may be omitted if desired.)

Captain orders: “About Face”—“Salute”—

Tenderfoot faces the troop, who give her the full salute to welcome her into the troop, and then she and her Patrol Leader march back to their places.

Now the Scout is a regular member of one of the Patrols in the troop. A Patrol is a group of six or eight Scouts who work together as comrades under a girl who is the Patrol Leader. The Leader has an assistant called a Corporal. All Scouts must obey the Leader and Corporal.

Each troop is called after a bird or flower. When the Scouts first started troops they were only called after flowers but there were many girls who felt that though a flower is very pretty and gives out a sweet influence round it, it doesn’t last long, nor does it “hustle around and do things”; they wanted something more active as their emblem. So now a troop can choose which it likes, a bird, or a flower, or tree or shrub.

The troop may have a flag, which has the number of the troop on it, and besides this each Patrol Leader may have a small flag, ten inches deep, on a staff, with the crest of her troop in cloth stitched on to it on both sides.

Each member of the troop wears an emblem badge sewn over her left pocket flap, and a shoulder knot of the colors chosen by her troop.

Every Scout is expected to know all about the life history of the emblem of her troop. If it is a flower, she should know what it looks like, when and where it blooms, and she should if possible grow it herself. If the emblem is a bird the Scout should know what it looks like, its call or song, its food, where to look for its nest, the color of its eggs and time of migration.

BIRD. ATTRIBUTE. COLOR.

Robin. Brave and friendly. Brown and red.

Swallow. A quick home worker. Dark blue and white.

Wren. Modest and plucky. Brown.

Sparrow. Busy and home-loving. Black and brown.

Bantam. Plucky and strong. Red and yellow.

Canary. Makes sunshine in the Yellow and white. house.

Thrush. Gives joy to all. Brown and yellow.

Blackbird. Happy and helpful. Black and yellow.

Cardinal Bird. Beautiful and lively. Rosy red.

Mocking Bird. Courageous and singing Greyish brown and while he works. white.

List of Troop Crests Always Kept in Stock

Sunflower. Red Rose. White Rose (Cherokee). Oak. Pansy. Fuchsia. Poppy. Narcissus. Jonquil. Holly Leaf and Berries. Red Clover. Lily-of-the-Valley. Daisy. Goldenrod. Forget-me-not. Lilac. Violet. Iris. Pink Carnation. Morning Glory. Pink Wild Rose. Thistle. Nasturtium. Daffodil. Dogwood. Holly.

A Cuckoo Patrol

A jay is a showy, gaudy kind of bird and, like her bigger friend the peacock, has a rasping, raucous voice, and she eats other birds’ eggs, and generally does more harm than good in the world. There are human jays and peacocks, but you won’t find them among the Scouts. The English cuckoo is a curious bird of another kind. She makes herself out to look somewhat like a hawk, and somewhat like a dove, you don’t know whether she is very bold or very peaceful; at any rate she lets you know that she’s there. She uses her voice freely. But she’s a lazy creature, does not bother to make a nest of her own, but goes and puts her eggs in other birds’ nests—rather deceitful, because she often makes her eggs match those in the nest she is using—gives them all the trouble of bringing up her young ones. She leaves them and goes off South in July, before her offspring can fly with her. In fact, she is a fraud, she imitates others and blusters about a lot for a short time, but she does not do any real work.

Sometimes there have been imitation Girl Scouts, who dressed themselves up in our uniform, gave themselves similar badges, made themselves unpleasantly conspicuous, but never really grasped the Scout spirit nor did the Scout work, and so they won for themselves the name of cuckoo. So don’t belong to a cuckoo patrol.

If you are the Scout you ought to be, you will start to work to make your own patrol the best in the troop and to make yourself the best Scout in the patrol—for smartness, for efficiency, and for happiness.