"The boy who stopped the runaway horse would never have done it if he
had not been a Scout. He was formerly a first-class young scamp and
always in some mischief."
That is what the report says of him.
But that is what happens when a lad becomes a Scout; he is no longer a
fool-boy, who goes about yelling aimlessly and making himself a
nuisance to everybody. Instead of that he smartens into a manly
fellow, ready at any moment to give a helping hand to anybody who
wants it, and without taking any reward for it, and without thinking
how poor or rich, how old or young the person may be.
I was talking once to a well-known nobleman, who told me that he broke
his leg not long ago, and when it was getting right his doctor advised
him to go and walk a little every day with two sticks to support him.
He accordingly went to Hampstead Heath, and was waddling along quite
comfortably, an inch at a time, when a patrol of Scouts came up, and
the Leader saluted and said:
"May we help you, sir? We could make a stretcher out of our coats and
staves, and carry you."
The Duke said that when he looked at the boys and thought of them
trying to carry him--for he is not a small man--he nearly laughed
aloud; but as it was he thanked them very much and told them how he
was walking purposely to get his leg into working order.
This kind intention, however, has given the Scouts a warm place in his
heart.
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