Young Knights of the Empire | Page 6

mind so long as
they could avenge the death of their beloved leader.
It was a fine spirit of loyalty to their chief which led these simple seamen to do this, and
their loyalty--not the spirit of revenge--is an example to all to be loyal to their chief in
whatever line they may be. Don't look out for faults in him; note his good points, and
stick to him through thick and thin, for the good of what you and he are doing together
whether it is defending your Country or running a big business.
USEFULNESS
Law 3. A SCOUT'S DUTY IS TO BE USEFUL AND TO HELP OTHERS.
_And he is to do his duty before anything else, even though he gives up his own pleasure
or comfort or safety to do it. When in difficulty to know which of two things to do, he
must ask himself, "Which is my duty?" that is, "Which is best for other people?"--and do
that one._
_He must Be Prepared at any time to save life or to help injured persons._
_And must try his best to do a good turn to somebody every day._
* * * * *
DO IT NOW.
Once when driving in my car I passed a man on a sunny, dusty road, and I thought after I
had passed him whether I might not have offered to give him a lift. Then I thought
probably he would be only going a short distance to some house a little farther along the
road.
As I sped farther and farther upon my way, I saw no house and no turning, and therefore I
argued that the poor man would have to be walking all this dusty way when I might have
given him a lift.
But while I sat all this time thinking, my car was rushing me miles away from the spot.
Eventually I made up my mind that I ought to go back and do my good turn to the man.
But I had gone so far that when I got back again to where I expected to find him, he was
not to be seen. He had evidently taken some short cut across the fields, and I never saw
him again.
But the memory of it lingered in my mind for a long time, and ever since that, when
driving along, I have been quick to make up my mind and use the opportunity when it has
presented itself, of giving a lift to any weary wayfarer.

I don't want to make out myself as being so very good for doing this kind of good turn,
for that is easy enough with a motor-car; but what I do want to point out is that you
should never let your chance go by, else you may regret it, as it might not occur again.
Your motto should be--"Do it now."
* * * * *
GOOD TURNS.
Always remember that in going through this world we only pass this way once, and if we
miss our chance it never comes again.
I believe that our first business in life is to be happy. This world with all its beauties and
its sunshine of happiness was meant for us to enjoy. When clouds come over with grief or
pain, they are only the contrasts to show us what true happiness is and to make us
appreciate it when it comes.
The shortest and most certain way to happiness is to make other people happy. Even if
we cannot make them happy, we can at least be helpful to them. But so often we forget to
do this, or, as I did in the motor-car, leave it till too late, and let the chance slip by.
In order to be continually happy, the thing is to be continually doing good turns. To get a
habit you must at first carry out a great deal of practice, and that is why it is part of the
Scout Law to do a good turn every day.
At first it may come a little difficult to remember each day that you have this duty to do,
and you may have some trouble in finding a job that will be helpful to other people but if
you stick to it, and force yourself to do it day by day, it very soon grows into a habit with
you, and you then find how many little things you can do which all count as good turns
although small in themselves.
I could tell you endless yarns of the different kinds of "good turns" which the Boy Scouts
have done, but one of the most pleasing that I have heard lately was when a Scout
carefully placed a piece of orange peel on the pavement,