Washington County News | 1924-10-30 | Page 9 | The Daily Good Turn

The Daily Good Turn It has been said that our purpose on earth is to serve others. This is a scout idea, for the third scout law 'says, "A scout is helpful. He must be prepared at any time to save life, help injured persons and share the home duties. He must do at least one good turn to someone every day." A scout may work for pay but must not accept pay for a good turn. This is illustrated by the following story. A man drove up to the curb and asked a boy that was there to hold his horse. The boy did so. After the man returned and took the horse the boy "hung around" as if expecting pay. The man offered him a dime, but the boy said that he was a boy scout and boy scouts did not take pay for good turns. He expected expect-ed the man to pat him on the back and praise him. That was not the way for a scout to act. When a good turn is done the scout should go on his way without waiting for money or praise. One good turn should be done every day, not two or three one day and none the next. When a good turn becomes a habit it is no longer a good turn. Nearly any boy will do a good turn when one comes along, but a boy scout is looking for one to do, and thus does many that another boy would not. The good turn idea is not exclusively exclu-sively a scout idea. One of the songs we sing all the time, "Have I done any good in the world today?" expresses this idea. Many great writers have written on service to others. In serving others one serves his God. This is illustrated in Leigh Hunt's poem, "Abou Ben Adhem." "Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase) in-crease) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace ' And saw within the moonlight in his room, Making it light and like a lily in bloom, An angel writing in a book of gold. Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, And to the presence in the room he said, 'What writest thou?' The vision raised its head, And with a look made all of sweet accord ac-cord answered, 'The names of those that love the Lord.' 'And is mine one?' said Abou. 'Nay, not so," Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low, But cheerily still, and said, 'I pray they, then, Write me as one who loves his fellow men.' The angel wrote and vanished. The next night it came again with its great awakening light, And showed the names whom love of God had blessed; And, Io, Ben Adhem's name led all the rest." Antone Moody.