Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-29
\ boy Scn.: NeIghhnr.

tR"printed from Atlanta tGa.) Journal
ono winter night sat on my front
steps forlornly in the dark. could
not get into my house Something was
wrong with the lock and the key would
not work had returned. sick and
deadly tired. from business escur-
sion into town. y locksmith could not
be had AT that hour. granted | were
able 10 go FOR ono. There seemed
nothing for II but 10 go TO neishbor's
or hotel for the night. But wanted
my own bed. my own comforts. Be
tween laughing and crying. | said 10
myself: Il believe I'll just sit here and
freeze. It's ridiculous not 10 be able
10 get into my own house"
Now. This may seem small matter
but IL was not. know that more
cSertinn or more exposure would have
made me seriously i'll. had been
ready 10 drop when | reached my door
The tinkle Of "a bicycle bell put new
life into me. as recognized !ts rider
when he passed under the arc light AT
the corner. David" called. In
moment boyish figure In uniform
stood before me. cap In hand. David"
| complained. half crying, Il can't get
in II was comfortable to have 10
say that to Il child An adul, must
hay" heard with an inevitable sense
81 amusement. David was gravely
sympathetic II guess I'll have to get
YOU to phone for cab 10 take me TO
II hotel" finished.
ON. can get you i'm all right" said
David. He went to his home and re-
turned with small kit of tools and IA
hashlight; also with II shawl. which Ii"
put around me. lie worked at my
lock and soon had me In my home. sit
tng by my coy fire. Bless my Boy
Scout neighbor" thought as his
bicycle bell tinkled when he rode away
This was one-just one-of the
many times in which David helped me
out There were ways SO many ways.
as learned. in which n Scout could
ana would render efficient first aid.
bavid's bicycle bell. Shall ever for
get the sound OF cheer and comfort
II was TO me-the sense il gave Of n
friend at hand? He was so strong and
Staiwart II was joy to look at him.
An enthusiastic hiker was he IL wish
] had boy Of my own like David"
! used to think. And II had n hoy
OF my own he should he n Scout
Whatever else had to give up, | would
not give up that"
David is grown up now and gone
away. but, thank heaven l am not
Scoutless. have n Roy Scout I'm nv
house. Everybody and everything on
III" place loves Billy.
rent my upper floor. have made
IL into n very pretty apartment AS
rule. ! do not take people with chill
dren. liked the appearance OF Billy's
father when he called. He mentioned
son Of twelve. and ! began to frame
up a polite backing down from my
promise to let him have my apartment
when II came out, incidentally that
this son was Scout. "I'll he de-
lighted to have You" exclaimed No
broken windows. no damaged furni-
ture; knew that instantly.
Since Billy Is here I don't see how
ever got along without him. He is
as jolly and lively as hoy can be-
and love to hear him laugh and hear
MIN roilicking about the place j
know that his good times never in
clude injury TO anybody or anything
1t Ia his habit Of thought to set
wrong thing right and to be helpful.
These nre the points of value about
Boy Scouts In everyday life as I have
seen them. 4 BOY Scout is a desirab BILE
netghhor. a desirable tenant, a de-
sirable. responsible citizen. Boy
Scout is guardian OF property.
Conan Doyle says that Sherlock
Holmes made great use of boys in his
detective work. Boys are everywhere,
he says. and they see everything
With Atlanta full Of Boy Scouts, Ger.
tain abuses Of property complained Of
by real estate men and landlords, such
as broken windows and stolen plumb
become infreQueat,. and