Somebody nodded. “It was to his mother, a woman of strong and devoted character, that George Washington owed his moral and religious training. Even when her son had risen to the height of human greatness, she would only say, ‘George has been a good boy, and I’m sure he will do his duty.’” “Guess I better tell Mom I’m sorry about leaving my hat on the living room table,” said the boy named Billy. “I would if I were you,” said Somebody. About Boy Scouts “Get my new Scout suit,” said the boy named Billy, coming in with himself all in khaki. “Look at the buttons, ’n the leggins ’n all!” “It’s very Scouty looking,” said Big Sister. “I hope you’ll keep it that way.” “Have to,” said the boy named Billy, “or get a demerit. Going for drill now over on the parade ground in front of the armory. Got just long enough for Somebody to tell me when and where the Boy Scout movement started.” “The Boy Scout movement,” said Somebody, “started in England in 1908 being launched by Sir Robert S. S. Baden Powell.” “Oh say!” exclaimed the boy named Billy, “why did we have to let England beat us to it?” “We didn’t--exactly,” said Somebody, smiling at the zeal of the young patriot, “because at that very time we had two organizations which had the same purpose in view. One was called the Wood-Craft Indians founded by Ernest Seton Thompson, and another called the Sons of Daniel Boone founded by Dan Beard. Both men were popular writers of out of door stories, and greatly interested in boys and their sports and activities. “Scouting gives a boy something to do, something he likes to do, something worth doing. It has succeeded in doing what no other plan of education has done--made the boy want to learn. It organizes the gang spirit into group loyalty. “In 1910 both these organizations were combined under the title of the Boy Scouts of America, and as you of course know, Billy Boy, before a boy can become a Scout he must take the Scout oath of office.” “Yes, indeed,” said the boy named Billy. “Wait, ’til I see if I’m up on that. ‘On my honor I will do my best--To do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the scout law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.’ “A scout is required to know the Scout oath and law and subscribe to both. But his obligation does not end here. He is expected not only not to forget his oath and law, but to live up to them in letter and spirit from first to last.” “Fine!” said Somebody. “That sounds like a perfectly good working rule. Now what are some of your ideals as Scouts?”