The Brownie Scouts at Windmill Farm — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Brownie Scouts at Windmill Farm
John Stuart Mill · en
On Wednesday after school all the Brownie Scouts gathered at the public
library to cut and paste tulip decorations for the windows.
“Where is Hanny?” Rosemary asked noticing that the little girl was not
present. “I thought she was coming today.”
“So did I,” declared Miss Gordon. “Perhaps she will come later.”
A door banged just then and in came Hanny. She was quite breathless
from hurrying.
“I am sorry to be late,” she apologized. “I did not think I could come
at all. My uncle was called away and there is no one at home to look
after things. Even the housekeeper is away.”
Miss Gordon said she was happy indeed that Hanny had managed to attend
the meeting. She gave the little girl materials and showed her how to
make paper flowers.
As the children worked with scissors and paste, Miss Mohr told them
about the work of Brownies in foreign countries.
“Now who remembers the Brownie name in the Netherlands?” she asked the
group.
Sunny Davidson and Connie Williams both waved their hands. Miss Mohr
called on Sunny to give the answer.
“They’re called Kabouters and it means little elves.”
“Now who knows the name that is used for the organization in South
Africa?” the librarian went on.
No one knew the answer so Miss Mohr told the girls that Brownies in
South Africa were known as Sunbeams.
She said that in Greece they were called Poulakia or Little Birds.
Miss Gordon then told the Brownies about cut-out dolls they could
obtain. She explained that the figures were dressed in Brownie uniforms
of different countries in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl
Scouts.
“Now you know that tulip bulbs came to this country from Holland,” she
declared. “Look about in your homes, and at our next meeting report
how many objects you have noticed that have been imported from other
countries.”
“Our home has almost everything from Holland,” Hanny said. “But I like
best the things you buy in America. I love your big super markets too
where you see so many wonderful foods.”
So that the little girl would know more about the organization she
intended to join, Miss Gordon explained how the Brownies obtained their
name in English speaking countries.
“The organization was named by Robert Baden-Powell, who lived in
England,” she told Hanny. “He knew many wonderful stories about the
brownies or ‘little people’ and thought it would be a suitable name for
girls who try to be useful. The founder of the Girl Scouts in America
was Mrs. Juliette Gordon Low.”
“How can I join?” Hanny asked eagerly. “I want to be a Brownie.”
“We will have the investiture ceremony as soon as you have attended
four meetings,” Miss Gordon promised.
After the paper flowers had been made, the girls talked over plans
for a booth at Mrs. Langley’s flower show. Miss Mohr announced that
Peter Van Der Lann had promised the troop all the tulips they wanted,
not only for decoration, but to sell. The mothers would help too,
particularly in the making of tussie-mussie bouquets.