Now, did not this Laura Secord, though quite untrained, do every part of the duty of a Girl Scout? She showed SENSE OF DUTY in leaving all that was dearest to her to go off to the commander.
She showed cleverness and RESOURCE in getting through the American outposts by driving her cow in front of her, pretending that she was merely taking her out to graze.
She showed ENDURANCE going such a long journey rapidly and well, being healthy and fit for hard work.
Also CAMPAIGNING in being able to find her way by a circuitous route through forests and by night, and yet not seen by the enemy—SAVING LIFE, too, not only of the soldiers in the force, but eventually of all her nation, by freeing her country of the enemy.
She showed PATRIOTISM by sacrificing her own wishes for the good of her country, and risking her life for the good of her nation.
Why “Scouts”?
On the North-West Frontier of India there is a famous Corps of soldiers known as the Scouts, and their duty is to be always ready to turn out at any moment to repel raids by the hostile tribes across the Border, and to prevent them from coming down into the peaceful plains of India. This body of men must be prepared for every kind of fighting. Sometimes on foot, sometimes on horseback, sometimes in the mountains, often with pioneer work, wading through rivers and making bridges, and so on. But they have to be a skilful lot of men, brave and enduring, ready to turn out at any time, winter or summer, or to sacrifice themselves if necessary in order that peace may reign throughout India while they keep down any hostile raids against it. So they are true handymen in every sense of the word, and true patriots.
Facing a Difficulty.
When people speak of Scouts in Europe one naturally thinks of those men who are mountaineers in Switzerland and other mountainous place, who can guide people over the most difficult parts by their own bravery and skill in tackling obstacles, by helpfulness to those with them, and by their bodily strength of wind and limb. They are splendid fellows those guides, and yet if they were told to go across the same amount of miles on an open flat plain it would be nothing to them, it would not be interesting, and they would not be able to display those grand qualities which they show directly the country is a bit broken up into mountains. It is no fun to them to walk by easy paths, the whole excitement of life is facing difficulties and dangers and apparent impossibilities, and in the end getting a chance of attaining the summit of the mountain they have wanted to reach.