“Dear Scouts – if you have ever seen the play
‘Peter Pan’ you will remember how the pirate chief
was always making his dying speech because he
was afraid that possible, when the time came for
him to die, he might not have time to get it off his
chest. It is much the same with me, and so,
although I am not at this moment dying, I shall be
doing so one of these days and I want to send you
a parting word of goodbye.
“Remember, it is the last time you will ever hear
from me, so think it over.
“I have had a most happy life and I want each one
of you to have a happy life too.
“I believe that God put us in this jolly world to be
happy and enjoy life. Happiness does not come
from being rich, nor merely being successful in your
career, nor by self-indulgence. One step towards
happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong
while you are a boy, so that you can be useful and
so you can enjoy life when you are a man.
“Nature study will show you how full of beautiful
and wonderful things God has made the world for
you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got
and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of
things instead of the gloomy one.
“But the real way to get happiness is by giving out
happiness to other people. Try and leave this
world a little better than you found it and when your
turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that
at any rate you have not wasted your time but have
done your best. ‘Be Prepared’ in this way, to live
happy and to die happy – stick to your Scout
Promise always – even after you have ceased to be
a boy – and God help you to do it.
Your friend,
Robert Baden-Powell”
Recent Comments