Outlines for Scout Workers, XXVI

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OUTLINES FOR SCOUT WORKERS 785

pest, driving them into ditches or upon piles of reeds, which they would set on fire, striving in every way, until strength was exhausted, to beat back the devouring host. But in vain they toiled; in vain they prayed. * * * * While the people stood with stricken hearts watching the destruction of their crops, out of the Great Salt Lake came the gulls myriads of — — these strange, snow-white birds, with wild cries winging their way. A new fear arose in the minds of the people as they saw — these birds settling down upon their fields a fear that another foe had come to complete the destruction of their growing grain. What was their joy can hardly be told, when they saw these gulls 'pounce upon the black crickets' and begin to gorge themselves, so ravenously indeed, that many of the birds, over-stuffed by rapid and heavy feeding, would regurgitate their spoil and again go on devouring. This fact might seem incredible were it not amply proved by the testimony of hundreds of eye-witnesses, as well as by the nature of the bird itself, which, as stated in another article herein, has the habit of regurgitating its food after carrying it to the barren islands of the Salt Lake to feed its young. The people gazed in amazement upon the birds at their beneficent work. No wonder it seemed to them a sheer miracle — from heaven a direct and convincing answer to their prayers." Cavendish W. Cannon tells this beautiful story in the following suggestive verses:

The Gull Planting

Here in this refuge land The stalwart resting band The seed has cast. Summer has come again, See how the ripening grain Nurtured by sun and rain Grows thick and fast!

The Crickets Down in the valley reigns drear desolation, Fields, ere the harvest, are barren and sere; Insects in clouds seem to threaten starvation, Hath God forgotten the bold pioneer? Deliverance

Lo, in the summer sky, Wheeling their flight on high, Sea gulls appear. Safe is thy scanty bread; Vanquished, the foe has fled, God watches over-head, True pioneer

786 IMPROVEMENT ERA

As an outgrowth of their signal service in ridding the fields of threatening crickets the gulls have long since enjoyed thorough protection by legal measures and public sentiment of our state. This, however, has not been the fortune befalling the "white wings" in many other states. In spite of their usefulness great numbers have been slaughtered for the millinery trade, Thousands have been killed during the breeding season with the result that their helpless young have suffered death by slow, cruel starvation. There are now thirty-nine states besides Utah in which gulls are protected the year round. Louisiana alone offers protection during only the breeding season, February 1 to August 1, while five states offer no legal protection whatsoever. These states are Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Arizona, and New Mexico. California prohibits the sale of gull's plumage for millinery purposes. This law went into effect in 1895 and since then a number of other states have enacted like measures. New York has even gone to far as to prohibit the sale and possession of any sort of plumage belonging to the gull family. In many states private reservations for the gulls have been formed, the money for these having been furnished by private subscription. As a result of this movement there is now scarcely a flock of gulls on the entire Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida but what might feel reasonably safe during the breeding season. In consequence the gulls which had become almost extinct are now becoming common again.

Strength to be a Helper

I would not sit with folded hands, While others do life's work; I would not play the coward, The sluggard nor the shirk.

I would rather ease the burden That weighs another down; I would rather be a lifter Than wear a sovereign's crown.

For there's joyousness in labor That makes the bosom swell, A wondrous compensation For the work that's done full well.

Then help me, Lord, to swerve not From the path my feet should tread; Give me strength to be a helper, Till the spark of life be fled. Grace Ingles Frost

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Home Defense Song For the M. I. A. "Home Guards."

Full Choi us in Unison. Words and Music by Evan Stephens. March time. 3 3t > 3 ^^^ A !i A _;* A J»

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Trumpets or bugle. j Marcato.

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1.    In de-fense of our home and our                                                na                -       tion,
   

2. Of the means and the strength God has lent us,
         3.     With a    u - ni-ty strong and un - end - ing
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We will fight For the right For hu-man-i-ty's sake We will share We will spare In de-fending the free-

Ne'er a - fraid For His aid Makes vic-torious the cause ,/ s 1i a 3 s-^ ^~s

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