“Scouting and Wool”: A Sketch

"SCOUTING AND WOOL" A Sketch By Claude C. Cornwall Shcepherder — Mr. Redd; Two Scouts — Dick and Harry; Scout- master— Mr. Adams. Scene opens with Redd coming down hilt, hailing Mr. Adams. Redd: Hey there, young feller, I want to tell you something. Adams: Surely, Mr. Sheepherder, I'll be glad to talk with you. Redd: You may not be so glad when you hear what I've got to say. Adams: Is that so? (very cheerfully) What is it? Redd: You're one of them scout fellers, ain't you? Adams: I suppose that is very evident. This is a scout uniform.

SCOUTING AND WOOL 241 Redd: Well, I should think you'd take care of your kids instead of lettin' 'em run wild over the hills. Adams: I don't understand you. Redd: I ketched two of 'em up on the flat, and they were sure hittin' it for mischief. Mighty lucky I came by just when I did, no tellin' what they might 'a been up to. Adams: Is that so? Redd: They'd had a fire. I seen the smoke as I was comin' over the ridge. They must a seen me comin' because when I got there they was pilin' dirt on it tryin' to put it out. Adams: Well, did they get it out? Redd: Purty nigh, I guess. I told 'em to be gittin' out o' there mighty sudden and they weren't long about it. Tried to put on and act polite, sayin' they hoped they hadn't done nothin' wrong. Adams: Well, I'm sorry if they disturbed you. I am sure they would- n't damage anything that belongs to you. Redd: Pity if they didn't, ever hear of any boys come snoopin' 'round a camp for any good. Boys is boys, I tell you, and they got to learn to mind their business or keep off this range. Adams: I must speak to them if they have done anything improper. Did you notice that they had taken anything or disturbed your camp any? Redd: I got there just in time to scare 'em off. Adams: (Pointing off) There are two boys now. Do they look like the ones? Redd: Sure — same ones — tall and short. Adams: Would you mind going back of the tent? I'll question them about this. Redd: Sure, but you take it from me. Ther's no good comin' out of this scoutin' business; trainin' boys to go chasin' over the hills, doin' damage and startin' fires. They ought to be taught to work, same as me. Started to work herdin' sheep when I was 13. Been at it ever since. (Mumbling he goes) No monk- eying for me. It was always work, work. (Enter Dick and Harry singing, "Hike Along") Adams: Well, boys, back from the hike? How did you get along? Dick: Great, just seven miles (examining pedometer) exactly. Harry: Here's the map, wait till I mark the last stop. Dick: Sure had a lot of interesting things happen. Harry: I got the places all marked. Adams: And what were some of those interesting things? (Herder comes out and listens) Harry: (with map) Here's where we started, went first to the creek here, then over the ridge and up to this spring. Dick: We put up a "good water" sign on the trail here.

242 IMPROVEMENT ERA Harry: Then we went over this hill and found a large valley here. followed down on top of the ridge, we could hear sounds of sheep bells and bleating, so decided to go down and see them. Here we found a sheepherder's tent; nobody was in so we looked around. Dick: He had a gun and a box of shells on the bed and mutton hang- ing up in a tree. Harry. Some mutton he had cooked in a dutch oven looked mighty good, but we didn't touch it. Only took off the lid and looked in. (Herder more curious) Dick: Gosh! it did look good there in the white grease. If we'd heated it up, it sure would have made your mouth water. Harry: Then we went down to where the sheep were feeding, here, and one of the lambs was caught in the brush. He was lying there almost exhausted. Dick: With his tongue out and panting. Harry: I took my knife and cut the limbs of the brush so as it could get its leg free. We felt it and found the leg broken just above the joint. Dick made a splint and we bound it up. Dick: Used up all that new roller bandage. Harry: Then we carried it down to the creek and gave it a drink. Thought we had better have lunch here, so we sat down by the creek and ate. Dick: When we got through dinner that sheep was standing up. I hope when the owner finds it he knows how to loosen that splint. Harry: Then we crossed the creek and went up through the aspen grove to the ridge here. Dick: You can see all over the valley from here. Harry: And came into the clearing. Here we thought we'd see if we could make a fire with two matches each and had a race. Dick got started first with one match, but let it go out again. Dick: I think I blew it out, trying to make it go. Harry: So I got mine started first. Well, we sat around the fires awhile until they were almost burned up and then started a contest to see which could put his fire out first. Dick: Just then a sheepherder came down a running. Thought at first he was going to hit me with his stick. He was sure mad about something; told us to clean out mighty quick, so we begged his pardon and cleared, taking the road marked over this ridge. Harry: Here is a picture of the chase. This is the herder, and this is Dick. He's more scared than I am. But I beat him to this cave where we drew the picture. Dick: If that was his sheep we fixed up we got a funny kind of pay. Harry: He'll probably kill the sheep first time he sees it. Dick: Maybe he thinks we broke its leg.

SCOUTING AND WOOL 243 Redd: Please let me look at that map. (Boys start back, afraid.) Adams: Surely, Mr. Herder, what do you want to see. Redd: Where did they leave that sheep? Adams: Here near the creek. Harry. We put it in the shade of a big pine. Redd: (Touched) I had no idea that boys would do like you did. I hope you young chaps will forgive me for what I said. If that is scouting, I'm for letting it go. Adams: We try to teach these young fellows to be good sports wherev- er they are, and to do a good turn every time they get a chance. Redd: Well, I must say my ideas on scouting has changed some today, you can let your hull troop loose on the range any time you say, partner. (As he leaves) If you young chaps would care for that left over mutton, jest come up to camp tonight and we'll put the kettle on the fire. The Promise They tell me to forget my little lad, Whose wond'ring eyes are closed in silent death, Whose tiny lips have breathed their last sweet breath; The smallest of the three, that merry tad Pulling a funny face to please his Dad, Hugging my knees or chasing 'round the room Playing at ride-a-horse upon a broom, Picking the choisest flowers Grandma had, 'Till chubby fists were full. I'll not forget! Of all my mem'ries this will be the best: Upon the Master's promise I'll depend; For while the grief of parting tortures yet, With gentle word of hope my soul is blest That he will be restored and sorrow end. Herman J. Wells.