A Scouting Christmas Story

[Gold Winger]

http://www.christmascomestotown.com/stories/lone-scouts-christmas.shtml

 

 

[Oak Tree]

Great story! Thanks for posting.

[ASM915]

G.W.

Thanks for the wonderful story. It has been passed on.

[theysawyoucomin']

Good story,I wouldn't mind reading it to the pack sometime.

[insanescouter]

that is a great story - thanks for sharing - even if its a tad long ... "I am just a Boy Scout"

 

Scott Robertson

http://insanescouter.org

Helping leaders one resource at a time....

[GopherJudy]

Thanks for posting! What a nice story! Where did you find it?

[packsaddle]

I'm with GopherJudy on that one. Great story.

[Gold Winger]

I thought that was evident. I found it at www.christmas . . . . :-)

 

I just stumbled across it when I was looking for a Scouting version of The Night Before Christmas. Google pulls up some interesting things.

[BrentAllen]

Another Christmas Scout story, if a little late.

 

THE CHRISTMAS SCOUT

by Sam Bogan

 

In spite of the fun and laughter, 13-year old Frank Wilson

was not happy. It was true he had received all the presents he

wanted. And he enjoyed the traditional Christmas Eve reunions with

relatives for the purpose of exchanging gifts and good wishes.

But, Frank was not happy because this was his first Christmas

without his brother, Steve, who during the year, had been killed by a

reckless driver. Frank missed his brother and the close companionship

they had together.

 

Frank said good-bye to his relatives and explained to his

parents that he was leaving a little early to see a friend; and from

there he could walk home. Since it was cold outside, Frank put on his

new plaid jacket. It was his FAVORITE gift. He placed the other

presents on his new sled.

 

Then Frank headed out, hoping to find the patrol leader of

his Boy Scout troup. Frank always felt understood by him. Though rich

in wisdom, he lived in the Flats, the section of town where most of

the poor lived, and his patrol leader did odd jobs to help support

his family. To Frank's disappointment, his friend was not at home.

 

As Frank hiked down the street toward home, he caught

glimpses of trees and decorations in many of the small houses. Then,

through one front window, he glimpsed a shabby room with limp

stockings hanging over an empty fireplace. A woman was seated

nearby ... weeping.

 

The stockings reminded him of the way he and his brother had

always hung theirs side by side. The next morning, they would be

bursting with presents. A sudden thought struck Frank -- he had not

done his "good deed" for the day. Before the impulse passed, he

knocked on the door. "Yes?" the sad voice of the woman asked. "May I

come in?" asked Frank.

 

"You are very welcome," she said, seeing his sled full of

gifts, and assuming he was making a collection, "but I have no food

or gifts for you. I have nothing for my own children."

 

"That's not why I am here," Frank replied. "Please choose

whatever presents you would like for your children from the

sled." "Why, God Bless You!" the amazed woman answered gratefully.

 

She selected some candies, a game, the toy airplane and a

puzzle. When she took the Scout flashlight, Frank almost cried out.

Finally, the stockings were full.

 

"Won't you tell me your name?" she asked, as Frank was

leaving. "Just call me the Christmas Scout," he replied.

 

The visit left Frank touched, and with an unexpected flicker

of joy in his heart. He understood that his sorrow was not the only

sorrow in the world. Before he left the Flats, he had given away the

remainder of his gifts. The plaid jacket had gone to a shivering boy.

 

Now Frank trudged homeward, cold and uneasy. How could he

explain to his parents that he had given his presents away?

 

"Where are your presents, son?" asked his father as Frank

entered the house. Frank answered, "I gave them away."

 

"The airplaine from Aunt Susan? Your coat from Grandma? Your

flashlight? We thought you were happy with your gifts." "I was ----

very happy," the boy answered quietly.

 

"But Frank, how could you be so impulsive?" his mother

asked. "How will we explain to the relatives who spent so much time

and gave so much love shopping for you?" His father was firm. "You

made your choice, Frank. We cannot afford any more presents."

 

With his brother gone, and his family disappointed in him,

Frank suddenly felt dreadfully alone. He had not expected a reward

for his generosity, for he knew that a good deed always should be its

own reward. It would be tarnished otherwise. So he did not want his

gifts back; however he wondered if he would ever again truly

recapture joy in his life. He thought he had this evening, but it had

been fleeting. Frank thought of his brother, and sobbed himself to

sleep.

 

The next morning, he came downstairs to find his parents

listening to Christmas music on the radio. Then the announcer spoke:

 

"Merry Christmas, everybody! The nicest Christmas story we

have this morning comes from the Flats. A crippled boy down there has

a new sled this morning, another youngster has a fine plaid jacket,

and several families report that their children were made happy last

night by gifts from a teenage boy who simply called himself the

Christmas Scout. No one could identify him, but the children of the

Flats claim that the Christmas Scout was a personal representative of

old Santa Claus himself."

 

Frank felt his father's arms go around his shoulders, and he

saw his mother smiling through her tears. "Why didn't you tell us? We

didn't understand. We are so proud of you, son." The carols came over

the air again filling the room with music ---

 

"...Praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on Earth."