B-P prepared a farewell message to his
Scouts, for publication after his death.
The message follows...
"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 possibly 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
good-bye.
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 as happy a life too.
I believe that God put us in this jolly
world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness doesn't come from being rich, nor
merely from 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 when you have ceased to be a boy - and God help you
to do it.
Your friend,
The message is undated but probably was written before 1929 because it was signed "Robert Baden-Powell" instead of "Baden-Powell of Gilwell". Lady Baden-Powell said that this letter, in an envelope addressed "to the Boy Scouts," along with other papers was always carried with them on their travels in an envelope marked "In the event of my death".
No comments:
Post a Comment