THE CHRISTMAS SCOUT

[cturley2@aol.com (Cturley2)]

           THE CHRISTMAS SCOUT
              by  Sam  Bogan

In spite of the fun and laughter, 13 yr. old Frank Wilson was not happy.
 It was true, he had rec'd 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 companion- ship they had together.

He said good-bye to this 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 headed out, hoping to find the patrol leader of his Boy
Scout troop.  Frank always felt understood by him.

Tho' rich in wisdom, his leader  lived in the Flats, the section of
town where most of the poor lived.  His patrol leader did odd jobs to
help support his family.  To Frank's disappointment, his friend was not
home.

As Frank hiked down the street toward home, he caught glimpses of trees
and decorations in many of the small houses.  Then, thru 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 tho't 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 a woman asked.  Seeing his sled full of gifts,
and assuming he was making a collection, she said, "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, a toy airplane and a puzzle.  When she
took the Scout flashlight, Frank almost protested.  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 wasn't the only sorrow in the
world.

Before he left the Flats, he had given away the rest of his gifts.  His
plaid jacket had gone to a shivering boy. Now, Frank trudged toward
home, 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.  "I gave them away," he answered in a small voice.

"The airplane from Aunt Susan?  Your new coat from Grandma? Your
flashlight??  We tho't you were happy with your gifts."

"I was......very happy," Frank said 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 recapture joy in his
life.  He tho't he had this evening....but it had been fleeting. He
tho't 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, everyone!  The nicest Christmas story we have this
morning comes from the Flats.  A crippled boy down there has a new sled
this morning left at his house by an anonymous teenage boy.  Another
youngster has a fine plaid jacket, and several families report that
their children were made happy last night by gifts from a teenage lad
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 thru her tears.

"Why didn't you tell us, son?  We didn't understand. We are so proud of
you."

The carols came over the air again, filling the room with
music--"Praises sing to God the King, and peace on Earth goodwill to
men."

Deut. 15:7,8 tells us: "If there are poor among you in one of the towns
of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be selfish or
greedy toward them.  But give freely to them, and freely lend them
whatever they need."

LET US FOLLOW FRANK'S EXAMPLE THIS NEW YEAR.


                        =======BPL=======

Have a blessed Christmas!

=Bill & Lynann Rayborn=
 
   
    

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Please credit: From "Bill's Punch Line" at tcmrtalk@airmail.net
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