InsaneScouter News
| Volume: 8 |
Issue: 2 |
August 2003 |
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| Themes |
|
Monthly Poll Results |
(Note, some requirements may be out of date) |
| Which
one of the following is your favorite Harry Potter Book?
Never Read 37.5%
Book 5 27.5%
Book 3 17.5%
Book 4 10.0%
Book 1 7.5%
Book 2 0.0%
|
|
Whats New at http://insanescouter.com
I am proud to announce many of the new features and content now available
at InsaneScouter. Below you will find a list of what these updates are and where
to find them.
If you would like to help in anyway with the InsaneScouter website, please
contact us at webmaster@insanescouter.org
Recipes
Pioneer And Western Recipes
Johnnycakes
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons honey or molasses
2 cups cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
Beat eggs until light. Add buttermilk and honey or molasses. Combine dry
ingredients and stir into batter along with melted butter. Pour into buttered
dripper pan and bake at 425° F. for about 20 minutes. Cut into squares.
Honey Candy
2 cups honey
1 cup sugar
1 cup cream
Combine all ingredients and cook slowly to a hard-ball stage. Pour onto buttered
platter. When cool enough to handle, grease hands and pull until a golden
color. Cut into pieces.
Pioneer Lettuce Salad
1 head lettuce
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cut lettuce into wedges or shred. Whip cream and blend with vinegar, salt,
and sugar. Serve over lettuce.
Rice In Cream
3/4 cup uncooked rice
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
Cook rice and salt in milk over boiling water until rice is soft and mixture
is thick (about 1 1/2 hours). Add sugar and almond extract. Chill, then stir
in whipped cream. Can also be served with berries.
Apple Candy
2 tablespoons gelatin
1 1/4 cups cold applesauce
2 cups sugar
1 cup chopped nuts
1 tablespoon vanilla
Soak gelatin in 1/2 cup cold applesauce for 10 minutes. Combine remaining
applesauce and sugar and boil 10 minutes. Add gelatin and applesauce mixture
and boil 15 minutes longer, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add nuts
and vanilla, and pour into slightly greased pan. Let set overnight in refrigerator.
Then cut in squares and roll in powdered sugar.
Bread And Milk
Break whole wheat bread into bowl of milk. Stir in bits of crumbled cheese
and cut green onion. Pieces of apple or little green grapes can be used instead
of onions for variety.
Cactus
What You Need:
Potato or paper
Toothpicks
Paint
What You Do:
Either give your children a potato with the bottom cut off or a piece of paper
cut into the shape of a cactus. Let them stick toothpicks in it and paint
it to make it look like a cactus.
Cactus Tasting
In the specialty section of your grocery store they should have cactus jelly
and other items made with cactus. Buy as many different kinds as you can and
let your children taste what cactus tastes like.
Egg Fry
If you live somewhere that gets particularly hot. Take an egg outside and
show your children how that you can fry an egg on asphalt.
Pioneer Trip - Audience Participation Skit
Throw bean bags (or peanuts, candy, nuts, etc.) into audience as you reach
blanks in the story. Whoever catches it fills in the blank with items pioneers
would need when moving to a new farm.
Today when we move we put our things in a large truck and are settled in
our new home within a week. But did you ever wonder about the pioneers?
This is a story about a pioneer family named Jones who moved from their old
home to a new farm. To carry all their things, Mr. Jones will get a __1__
pulled by __2__. To cook their meals, Mrs. Jones will take her __3__, __4__
, __5__ (as many cooking utensils as they can name). To cut wood they will
need a __6__. When Mr. Jones goes hunting, he will need a __7__.
Junior Jones will help herd the __8__ along the way. To help her mother plant
a garden when they get to their new home, Sally Jones will take __9__. To
prepare the ground for their new garden they will need a __10__. They will
probably build a cabin out of __11__, and to store vegetables will dig a __12__.
Mrs. Jones will probably cook in a __13__, and their plates will be made from
__14__ or __15__. When it gets cold, everyone will wear woolen __16__.
Suggested answers:
1. Covered wagon 9. Seeds
2. Oxen 10. Plow (pulled by ox)
3. Cast iron frying pan 11. Logs or sod
4. Kettle 12. Cellar
5. Pots and pans, rolling pin, etc. 13. Fireplace
6. Ax or Saw 14. Wood
7. Rifle or Gun 15. Pewter
8. Cow 16. Long johns
For variation of this audience participation story, you could put all the
answers in a hat and let someone pull one out each time you come to a blank.
See how comical it would be.
Run-On's
Boy 1: When you are on a wagon train trip, how will you know when you are
getting into wild country?
Boy 2: When you see a sign: "Bear to the Right."
Wagon Train Song
(Tune: If you're Happy and You Know it)
Won't you come along and join the wagon train?
Won't you come along and join the wagon train?
We will blaze the trail before us,
And will sing this western chorus.
Won't you come along and join the wagon train?
Skits / Cheers / Songs
Cheers
Pioneer Cheer: Wagons ho!
Pony Express Cheer: Gallop in place then shout YIPEEE!
Covered Wagon Cheer: Divide the group into two. One group shouts WESTWARD!
and the other group shouts HO!
Going To The Desert
(Sung to: "She'll Be Comin Around The Mountain)
We are going on a journey to the desert
We are going on a journey to the desert
We are going on a journey, We are going on a journey
We are going on a journey to the desert
Oh we'll see a roadrunner, watch it go, whoosh, whoosh!
Oh we'll see a roadrunner, watch it go, whoosh, whoosh!
Oh we'll see a roadrunner, oh we'll see a roadrunner
Oh we'll see a roadrunner, watch it go, whoosh, whoosh!
Oh we won't see snow or ice while we're there, Brrrr, Brrrr
Oh we won't see snow or ice while we're there, Brrrr, Brrrr
Oh we won't see snow or ice, Oh we won't see snow or ice
Oh we won't see snow or ice while we're there, Brrrr, Brrrr
Oh the sun will be shining, yes it will, whew, whew
Oh the sun will be shining, yes it will, whew, whew
Oh the sun will be shining, Oh the sun will be shining
Oh the sun will be shining, yes it will, whew, whew
Oh we'll see a saguaro cactus where we're there, ouch, ouch!
Oh we'll see a saguaro cactus where we're there, ouch, ouch!
Oh we'll see a saguaro cactus, oh we'll see a saguaro cactus
Oh we'll see a saguaro cactus where we're there, ouch, ouch!
Wagons, Ho!
One of the important ways to travel during the settlement of the west was
the covered wagon. Give the boys a chance to recreate this adventure by practicing
this chant several times until the boys can experience the rhythm and feel
of the rolling wagons.
Let's go across the country
Life folks did so long ago,
Hitch-up the team
Let's pack the covered wagon,
Get inside, Wagons, Ho!
Roll on across the prairie,
Tall grass swishing by,
Swish, Swish, Swish, Swish.
Roll on through the river,
Water splashing at our wheels,
Splash, Splash, Splash, Splash.
Roll on over mountains,
Foot hills rumble by,
Rumble, Rumble, Rumble, Rumble.
Roll on to the new land,
Clear the forest, build a home.
Journey's ended. We are settlers.
This was wilderness. Now we're home!
Games
Bull Dogging Game
Have four or more 8' lengths of rope or clothesline. Arrange boys around
edges of the Rodeo Arena (playing area). A number (equal to number of ropes)
of boys are designated as Bulls - they each grasp a rope by one end (no wrapping
around their hands) and drag it around the Arena. An equal number of boys
are designated as Cowboys. They try to Bulldoggy the Bulls by stepping on
the ropes - if it is pulled out of the bulls hand, the Cowboy becomes a Bull
and the Bull tags and takes the place of a bystander, who become a new Cowboy.
The game could be played with the players divided into teams, with objectives
being either to catch the most bulls (each team would have a Bull Pen) or
be the first team to Cowboy all its players.
Giddiup!! Game
Let's see, you could have the children sit on the floor. They begin by holding
the reins with their hands and walking the horse. (Hold hands in front and
sway forward and back slightly.) They could twirl a rope with one hand. Then
they could wave their hat with the other hand. Say "Giddiup" to
get horse to go faster. They could call out, "Yipee!" You could
ride faster (do all actions faster) and then slower, then say "Whoa"
and put the horse to a stop. Put on its feed bag and let it rest while you
listen to another story. (Make sure there is enough space between children
before you start this game or practice a controlled twirl and wave of the
hat in a small amount of space.)
Cattle Drive Game
Form up the boys into Cows [one the head (hand forming horns) and one the
rear, hands on other boy's hips] (Cows must walk unless it's a Stampede) and
cowboys one hand on hip, the other twirling a pretend rope - (cowboys must
skip). There should be at least three or four times as many cows as Cowboys.
When a cowboy rides along side a cow and says "Gitalong little doggie"
the cow must move with the cowboy, and becomes part of the herd (which stays
together unless there is a stampede - first cow becomes the leader). "Whoa
Doggies" stops a herd's movement. Cowboys try to gather herds and drive
them to Dodge. Cows just try to "wander and eat grass". Cowboys
can and probably should work together. Options: Game Leader's calls:
"Stampede" All the cows will break free from their Cowboys and
run till tagged by a Cowboy.
"Rustlers" - the Cowboys must change Herds. Or A Cowboy can try
to steal another's herd .
"Mavericks" - Unescorted herds may reverse themselves (heads become
tails) and wander from the herd.
"River Crossings" or "Dust Storms" requires two Cowboys
per herd to keep them together or cross a line.
"Night Riders" Cowboys must circle herd and sing!
Golden Spike Game
(I've been working on the Railroad)
A large grassy or carpeted area is needed. Divide boy's into two teams.
They must construct a railroad connection to Premonitory Point in the middle
of the area, starting from their side of the room. The boys become the tracks.
One boy lays down with feet and arms extended and together. The next boy crawls
over the first and with the first boy holding his feet extends the tracks
further, etc. However each railroad must have two "curves", a "trestle"
(boy on elbows and knees), and a "switch back" (three boys forming
a "Z" in their "track plan" before connecting to Premonitory
point. Once the two tracks have joined, then the boy's "ride the rails"
to premonitory, beginning with the first one down, till everyone has completed
the journey to "drive the golden spike."
Pony Express Rodeo Relay
Relaying the mail from station to station. with perhaps so obstacles like
Flash floods, Indians, etc. A more strenuous variation would be to carry a
small child from point to point to point, changing mounts without touching
the ground in Pony Express tradition.
Relay Barrel Race
Following the route of a Rodeo Barrel race: Rider circles left barrel, then
right barrel, then the far barrel, then races home.
Western Vest
What You Need:
Paper Grocery Bag
Paint/Crayons/Markers
What You Do:
Cut armholes and a head hole in the bag. Let your children decorate it with
the paint as a western them (sheriff, landscape, etc)
Lasso Game
Make a large cow head, and a lasso, let your children try to rope it.
If your children can't rope it or it is hard. Try using a hula-hoop with a
rope tied to it.
Ride'm Cowboy Game
If you can find an old saddle bring it in your classroom and let your children
play with it.
Ridin' Race Game
Have your children race across the playground on stick horses
I'm A Little Cowboy
(Sung to "I'm a Little Tea Pot")
I'm a little cowboy. Here's my hat. (point to hat)
Here are my spurs and here are my chaps. (Point to foot and legs)
When I get up, I work all day, (Jump on work)
Get on my horse and ride away (galloping motion).
Chuck Wagon Contest
Equipment required: Two children's wagons (made to look like a chuck wagon
by covering with a cloth cover attached to a wire frame), assorted pots and
pans, brown paper bags.
Each den team has a chuck wagon. Two den members wearing paper bag horse
masks are the horses. Behind each wagon is an equal number of pots and pans
(or tin cans). On signal, all den members except the horses load cans into
the wagon. When they are finished, they yell, "Wagons, ho!" and
the horses dash off, pulling the wagon twice around a track. If any implement
falls out, the horses must stop and wait for other den members to put it back.
First wagon making the circuit twice wins.
Bull In The Ring Game
The players form a ring around the "Bull" holding hands. The "bull"
tries to break through. He may rush, lunge, or pull, to try to break out of
the ring. If he escapes the players chase him. Whoever catches him becomes
the "Bull". It is not fair for the "bull" to duck under.
Horse Race Game
Each boy inflates a large balloon. One from each team sits on his balloon
and races down the hall or room. The boy who makes it to the end first with
his balloon is the winner.
Pony Express Game
One player is blindfolded and stands in center of the area as the Pony Express
Rider. Another is selected to be Station Agent and has a list of cities or
towns. Other players have been given names of one of the towns. The Station
Agent calls out names such as: "I have a letter from Deadwood to Tombstone".
Immediately the players with these names must rise and exchange seats. The
Pony Express Rider tries to catch one of them or sit in his seat. If a player
is caught or his chair is taken, he becomes the Pony Express Rider. Players
may crawl, run, walk, dive, or dodge to get by the Pony Express Rider, but
they are not allowed to step outside the circle of chairs. If the rider has
difficulty catching anyone, the Station Agent may call out several town names
at once. Keep the game moving rapidly. The announcement of "General Delivery"
causes a mad scramble, as all players must change chairs.
Crafts
Sheriff's Badges
Pre-cut cardboard stars--make them oversized--and provide glue and silver
glitter.
Wanted Posters
Make wanted posters . Their easy just use Beige Paper and lightly singe the
edges with a candle. Finally paste a picture to the paper and write wanted
at the top. At the bottom write a description of all of the fun things they
do in Scouting. "Wanted For Fun"
Covered Wagon

Ceremonies
A Picture of Our Past - Opening
Setting: Flag is staffed on a stage behind a closed curtain. If this arrangement
is not possible, the opening may be done in a darkened room with the spotlight
on the flag coming on at the appropriate time.
CUBMASTER: It is a picture of our past, and there is something of Davy Crockett,
Kit Carson, Daniel Boone, Horace Greeley, the famous forty-niners, and even
Lewis and Clark. It is a picture of all those brave frontiersmen that headed
west.
It is a picture of our people…200 million of them. They are part of
the picture we are helping to paint.
To this picture we would add the portraits of boys, growing into men, who
will live useful lives, and who will add to that history of noble action which
is our American heritage.
Cub Scouts and parents, the picture of our country! (Curtains open showing
the American flag; or a spotlight on the American flag.)
The flag of the United States of America! Will you stand and join me in saying
the Pledge of Allegiance to this great flag and to the people who make it
so great?
What's It All About? - Opening
You asked, What's it all about?
Why, to turn a boy into a Scout.
To take a boy so young and frail,
And start him up the Cub Scout trail.
From Bobcat and Wolf and Bear
With all the awards and arrows share.
Through Webelos and then into Scouts,
Giving guidance through problems, fears, and doubts.
And on through school and into life he'll trod,
With respect and love for man and God.
To watch him grow so tall and free,
Till one day a leader of our country be.
And then he too, like you and me,
Will take a boy so small and wee.,
And will teach that boy,
With pride and joy,
To be helpful, and to be a good Scout.
Yes, that's what it's all about!
Please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance
Famous Pioneer - Closing
CUBMASTER: We’ve heard of many famous men; men with curious minds,
strong purposes, courage, determination, and a proud, fierce loyalty for their
country. For you, as Cub Scouts, America is still a land of expanding opportunity.
It could well be that someday one of you will become a famous pioneer in American
history. Good luck with your future. Good night.
Buckskin Pioneers - Advancement
Arrangement: Ceremony board or log, three small candles and one large candle
set on table.
Narrator: I.B. Scoutly was the wagon master on the Cub Scout trail. He was
tall, brave and very wise. He was fierce to an enemy, but kind to a brother.
His father taught him the ways of the mountain men and his mother taught him
kindness and compassion. As a young man, he lived with the Webelos tribe and
learned their ways. He was taken on trips over mountains and rivers. Here,
from the Wolf, he learned the language of tracks and the ways to find food.
(I.B. Scoutly lights the large candle representing the Spirit of Scouting
and using that he lights the small candle representing Wolf.)
I.B. Scoutly: With this candle, representing the Spirit of Scouting, I light
the trail of the Wolf. From the signs along the Wolf trail I see that the
wagons are approaching the Wolf Crossing. (Scoutly calls the names of the
boys receiving Wolf badges and arrow points. They come forward with their
parents.)
Narrator: Then, on the side of a snow- covered mountain, I. B. Scoutly learned
the secret passes over the mountains and the weather signs.
I.B. Scoutly: (lighting the Bear candle) With the Spirit of Scouting, we
light the Bear Trail. It isn’t easy crossing the mountains on the Bear
Trail, but I see wagons coming down the side. (He calls forward the boys receiving
Bear badges and arrow points. They come forward with their parents.)
Narrator: But, before he could become a wagon master, I.B. had to prove himself
by acquiring new skills, performing certain tasks and passing tests of accomplishment.
I.B. Scoutly: (lighting the Webelos candle) With the Spirit of Scouting we
light the trail to Webelos. From the fresh ruts on the trail, I see that the
following drivers have shown their skill in earning the ________ Activity
pins. (Indicating the pins earned, he calls forward the boys and their parents.
He presents the awards.)
Narrator: I.B. Scoutly went on to blaze many new trails, all leading to Boy
Scouting. The Spirit of Scouting still burns brightly. Now will all Cub Scouts
stand and repeat the Cub Scout Promise.
My Flag Opening Ceremony
Flag
2 flashlights lights out
Cub Scout in Cowboy Outfit or leader with boys.
(In half circle around flag in cowboy outfits, turn lights out. Flashlights
on flag, person saying poem, and boys.)
The flag is so beautiful to see,
It really means a lot to me.
It's like a banner in the sky,
It brings great tears to my eyes.
In my cowboy mind,
These thoughts I find.
The white stripes remind me,
Of Sunday and the Glory of Light.
The red stripes remind me,
Of sweat, of a workday in sight.
The White stars on a blue field,
Remind me of peace at night.
She stands for freedom,
I stand by her side,
She is to me my faithful guide.
What Makes America Great Opening Ceremony
Den Leader: The Cub Scout promises "to do his duty to his country."
Our country is different in many ways from other countries. We would like
to review for you some of the things that are different but still make this
the greatest country in the world.
1st Cub: We call it the United States, and we're bound together by our Constitution
and our language. Yet in many ways we're a group of separate kingdoms.
2nd Cub: We practice more than 250 different religions and observe thousands
of different hunting laws, tax laws, and labor laws.
3rd Cub: Our lands grow palm trees and pine, redwood and beach plum, vanishing
Keg deer, and whooping cranes.
4th Cub: Our people say "y'all" and "youse".
5th Cub: We catch shrimp and sell stocks --- live in lean-tos, skyscrapers,
and stucco bungalows.
6th Cub: We are a very diverse land, but these are some of the things that
make the United States great.
7th Cub: Let us rise and sing "America the Beautiful".
Pioneer Campfire Advancement Ceremony
(Onstage campfire in foreground, behind large cutouts of wagons for the affect
of wagon train. As the curtain opens the TRAIL BOSS is seated at the fire.)
PERSONNEL: Trail Boss, Bobcat Scout, Wolf Scout, Bear Scout, and Webelos
Scout.
(Scouts enter one at a time and are greeted by the Trail Boss, and they are
seated at the campfire.)
TRAIL BOSS: Scouts, it has been a long trail but I think that we have some
Scouts that have passed our tests and learned the trail. Since this is our
last campfire for this month, now would be a good time to advance them in
the ranks of Scouting. Bobcat Scout, have you found any boys that are ready
to join our wagon train on the trail to Webelos Scouts.
BOBCAT SCOUT: I have boys who are ready to pass their tests, they have learned
well and are anxious to join our train.
TRAIL BOSS: Will these boys come to the campfire with their parents?
BOBCAT SCOUT: Ahead of you stretches a long trail full of fun and new skills
that you will learn. Before you join our train you must be a Bobcat, now for
the test. (Have boys give salute, Promise, Law of the Pack, Motto, and meaning
of Webelos.)
Congratulations, you are now Bobcat Scouts with Pack _____ and the trail
to Wolf Scout lies ahead, work hard and soon you will be Wolf Scouts. Parents,
please present the Bobcat patch to your son. Thank You.
TRAIL BOSS: It is good to see new Scouts joining our train because there
is a lot of fun ahead on our Cub Scout Trail. Wolf Scout, do you have any
Bobcats that have passed your tests for Wolf Scout?
WOLF SCOUT: I have ______ Scouts that have shown they are ready for more
difficult tasks on the trail.
TRAIL BOSS: Will those Scouts come forward with their parents?
WOLF SCOUT: It has been a long trail and you have worked hard for your Wolf
Scout badge. Soon you
will have a new trail ahead of you, the Bear trail. I know that you will
do well in what lies ahead for you. May you always carry with you the sign
of the Wolf Scout. (Hold up hand in Cub Scout sign.)
TRAIL BOSS: Bear Scout, do you have Wolf Scouts that have passed your test
for Bear Scout?
BEAR SCOUT: Yes, I have the following Wolf Scouts that have completed all
their tasks for the Bear Scout badge.
TRAIL BOSS: Will those Wolf Scouts come forward with their parents?
BEAR SCOUT: You have traveled a long trail from Bobcat to Wolf and now you
have learned many new skills and earned your Bear Award. Now you may continue
to earn arrow points until you are ready to enter the ranks of our most experienced
Scouts, the Webelos. Keep up the good work on your Cub Scout Trail.
Our Wagon Train Crew Advancement Ceremony
Arrangement: An artificial or real campfire. Costuming as desired for pioneer.
Cubmaster: To the early day pioneer, nothing was more challenging than the
road West. His days were long, sleep was little, and his food was edible...
sometimes. The pioneers traveled in groups so that they could help each other,
working as a team with each person having responsibilities according to his
skill.
Walking along beside the wagons are the Bobcats. Their enthusiasm keeps alive
our spirit of togetherness. (Have Bobcats and parents come forward - present
awards. Have parents return to seats and new Bobcats sit around fire.)
Our Wolves are in the green horn stage. Each task is a new challenge and
is met with wide-eyed eagerness. They are in charge of the horses and oxen
which pull the wagons and are the future strength of the train. (Present awards
as above.)
Honing skills learned as Wolves, our Bears are the drovers on our train.
They have proven the ability to meet the demands of the trail and to seek
out new adventures on the arrow point trail. (Present awards as above. )
Webelos are the scouts for our group. Their knowledge and experience set
the goals of achievement for the pack and give continuity to our crew. With
courage and determination, Webelos scouts further define and hone their skills
by earning activity badges. (Present awards as above. Ask awards recipients
to stand and face audience.)
Ladies and gentleman, it is time to hit the trail again. The trail can be
long and tiring, but as long as we work together, we will reach our destination.
May I present to you, our wagon train crew... a group I am proud to ride with.
Chuck Wagon Pioneering Closing
Setting: Dim room lights as poem is read by the light of a Coleman lantern.
Poem:
It's true you had no phones,
No gasoline, no electric lights, no cars about -
But there's one thing you didn't have
That we could do without!
(Hold up "taxes" sign)
But one thing does amaze us
When we read about your deeds:
You made it through your travels,
Minus something every man needs!
O Pioneers! O Pioneers!
We salute you long and hard!
You went across this whole land in a wagon
Without a CREDIT CARD!
Weakest Link Closing
The Cubmaster asks Cub Scouts and their parents to join hands all around
the room. The Cubmaster explains that a chain is no stronger than its weakest
link. The real joy of Cub Scouting comes when complete unity exists between
parents and Cub Scouts. Every boy and his family here tonight can help Scouting
keep America strong by learning more about our great heritage.
"DO YOUR BEST"
InsaneScouter Moment - Immortality By William Tomkins
Some think this world a vale of tears, or worry and of sighs;
That Life's a great big lottery, in which few win a prize.
I read some hopeless verses once that don't deserve to last,
They told how the mill can never grind with water that is past.
I'd like to change that fallacy which has caused so many a tear,
And by transposing make it bear a message of good cheer
And point the way of winds of hope, like pennant on a mast,
For I know that the mill can grind again with water that is past.
A mountain stream comes trickling in the sunlight down the hill,
And gathers volume until it has strength to run the mill;
It happily continues then, upon its useful way,
Turns other mills still further down, until it joins the bay.
Its temporary mission o'er, it sweeps out to the sea
With other useful waters bearing it company;
And there all peacefully they rest, beneath the shining sun,
Who seems to think their mission is scarcely yet begun.
With gentle force He lifts them up in vapors to the sky,
And gathers them in fleecy clouds in His domain so high,
Where kindly winds then waft them back to that mountain home,
From which a few short hours before we saw them start to roam.
The cooling night then causes them to fall in gentle showers,
A blessing to that mountainside, to grass and trees and flowers;
And in the dawn of early morn we find them back once more
In that same little mountainside, but stronger than before.
They gather volume as they come a-tumbling down the hill,
And then with added vigor again they turn the mill;
And then in play they rush away, through meadowland and town,
And every mill again is turned as they go dancing down.
The brightest day is no more useful than the darkest night,--
Our troubles soon would disappear if we'd view them aright.
Good fortune may be holding back her best things to the last,
For I know that the mill can grind again with water that is past.
And that same little mountain stream Has always been to me
But one of Nature's many proofs Of Immortality.
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email us at sales@insanescouter.org.
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