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Along Life’s Way
The Good Turn:
A Fable
© 2018 Lois E. Wilson
The boy and his grandfather who lived with them were very close. One
day his grandfather hugged him and said, “I have watched you grow up to
be a fine 12-year-old lad. You take good care of your pets. Without
being asked, you see things that need to be done around the house, and
you do them. You are kind and help others. I am proud of you, and I
love you.
“I know you are joining the Scouts. I want you to have my ‘Scout
Handbook.’ My signature in it is dated 1942; that’s when I was twelve.
Be sure to read its history of the Daily Good Turn that all Scouts are
to do.”
The boy hugged his grandfather, “Thank you! I’ll treasure it!” The boy
took the book to his room and began to read about the origin of the
Good Turn: A group of fifth century English knights rescued a woman who
had been captured by bandits and returned her to her home. The city of
London developed over the forest where the event occurred. Doing a Good
Turn grew from the knights’ chivalry as some tried to make it a daily
practice. The example was later adopted by the Scouts.
The boy learned that a good turn is not good manners or an expected
chore to be done. It is when an individual recognizes a situation where
one can help and voluntarily does a good act to do so. Therefore, it is
a noble deed—a way of living and serving others, including animals,
without the expectation of pay, a good turn in return, or without
boasting of achievement. The enjoyment of doing the Daily Good Turn is
an inner reward that builds character.
The boy throughout his entire life employed this philosophy of living
presented to him through his grandfather’s gift. With a hug of love,
when his own son was twelve, he gave him the faded and dog-eared
handbook and told him, “I’m entrusting this to you. I know that you
will see that your children learn the value of the Daily Good Turn.”
Moral: Each day see a need and do the deed that solves it. If good
turns are done for you—always pay them forward. The joy of service to
others is its own rich reward.
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