Читать книгу The Blue Birds at Happy Hills онлайн

41 страница из 47

“‘A Little Citizen resolves to daily seek opportunity to accomplish some good thing—something that will add to his character-building and do good to others.

“‘A Little Citizen will help where help is needed, encourage the unhappy and hopeless, and be true to others as he would be true to his own best self.’

“If everyone will remember these rules and use them wherever possible, you will find what a happy camp this will be for each one.

“Now I want to speak of my firemen—a squad of the older boys who can be our official firemen for the summer camp. For this work I have chosen the ten boys who are standing at the left, over there. Come forward, firemen, and let me introduce you to the Little Citizens of Happy Hills.”

Ten strong boys ranging from nine to twelve years of age now came over to Uncle Ben’s side and stood eager to hear what he would have to say to them.

“First of all, I want to tell you—and then have you tell and teach the campers at Happy Hills—that most of the fires that destroy life and property are not due to accident as much as to carelessness and mischief. It is ignorance of what to do in case of a fire that permits a small blaze to grow into a consuming flame that wrecks blocks of buildings and wastes millions of dollars worth of property.