have already done. By selecting the right things to do and
always doing them, we actually are making our destiny. Each one of us
has her character made by her habits. Habits are repeated acts, and we
may choose what our habits should be by choosing our acts. As Scouts we
choose to be happy, loyal, helpful girls. As we practice the Scout laws
they become a part of us.

Modesty

Girl Scouts have often been complimented for their modest bearing. One
does not hear them talk about what they have done, or what they are
going to do. They just do the thing and say nothing about it. They go
about their business or pleasure quietly and gently, and never draw
attention to themselves unnecessarily by behaving noisily and talking or
laughing loudly in public. They should be particularly careful of this
when in the company of boys or men. Girls and boys should be comrades
and should never do anything to lose the respect of older men and women.

Girls of good feeling should be especially careful to be modest in
dress and deportment on social occasions. Unfortunately many girls who
are perfectly innocent and unconscious, cause comment and are the cause
of improper feelings being aroused among their companions. Girls should
not risk, by their manner of dress or method of dancing, bringing
temptation to others. It is easily possible for a girl to exert an
excellent influence upon her friends by setting a proper example.

Reading

Wherever you go you will have the choice of good or bad reading, and as
reading has such a lasting effect on the mind, you should try to read
only good things. If you find that you are tempted by reading rubbish,
it is easy to stop doing so. Once you know what your fault is you can
fight it squarely. Ruskin says, "All your faults are gaining on you
every hour that you do not fight them."

The thing is, when there is danger before you, don't stop and think
about it,--the more you look at it the less you will like it,--but take
the plunge and go boldly in at it, and it will not be half as bad as it
looked, when you are once in it. This is the way to deal with any
difficulty in life. If you have a job, or if any trouble arises which
seems too difficult to meet, don't shirk it--just smile, and try and
think out a way by which you may get successfully through with it. Read
in _AEsop's Fables_ how the old man advised his son that it was easy to
break a bundle of rods, but only if you took them one at a time