let me tell
you, that poor tired mother said 'thank you, my boy' just as if it meant
a _heap_ to her! Yes, Step Hen, you had a right to turn your badge; and
I only hope you find as good a chance to do it every single day, as you
did on this one."

And Giraffe became suddenly silent. Perhaps something within told him
that he too had passed that same weary mother; and if he thought
anything at all at the time it was only to wonder why a woman could be
so silly as to travel with so many children.

"Well, you see," remarked Step Hen, feeling that some sort of
explanation was expected from him, after the scoutmaster had given him
the "spot light" on the stage. "I got to talkin' with her afterwards,
and she told me that the children's paw had just died down South, and
she was on her way home to her mother's. After hearin' that, fellers, I
wanted to do anything more I could for the poor thing; and I did jump
off at the last station, and buy the kids some sandwiches, 'cause, you
see, they didn't have a great lot to munch on. But it was worth while to
watch 'em gobble the snack of chicken I got along with 'em, like they
hadn't had a bite to eat this livelong day."

Thad walked away, satisfied that Step Hen was proving his worth as a
scout. That little lesson of the humble bug had opened his eyes, and
through those touched his heart. Perhaps he might not change all at
once, for he was inclined to stumble, and fall down, when he had made
good resolutions; but the chances were he would see more in life than
ever before.

And that is what a scout wants to do, keep his eyes open all the while,
in order to notice many of the strange things that are happening every
minute of the day all around him; until he learns to do that which will
give him the greatest treat that could possibly happen to any one.

Time was when Step Hen might have passed that poor mother, and never
have given her a second thought; but it was different now. And the
strange thing about it, in Thad's mind, was that an obscure little
tumble-bug, one of the lowliest of all created things, could have
succeeded in showing Step Hen that he had a heart; and that even a boy
can find chances to do kindly acts, if he looks for them.

"Well," said Bumpus, as they huddled together in a bunch, exchanging
views and watching the mountains and valleys as they were whirled past,
"if we could have the say right now where the Silver Fox Patrol would
spend next vacation, where