26 
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 
trees and “heart” logs like a man. After a trying season 
of carrying all the water used in the household from a 
distant creek, which froze in the winter so that they had 
to melt the ice, they finally dug a well. First they went 
as far as they could with spades, then handed buckets of 
earth to each other, standing on a ledge half way down, 
then, when it was deep enough, they lined it with slabs 
of wood. It was so well made that the family used it 
for twelve years. 
Wild beasts prowled around them, Indians terrified 
them by sudden visits, the climate was rigorous, amuse- 
ments and leisure scanty. But this brave, handy girl met 
every job that came to her with a good heart and a smile : 
she learned by doing. The tests and sports that we earn 
badges by mastering, were life’s ordinary problems to her, 
and very practical ones. She never knew it, but surely 
she was a real Girl Scout! 
It is not surprising to learn that she grew up to be 
one of the women who earned the American girl her 
right to vote. A pioneer in more ways than one, this 
little carpenter and farmer and well-digger worked for 
the cause of woman’s political equality as she had worked 
in the Michigan wilderness and helped on as much as 
any one woman the great revolution in people’s ideas 
which makes it possible for women today to express their 
wishes directly as to how their country shall be governed. 
This seems very simple to the girls of today, and will 
seem even simpler as the years go on, but, like the Yellow- 
stone River, it needed its pioneers ! 
In the Great War which we have just passed through, 
the Scouts of all countries gave a magnificent account of 
themselves, and honestly earned the “War Service” badges 
that will be handed down to future generations, we may 
be sure, as the proudest possessions of thousands of 
grandchildren whose grandmothers (think of a Scout 
