of this sort. After he had called it to order he made a neat
little speech, and explained what a wonderful influence for good the
organization had been in every community where it had been tested.

He read various extracts from the scout manual to show the lofty aims
of those who had originated this idea which was taking the world by
storm.

"The boys have been neglected far too long," he told them; "and it has
been decided that if we want a better class of men in the world we must
begin work with the boy. It is the province of this scout movement to
make duty so pleasant for the average lad that he will be wild to
undertake it."

In his little talk to the boys Mr. Witherspoon mentioned the fact that
one of the greatest charms of becoming scouts was that growing habit of
observing all that went on around them.

"When you're in town this may not seem to be much of a thing after
all," he had gone on to say; "but in the woods you will find it an ever
increasing fascination, as the wonders of nature continue to be
unfolded before your eyes. We are fortunate to have with us to-night a
gentleman who is known all over the country as a naturalist and lover
of the great outdoors. I think it will be worth our while to listen
while he tells us something of the charming things to be found in
studying nature. Mr. Henderson I'm going to ask you to take up as much
time as you see fit."

When Tom and Carl and some of the other boys did that little favor for
Mr. Larry Henderson they were inclined to fancy that he was rather
rough in his manner.

He had not been talking five minutes however, before they realized that
he was a born orator, and could hold an audience spell-bound by his
eloquence. He thrilled those boys with the way in which he described
the most trivial happening in the lonely wilds. They fairly hung upon
his every sentence.

"When you first commence to spend some time in the woods, boys," he
told them, "it will seem very big and lonesome to you. Then as you come
to make the acquaintance of Br'er 'Coon and Mr. Fox and the frisky
chipmunk and all the rest of the denizens, things will take on a
different color. In the end you will feel that they are all your very
good friends, and nothing could tempt you to injure one of the happy
family.

"Yes, it is true that occasionally I do trap an animal but only when I
find it a discordant element in the group. Some of them prey upon
others, and yet that is no excuse why ma