demonstrations of sick-room nursing and the like: the latest appliances in the way of beds, bowls, washstands and the like were there in spotless array.
The Chief Scout came and looked at it. "Not realistic enough," he said. Next time he passed that way he looked on with a smile of approval at the wonderful transformation that had been affected by the indefatigable head of the Missioners' Section. In place of the clean, trim litle sick room was a dirty, untidy garret; the little furniture in it was meagre and broken, while the floors and walls left much to be desired in the way of cleanliness.
On a makeshift bed in the corner was an old woman looking very sick. Then a patrol of "Missioner" Scouts appeared on the scene: one seized a broom and swept out the room; the next made up the fire with some fuel he had procured and made her a cup of tea; another mended the rickety table, bed and chair, making them at any rate serviceable, while a fourth straightened out the bedclothes, propped the old lady up, and did his best to cheer her until the tea was ready. The change from the miserable state the place had been in, to the comparative comfort in which it was left by the boys was indeed a tribute to their training as Missioners.
Having given their demonstration, the place was restored to its original state of chaos, and another patrol came and looked after the old lady, who seemed to enjoy receiving the unaccustomed attentions as much as the boys enjoyed giving them!
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