The stories you'll read here continue this ancient tradition in a modern American setting. Most are drawn from real experiences, with names and details modified to preserve privacy. They show the same timeless virtues Aesop taught—now lived out by the “Williams” family: Mr. and Mrs. Williams (he's a firefighter, she's a teacher), and their three children—Rick (the eldest, thoughtful and responsible), Tess (middle child, compassionate and observant), and Tim (youngest, curious and energetic). Through their everyday choices—some wise, some foolish—they illustrate timeless virtues in contemporary situations.
As I reviewed the stories I had
written to illustrate aspects of admirable character, I realized they could be
well-organized by using what I had learned as a Boy Scout in Troop 729 in
Manhattan c. 1954:
Scout Oath: "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God
and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to
keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."
Scout Law: "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,
courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent."
The stories could be grouped
approximately under the twelve elements of the Scout Law, which is what I have
done in organizing this collection.
Merriam-Webster Definitions:
Trustworthy: "worthy of confidence: dependable."
Loyal: "unswerving in allegiance."
Helpful: "of service or assistance: useful."
Friendly: "showing kindly interest and goodwill."
Courteous: "marked by respect for and consideration of others."
Kind: "having or showing a tender and considerate and
helpful nature."
Obedient: "submissive to the restraint or command of authority:
willing to obey."
Cheerful: "full of good spirits: merry."
Thrifty: "given to or marked by economy and good management."
Brave: "having or showing mental or moral strength to face
danger, fear, or difficulty: having or showing courage."
Clean: "free from dirt or pollution."
Reverent: "expressing or characterized by reverence: worshipful."
I trust you will find them
intriguing and inspiring. You are welcome to contact me if you wish.
Sincerely,
Douglas Winslow Cooper, PhD
WriteYourBookWithMe.com
Walden, NY
Summer 2026
P. S. The Chinese translation of
this is planned to be available in 2026. The translator/author will be Lei
Zhang. It should be available from Amazon.com.
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