The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WHEN A GIRL IS ABOUT TO BECOME A GIRL SCOUT AFTER HAVING
BEEN A BROWNIE THE CEREMONY IS CALLED "FLYING UP."
FIRST THE FOLLOWING STORY IS TOLD:
ONCE THERE WAS AN OLD MAN AND HIS WIFE WHO LIVED ALONE IN
A HOUSE. ONE DAY WHEN THE OLD MAN AND WOMAN AWOKE THEY
FOUND OUT THAT THEIR HOUSE HAD BEEN CLEANED FOR THEM. THIS
HAPPENED MANY DAYS AND THEY CAME TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS THE
WORK OF SOME LITTLE ELVES OR BROWNIES.
THE GIRL WHO IS THEN "FLYING UP" STANDS. THE GIRL SCOUT
LEADER TWIRLS HER AROUND AND ON THE FLOOR IS A ROUND MIRROR.
THE GIRL IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND DISCOVER
WHO THE BROWNIES WERE WHO HELPED THE OLD MAN AND WOMAN.
THE LEADER TWIRLS HER THREE TIMES AND ASKS "WHO DO YOU SEE?"
THE GIRL LOOKS IN THE MIRROR AND SAYS "MYSELF." SHE THEN
GETS HER GIRL SCOUT PIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 02-10-1970