貝登堡最後的書信
Baden-Powell's papers

Dear Scouts,

If you have ever seen the play "Peter Pan" you will remember how the pirate chief was always making his dying speech because he was afraid that possibly when the time came for him to die he might not have time to get it off his chest. It is much the same with me, and so, although I am not at this moment dying, I shall be doing so one of these days and I want to send you a parting word of good-bye.

Remember, it is the last you will hear from me, so think it over.

I have had a most happy life and I want each one of you to have as happy a life too.

I believe that God put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness doesn't come from being rich, nor merely from being successful in your career, nor by self-indulgence. One step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you a boy, so that you can be useful and so can enjoy life when you are a man.

Nature study will show you how full of beautiful and wonderful things God has made the world for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one.

But the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try to leave this world a little better than you found it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best. "Be Prepared" in this way, to live happy and to die happy-stick to your Scout Promise always-even after you have ceased to be a boy-and God help you to it.

P.S.
Found among Baden-Powell's papers after his death, January 8th, 1941

中文譯本

親愛的童軍們：

    如果你們曾經看過「小飛俠」的話，你們會記得那個鐵鉤船長因害怕自己會死去而經常準備他的遺言，當死亡來臨到他身上時，他可能沒有足夠的時間去講出心中所有的說話。這情形和我差不多，所以，雖然我現在不是在離別的那一刻，但我仍會預備一份在那一日向你們說再現和告別的說話。

    記著，這是你們最後一次可聽到我的說話了，所以請仔細想一想吧。我擁有了最開心愉快的生活，我也希望你們每一位都是這樣。

    我相信神將我們安置在這個愉快的世上是要我們開心和享受生活。開心並非由富有帶來的，也不是單單事業成功又或者放縱的生活可帶來的。向開心跨出一步就是要在你是一個男孩子時讓自己生活得健康和保持身體的強壯，那麼到你成長後你就可成為一個有用的人而你也可享受你的人生了。

    觀察大自然會向你們顯現出神創造這個充滿了美麗和奇妙東西的世界去讓我們去享受。要滿足你所擁有的和好好地運用它。凡事不要看灰暗的一面，而是看它光明的一面。

    但得到開心的真正方法是要將開心送給其他人。試一試讓這個世界和你周圍的東西變得比你來臨時更好一點點，那當你走到人生盡頭時，你可以感覺到你並沒有浪費你的時間而且你也已經做到最好了，那時你就可以開心地離開了。隨時"準備"自己，要生活得開心和離開得開心──要謹守你們的童軍誓詞-- 就算你已不再是一個男孩子──神會幫助你去做的。

你們的朋友      
貝登堡

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