One fall day in 1865 a thin, lively little girl started to school in Savannah, Georgia. The child had big dark eyes, and a pointed nose and chin. Most Savannah children were still thin and hungry-looking; they had nearly starved during the War between the States. The teacher knew all the old Savannah families, but she couldn't recognize this pupil. "What is your name, dear?" she asked.

"My real name, or my play name, or my Indian name?"

The little girl's real name was Juliette Gordon. She hated it. That name went with sewing, curtsies, polite behavior, afternoon tea with Grandma Gordon. When she was older it would go with dancing, ruffled dresses, earrings. Her big sister Nellie liked such things, but Juliette didn't want to be a lady.

As long as she could remember, her play name—her comfortable, everyday name—had been Daisy, though no one knew just why. That name went with good times, playhouses and pets, climbing trees, games with her sisters and brother and the little Gordon cousins.

Her Indian name Daisy had inherited from her great-grandmother, who as a child had been kidnapped and adopted by Indians. They had named her "Little-Ship-under-Full-Sail" because she always moved so quickly and busily. Daisy's Yankee grandfather, who was the Indian agent in Chicago, said Daisy was exactly like Little Ship. He called her that when he wasn't teasing her about being "a little Southern Rebel."

Daisy had dreaded growing up, but her first real party, on her thirteenth birthday, surprisingly proved that it might be fun. How amazed Savannah folk were when little tomboy Daisy grew into a beautiful Southern belle, married a handsome Englishman and became Juliette Low, a popular English hostess!

But the name of Juliette Low was to become famous for another reason. Her meeting with Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts, gave her an idea: to introduce Scouting for the girls of America. With her astonishing energy, Juliette Low promptly founded the Girl Scouts of America. She was the force that helped build their great organization, generous with her money, time and strength, and with the energy and the gay enthusiasm which all her childhood adventures had illustrated. Now more than a million Scouts and Brownies pay special tribute to her memory two days each year—on the Girl Scout Birthday in March and on the Founder's birthday, October 31.

Helen Boyd Higgins, author of Alec Hamilton: The Little Lion and Stephen Foster: Boy Minstrel, writes for the Childhood of Famous Americans series another entertaining story, about the little Southern girl who was to contribute so much to the welfare and happiness of American girls. Its amusing incidents and interesting, varied background reflect the arresting personality of an outstanding woman.

From the dust jacket