Clara Barton and the Red Cross
New Horizon Book 3 (S46) pg. 85-88
| Clara Barton and the Red Cross | |
|---|---|
| ? | |
| Details | |
| Word count | 503 |
| Book | New Horizon |
| Grade | 3 |
| Year | 1971 |
"Clara, what have you been doing today?" asked her father.
"Playing nurse," said the little girl. "Some of my dolls are ill, and some have broken their legs. I've been taking care of them."
"What a kind girl you are!" her father said and smiled.
"Oh, she's always playing nurse or something like that," her mother said, "and she enjoys it."
So, little Clara grew up in a home full of love. She had a smile for everyone. She was one of those who always thought about others.
One day, when she was thirty-nine, she came home with a sad heart. There was a war going on between the states. Americans were fighting among themselves. She wondered what to do about it. She wanted to help some way or other. There were few women who could help wounded soldiers. So she decided to work in a hospital. She became famous for her hospital work.
After the war, a woman came to see her.
"Miss Barton, you don't know who I am. But please help me if you can. My son didn't come home after the war. I don't know where he is or when he'll come back. I don't know who will help me find him, so I've come to you."
Clara Barton felt so sorry for her that she said, "I'll do my best to find your son." But she herself did not know how to begin. The woman told her that her son might be somewhere in the South. So Clara went to the South.
Finally she found that the boy was dead, and she went to the place where his grave was. She told the mother about it. In two years, she found the graves of twelve thousand dead soldiers.
After working so long and hard, Clara became so tired that she could not work any longer. So she went to Europe to rest for a while. But she was not free from the war there, either. A war was going on between Germany and France, and she was asking to build hospitals for both countries. She did fine work and was thanked by both countries.
During her stay in Europe, she heard about the Red Cross. It was trying to help wounded soldiers. She became interested in the work of the Red Cross, and began to attend its meetings.
At one of the meetings Clara Barton made a speech:
"I believe that the Red Cross is doing some wonderful work. I, too, have known war in America. War is certainly bad. In war people lose their families and their lives. But this sometimes happens even in peace. People will need help in time of natural disasters. They also need help when they're hungry or ill. We must help poor children and poor old people who have no homes. We mustn't forget anyone who may need help. Any person may need such help. Any time! Anywhere!"
Everyone was impressed. She was made the first president of the American Red Cross.
