among those who heard the story of what florence nightingale and her brave nurses did for the soldiers, was henri du-nant, a kind-hearted swiss gentleman.
he remembered it several years afterward when he was present at a terrible battle between the soldiers of austria and those of france and sardinia. he saw thousands of wounded soldiers dying almost without help.
in a book which he wrote about their sufferings, he asked the question, “why could not the people of all countries make plans to care for the sick and wounded during wars?”
and from his question came the great red cross work in which we all have a part.
the red cross is more wonderful than any war, for it comes from the kindness in people’s thoughts.
we hope that long years from now there will be no war.
but we cannot expect to have wars cease until the people, and not the kings, of the great countries of the world make their own laws.
henri dunant and florence nightingale were like the children of to-day when they were little.[220] they liked to play the same kinds of games that you do.
when florence played nurse with her dolls she did not dream of the great good she would do for the whole world.
it may be that some of the boys and girls who are now reading this story will be like henri dunant and florence nightingale, and will grow up to do great and noble work for others.
questions
i
what do you think of people who help other people in trouble?
what do you think of people who do not help people who are in need of help?
do you realize that the work of the red cross is entirely the helping of people who need help?
did a good neighbor ever come to your house and help your people in time of illness or trouble?
you would be glad to help other people in just some such way, wouldn’t you?
are you not glad that the junior red cross gives you a chance to pass such kindness along?
ii
mention some of the good deeds which you know the junior red cross has done.
[221]
have you ever sold red cross christmas seals? what does the red cross do with the money made from the sale of christmas seals?
how old is the junior red cross?
it is a pretty young baby to have accomplished so much, isn’t it? but do you know how fast it has grown?
when you see a person wearing a red cross button, you know many things about that person.
here are a few of the things that are shown:
1. kindness. 2. helpfulness. 3. love of one’s country.
can you name others?
