Part 3
Lo! The Christmas morn is breaking, Bring the angels bright array, For the Christian world is waking, And the Lord is born to-day. Shout then, brothers; shout and pray, For the blessed Lord is born to-day.
No more tears and pain and sorrow, Hark! I hear the angels say Blessed be the bright to-morrow, For the Lord is born to-day. Shout then, sisters; shout and pray, For the blessed Lord is born to-day.
Forget your night of sad disaster, Cast your burdens all away, Wait the coming of the Master, For the Lord is born to-day. Shout then, children; shout and pray, For the blessed Lord is born to-day.
In the sunlight, soft and golden, Round the babe the angels play; List, their notes so grand and olden, Lo! The Lord is born to-day. Shout, all people; shout and pray, For the blessed Lord is born to-day.
VII
The life of Clara Barton should be familiarized to every child.
Woonsocket (R. I.) _Call._
Learning to ride, Clara, is just learning a horse.
BROTHER DAVID (“Buffalo Bill”) in 1826.
How can I learn a horse, David? SISTER CLARA.
Catch hold of his mane, baby, and just feel the horse a part of yourself—the big half of the task being.
BROTHER DAVID. _Heroines of Service._
Love me, love my dog. HEYWARD’S PROVERBS.
The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, and the one that never proves ungrateful, or traitorous, is his dog. SENATOR VEST.
We are two travellers, Roger and I—Roger’s my dog—so fond, so unselfish, so forgiving. JOHN TOWNSEND TROWBRIDGE.
I have seen many friends in my travels, Some friends whom the world would call game, But the friendship of my old dog Roger Would put all the others to shame. WILLIAM DEVERE.
I would rather be a dog and bay at the moon Than such a Roman. JULIUS CAESAR.
Every dog has his day, why not I? Dogs are very much like people— I am Preacher Smith’s dog, whose dog are you? ABBIE N. SMITH, “_Bobtail Dixie_.”
A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse! SHAKESPEARE.
O for a horse with wings. CYMBELINE.
Champing his foam, and bounding o’er the plain, Arch his high neck and graceful spread his mane. SIR R. BLACKMORE.
A good rider on a good horse is as much above himself and others as the world can make him. LORD HERBERT.
I die,—but first have possessed And come what may, I _have been blessed_. BYRON.
Aspiration sees only one side of every question; possession, many.
LOWELL.
How senseless is the love of wealth and treasure. GUARINI.
Remember not one penny can we take with us into the unknown land. SENECA.
“BUTTON”—“BILLY”—CLARA BARTON OWNERSHIP
A dog is a real philanthropist, his whole existence is living for others. The best “war-scout” known is the Red Cross dog, wearing the insignia. In a dog Miss Barton found a congenial spirit. Her first ownership was a dog, and known by the name of “Button.” He was medium-sized, very white, with silky ears, sparkling black eyes, and a very short tail. “Button” was Clara Barton’s guardian in the cradle, her playmate in childhood.
Some little dogs are very good, And very useful too:—
“Button” would try to pick her up when she fell down, sympathize with her in her troubles,—ever unselfish, helpful, loyal.
Clara Barton’s second individual ownership was “Billy.” “Billy” was a horse. She said he was high stepping; in color, brown; of Morgan ancestry, with glossy coat, slim legs, pointed ears, long black mane and tail, and weighing nearly nine hundred pounds.
Ownership endowed “Billy” with wonderful characteristics. He could trot, rack, pace, single-foot,—a Bucephalus worthy of world fame. “Like beads upon a rosary” she would count and recount the joys of memory, memory of her saddle horse, and she on his back, riding like mad, at ten years of age. He had many characteristics, doubtless, that she didn’t recount. As a horse is known to be “a vain thing for safety” “Billy” could probably run away, get frightened at a shadow, senselessly “kick up” and “smash-up,” as do other horses. But fun is in the danger; the greater the danger to life and limb the greater the fun. “Billy” would not stand over her to guard her, nor help her up when she fell down, but was useful and gave her pleasure. “The true, living love is love of soul for soul,” hence mankind loves, in return for love, only what gives love; but mankind also pretends to love what it can force to serve man’s purpose. The dog spirit and the horse spirit satisfy the longings of human nature—all the world loves a dog and assumes to love a horse.
In hearing of the cannon’s roar one afternoon, an officer galloped up asking, “Miss Barton, can you ride?” “Yes sir.” “But you have no saddle—could you ride mine?” “Yes sir, or without it, if you have blanket and surcingle.” “Then you can risk an hour.” An hour later the officer returned at breakneck speed—and leaping from his horse said: “Now is your time Miss Barton; the enemy is already breaking over the hills.”
Oh! not all the pleasures that poets may praise,— Not the wildering waltz in the ballrooms blaze, Nor the chivalrous joust, nor the daring race, Nor the swift regatta, nor the merry chase, Nor the sail heaving waters o’er, Nor the rural dance on the moonlight shore,— Can the wild and fearless joy exceed Of a fearless leap on a fiery steed.
Romance enters into ownership of pet animals. Probably “Button” was _just_ a dog and “Billy” _only_ a horse. But one has said that the right of ownership is the cornerstone of civilization. Ownership of what is worthy of love at least enriches character—contributes to the happiness of human existence. If the Father of his Country was right, that the object of all government is the happiness of the people, then the love of animals serves a very high purpose.
With the first “gold dust” suddenly acquired, an illiterate Western miner built on the desert a stone mansion. He ornamented it with gold door knobs door hinges of silver—the doors opening but to golden keys.
Yet some there be that by due steps aspire To lay their just hands on that golden key, That opes the palace to eternity,— To such my errand is:—
Where human beings throng, and men and women suffer, Clara Barton built a structure and ornamented it with a RED CROSS on a white ground—the emblem of service to the suffering. With unusual earning capacity for seventy-five years, and at all times practicing greatest economy, Clara Barton’s ownership at her passing was but $21,000. The Glen Echo Red Cross home that had been used, free of cost to the RED CROSS, was valued at $5,000. While the owner lived she continued to keep it as a charity center—a home for the homeless and indigent—ex-soldiers, civilians, children.
In her closing years she had, therefore, for her own personal and exclusive use in money and realty, not to exceed $21,000. This was nine thousand dollars less than the value of her property when she first became interested in Red Cross work. “Mere money,” she said, “never separates me from my friends. I don’t care for money; I wish only not to become an object of charity, and to be a burden to my friends when I am unable to work for others.”
VIII
Every child in the country has known of Clara Barton.
Oakland (Calif.) _Tribune_.
Pestalozzi was the Father of the Public School; Washington the Father of his Country; Lincoln, the Father of a Race; Clara Barton, the Mother of the Red Cross. THE AUTHOR.
The building which housed Clara Barton in her efforts for popular education is still standing along with other historic landmarks.
Bordentown (N. J.) _Register_.
If you will let me try, I will teach the children free for six months. CLARA BARTON.
I thank God that we have no free schools—in the colony—and I hope we shall not have these hundred years.
GOVERNOR BERKELEY of Virginia in 1670.
The first incorporation to provide free schools, under the provisions of the State, was passed in New York in 1805.
THE MODERN SCHOOL SYSTEM.
The basis of free government is in education; in a republic the hope of the millions is the free public school.
THE TWO REPUBLICS.
The hope of all modern civilization is the public free school.
ANCIENT SCHOOL SYSTEMS.
I taught in an uninclosed shed at North Oxford, there being no house for that purpose. CLARA BARTON.
The first meetings for the establishment of a kindergarten system at Washington was held at the Clara Barton home, in Washington; among others present Phoebe Hearst and Mrs. Grover Cleveland, wife of the President, the chairman. THE AUTHOR.
Let us live in our children. FREDERICK FROEBEL.
PAUPER SCHOOLS; FROM SIX TO SIX HUNDRED
New Jersey had no public schools. The people said they were not paupers and would not have their children taught at public expense—would not send them to “pauper schools.” In New Jersey Clara Barton opened, for the first time, what was called a “free school for paupers.” Since those puritan days, what a change in public sentiment! Then it was “Pauper school” education; now
Free education is the poor man’s marble staircase that leads upward, and into, the palaces of wealth, health and happiness.
Clara Barton was told that a public school was impossible; every time it had been tried, it had failed. At Bordentown she found herself with six bright boys, and the public school[2] commenced. At the end of twelve months her six pupils had grown to six hundred pupils—among whom no corporal punishment had been administered.
Footnote 2:
The School Building, erected in 1837. School taught by Clara Barton, in 1853. Building and site the property of New Jersey, purchased through contributions by teachers and pupils. Building dedicated June 11, 1921, and now known as The Clara Barton Memorial School but used as a Clara Barton Museum.
“Pauper schools” became thence in fact the free public school; now the free public school is the one institution from whose flagstaff freedom’s flag is never hauled down.
IX
Clara Barton taught the rich to be unselfish and the strong to be gentle. CHARLES E. TOWNSEND, U. S. Senate.
Her voice was soft, Gentle and low; an excellent thing in woman. SHAKESPEARE.
Miss Barton was a soft-voiced, retiring little woman, yet she had a way of approaching her work in a most telling manner.
Buffalo (N. Y.) _Express_.
Miss Barton followed her own light with steadfast steps.
Springfield (Mass.) _Republican_.
Clara Barton—a model of the beautiful simplicity of a life given to others. Bridgeport (Conn.) _Standard_.
The severest test of discipline is its absence. CLARA BARTON.
Social, friendly and human, Clara Barton joined with the children in the playgrounds;—instead of being locked out as the previous teachers had been she “locked” herself “in” the hearts of every boy and girl. _The Life of Clara Barton_, by Epler.
Show me a child well disciplined, perfectly governed at home, and I will show you a child that never breaks a rule at school.
CLARA BARTON.
Whenever corporal punishment is inflicted on a pupil it is a sign of negligence and indolence on the part of the teacher, says Seneca.
ANCIENT SCHOOL SYSTEMS.
In refinement of taste and beauty of action, or purity of thought and delicacy of expression, nature’s own best teacher is woman.
THE MODERN SCHOOL SYSTEM.
CHILD LOVE—JOE AND CHARLIE—APPRECIATION
To the child nothing is small; nor does the child forget. Whatever kindness comes to the child is stored in one of the cells of the brain for future years. As an heirloom, the longer it is possessed the more it is cherished.
Referring to her teacher of long ago, Dr. Eleanor Burnside recently related this incident in her school life: “I recall when a little girl in her school Clara Barton’s friendly interest in the progress of her pupils; unvarying patience, no matter what the circumstances might be. I do not think she knew how to scold, nor were scoldings and other manifestations of ill temper necessary. Her quiet, firm word, pleasantly expressed, seemed sufficient always.”
Speak gently; it is better far To rule by love than fear—
Speak gently; ’tis a little thing Dropped in the heart’s deep well; The good, the joy, which it may bring, Eternity shall tell.
Not easily disturbed, Miss Barton did not notice little misdemeanors by the children at all. She seemed not to observe one day when some fun was started by a boy sitting back of Joe Davis. The mischievous boy was putting his finger in Joe’s red hair and pretending his finger was burnt. Of course it amused the children, but only for a moment. To govern too much is worse than to govern too little. This was an incident merely of a child’s humor, requiring no reprimand. “But no matter what happened, Clara Barton did not scold. Her pupils loved her and that made what she did, and what she said too, right.”
The old desk used by Clara Barton recently has been found in possession of one of the old families at Bordentown, New Jersey. By tracing back the ownership it has been proved conclusively to be the original desk used by Miss Barton. The desk refuted the libel that she was a disciplinarian, and not a humanitarian. The libel referred to was that she had a particularly unruly boy; that she seized him by the nape of the neck, lifted the lid of the desk and dropped him inside. Now that the desk has been discovered, her admirers point to the interesting fact that it doesn’t have a top lid; it has a small drawer.
Childhood is ever of the living present. Up the stream of time the eye keeps fixed on memory’s treasures of youth. In one of the battles of the Civil War, Clara Barton stooped down to place the empty sleeve, then useless to the bullet-shattered right arm, over the shoulder of a soldier boy. Recognizing the face of his former teacher the fair-haired lad dropped his face into the folds of her dress, then threw his left arm around her neck, in deepest grief, crying: “Why, Miss Barton, don’t you know me? I am Charlie Hamilton who used to carry your satchel to school.”
X
Like a patriotic soldier Clara Barton responded in the youth of her womanhood to the call of service to others.
York (Pa.) _Gazette_.
Clara Barton is one of the greatest heroic figures of her time.
_Buffalo Press._
Clara Barton—our greatest national heroine. _Literary Digest._
We reckon heroism today, not so much on account of the thing done as the motive behind the act. CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW.
Yes, it is over. The calls are answered, the marches have ended, the nation saved. CLARA BARTON.
The best blood of America has flowed like water.
CLARA BARTON.
The soldier is lost in the citizen. CLARA BARTON.
The proudest of America’s sons have struggled for the honors of a soldier’s name. CLARA BARTON.
Their glory, bright as it shone in war, is out-lustered by the nobleness of their lives in peace. CLARA BARTON.
I shall never take to myself more honesty of purpose, faithfulness of zeal, nor patriotism, than I award to another. CLARA BARTON.
What can be added to the glory of a nation whose citizens are its soldiers? Whose warriors, armed and mighty,—spring from its bosom in the hour of need, and peacefully retire when the need is over. CLARA BARTON.
I have taught myself to look upon the government as the band which the people bind around a bundle of sticks to hold it firm, where every patriot must grapple the knot tighter.
CLARA BARTON.
If our government be too weak to act vigorously and energetically, strengthen it till it can act; then comes the peace we all wait for, as kings and prophets waited—and without which like them we seek and never find. CLARA BARTON.
Henry Wilson worked on a farm at six dollars per month. Then he tied up his scanty wardrobe in a pocket handkerchief, and walked to Natick, Massachusetts, more than one hundred miles, to become a cobbler. The trip cost him but $1.88.
HENRY MAKEPEACE THAYER.
I am the son of a hireling manual laborer who, with the frosts of seventy winters on his head, lives by daily labor. I too lived by daily labor. HENRY WILSON.
Henry Wilson, born in New Hampshire, February 16, 1812; elected to U. S. Senate, 1855; elected Vice-President, 1872; died November 22, 1875. THE AUTHOR.
We should yield nothing to our principles of right.
HENRY WILSON.
The sorrows of drunkenness glare on us from the cradle to the grave. HENRY WILSON.
I would not have upon my soul the consciousness that I had by precept or example lured any young man to drunkenness for all the honors of the universe. HENRY WILSON.
Clara Barton’s never-failing friend, Senator Henry Wilson.
PERCY H. EPLER.
TEMPERANCE—CLARA BARTON AND THE HIRED MAN—STRANGER THAN FICTION
Way back in 1857 in Worcester, Massachusetts, Clara Barton showed her humanitarian spirit and organization ability. Under the Reverend Horace James, she assisted in the organization of the Band of Hope,[3] a society originating in Scotland whose object was: “To Promote the Cause of Temperance and Good Morals of the Children and Youth.”
Footnote 3:
First Temperance Society organized in America, in 1789; First National Temperance Convention, in 1833; a “temperance revolution” urged, in 1842, by Abraham Lincoln; Women’s Christian Temperance Union organized in 1874; National Prohibition went into effect January 16, 1920.
On the breaking out of the Civil War, the Reverend James became Chaplain of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Regiment, and two of the boys that Clara Barton induced to join the society became officers of the Fifty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment. One was Colonel J. Brainard Hall and the other Captain George E. Barton. At the Battle of the Wilderness the Colonel Hall referred to was seriously, then thought to be fatally, wounded. Clara Barton was the first at his side to nurse, and to care for, him. As soon as he was able to be moved, she sent him to Washington to be cared for there by one whom she told him was her very dear friend. Stranger than fiction, on reaching Washington, Colonel Hall discovered this friend to be the “Hired Man,” previous to 1839, who worked in his grandmother’s shoe-shop,—the late Henry Wilson, Vice-President of the United States.
XI
Every woman who loves her country and who realizes what true patriotism means will always revere the name of Clara Barton, and connect it with the highest ideal of service to one’s country. DR. ANNA H. SHAW _President American Woman Suffrage Association_.
Clara Barton has won the hearts of the women of the world. CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT, _President American Woman Suffrage Association_.
John Marshall, for thirty-five years Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court, held the female sex the equals of men.
JUSTICE JOSEPH STORY.
I had not learned to equip myself—for I was no Pallas ready armed but grew into my work by hard thinking and sad experience.
CLARA BARTON.
I am a woman and know what barriers oppose all womanly efforts. HARRIET G. HOSMER.
Clara Barton is the best clerk, either man or woman, I ever had in my office. MR. MASON, _Commissioner of Patents_.
It is less difficult for a woman to obtain celebrity by her genius than to be forgiven for it. BRISSOT.
Only the machinery and plans of Heaven move unerringly and we short-sighted mortals are, half our time, fain to complain of these. CLARA BARTON.
It is possible for the wisest even to build better than he knows.
CLARA BARTON.
Who furnished the Armies; who but the Mothers? Who reared the sons and taught them that liberty and their country was worth their blood? Who gave them up and wept their fall, nursed them in their suffering and mourned them, _dead_? CLARA BARTON.
There is none to give woman the right to govern herself, as men govern themselves by self-made and self-approved laws of the land.
CLARA BARTON.
Only the Great Jehovah can crown and anoint man for his work, and he reaches out and takes the crown and places it upon his head with his own hand. CLARA BARTON.
Whenever I have been urged as a petitioner to ask equal suffrage for women a kind of dazed, bewildered feeling comes over me.
CLARA BARTON.
In making an appeal to her soldiers for “votes for women” Clara Barton said: “When you were weak and I was strong, I toiled for you; now you are strong, and I am weak. Because of my work for you, I ask your aid; I ask the ballot for myself and my sex. As I stood by you, I pray you stand by me and mine.” THE AUTHOR.
Clara Barton advocated “Votes for Women” on the platform of the First National Suffrage Convention in this country.
Buffalo (New York) _Courier_.
LOOKING FOR A JOB—EQUAL SUFFRAGE
Among the ancients, controlling the certain affairs worthy of man, were many goddesses; of these, Venus, Ceres, Juno, Diana, Pomona, Minerva. Such man’s inherent respect for femininity that feminine names in classic days were given to temples of worship; to the continents, Europe, Asia, Africa, and later to America.[4] Feminine names with few exceptions, also, have been given to all countries,—“she” and not “he,” likewise the word used to identify great things mechanical and useful. Long and hard has been the contest for woman to achieve in fact what in spirit seemingly comports with womanhood. In this contest through the last half of the nineteenth, and the first half of the twentieth, century Clara Barton was conspicuous.
Footnote 4:
In 1507, by Martin Waldseemuller, the name of America was given to the then newly discovered continent.
HISTORIC IN EDUCATION
Bordentown, N. J.