The Story of My ChildhoodClara Barton, the popular name of Clarissa Harlowe Barton (1821-1912), is best known as the founder of the American Red Cross. She worked as a schoolteacher from 1836 to 1854 and later as a copyist in the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, DC. During the American Civil War, she organized relief for wounded soldiers and became known as the "Angel of the Battlefield." She later worked for the International Red Cross during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. She established the U.S. branch of the Red Cross in 1881, and served as the organization's president from 1881 to 1904. Barton wrote The Story of My Childhood in retirement at her home in Glen Echo, Maryland. Her purpose in writing the book, she explained in the preface, was to respond to requests from children who were studying her in their American history classes at school and wanted to know more about her life and career. The book recounts her life growing up on a farm in Oxford, Massachusetts, as the youngest of ten children and recalls two formative experiences that shaped her later work: nursing her brother David back to health after he was seriously injured in an accident, and becoming an elementary-school teacher at age 17. |
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Arabian Nights Artichoke asked baby barn beautiful became blessed blood boys brother Stephen Burleigh Button called casionally child CHILDHOOD CLARA BARTON colonel colts commenced creasing David DAVID BARTON dressing ducks early earnest entire equestrian factory faithful farm father fear feet fell fever foot four lads French River gave gift giving trouble hands Hill hope horse instruction knee knew known later learn to dance length limp lisp listened little girl little pond looked looms miles morning moth mother never night North Oxford occasion Oxford Plain patient permitted physician playmates power looms pupil putty recall remember ride Samuel Parsons seated seemed seen sister skate spell stood stranger studies summer tain taught teach teacher thing thought timid tion took town unac Vassall violin watched winter term wondered wounded knees young younger
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Page 22 - I never addressed a colonel as captain, got my cavalry on foot or mounted my infantry" — information to come in handy in Civil and Spanish-American War days. Home instruction did not stand in the way of "regular school" of two terms each year of three months each. When Clara was n, David fell from the roof at a "barn raising" and was ill for two years. His favorite sister, Clara, became...
Page 19 - ... cling fast to the mane," gallop away over field and fen, in and out among the other colts in wild glee like ourselves. They were merry rides we took. This was my riding school. I never had any other, but it served me well. To this day my seat on a saddle or on the back of a horse is as secure and tireless as in a rocking chair, and far more pleasurable.
Page 20 - ... and far more pleasurable. Sometimes, in later years, when I found myself suddenly on a strange horse in a trooper's saddle, flying for life or liberty in front of pursuit, I blessed the baby lessons of the wild gallops among the beautiful colts.
Page 113 - The sensitive nature will always remain," was his reply, "she will never assert herself for herself, she will suffer wrong first, but for others she will be perfectly fearless. Throw responsibility upon her, give her a school to teach.
Page 15 - I was not constructed that way, as in the earlier years of my life I remember nothing but fear.
Page 47 - I would rather stand behind the lines of artillery at Antietam, or cross the pontoon bridge under fire at Fredericksburg, than to be expected to preside at a public meeting.
Page 19 - ... hand, throw me upon the back of one colt, spring upon the other himself, and catching me by one foot, and bidding me "cling fast to the mane...
Page 5 - Highness to the same, dated Warwick House. My dear Miss Mercer brought me word of your return to [ ], dear [ ], and I write to ask you to be so kind as to do me the favour of coming to see me any day this week, from one till five, when you will be sure to find me at home in my own sitting-room. I wish very much to have the pleasure of seeing you again, and I also wish you to look at and give me your opinion of a portrait Hayter has been painting of...
Page 94 - I recall vividly the half impatient frown on his fine face when he would see me do an awkward thing, however trivial. He detested false motions ; wanted the thing done rightly the first time. If I started to go somewhere, go, and not turn back; if to do something, do it. I must throw a ball or a stone with an under swing like a boy and not a girl, and must make it go where I sent it, and not fall at my feet and foolishly laugh at it. If I would drive a nail, strike it fairly on the head every time,...
Page 21 - ... became my instructor in military and political lore. I listened breathlessly to his war stories. Illustrations were called for, and we made battles and fought them. Every shade of military etiquette was regarded. Generals, colonels, captains and sergeants were given their proper place and rank. So with the political world; the president, cabinet and leading officers of the government were learned by heart, and nothing gratified the keen humor...