rs of
the Crimean War; but she was an English woman, my dear. The one I mean
is an American, and her name ought to go down in history with the
bravest of its patriots and the most honored of its benefactors. I
learned to know her first in that long siege at Strasburg. She nursed me
there, and I have followed her career with grateful interest ever since,
noting with admiration all that she has done for her country and
humanity the world over.

"If America ever writes a woman's name in her temple of fame (I say it
with uncovered head), that one should be the name of _Clara Barton_."

The old soldier lifted his hat as he spoke, and replaced it so solemnly
that Lloyd felt very uncomfortable, as if she were in some way to blame
for not knowing and admiring this Red Cross nurse of whom she had never
heard. Her face flushed, and much embarrassed, she drew the toe of her
slipper along Hero's back, answering, in an abused tone:

"But, Majah, how could I be expected to know anything about her? There
is nothing in ou' school-books, and nobody told me, and Papa Jack won't
let me read the newspapahs, they're so full of horrible murdahs and
things. So how could I evah find out? I couldn't learn _everything_ in
twelve yeahs, and that's all the longah I've lived."

The Major laughed. "Forgive me, little one!" he cried, seeing the
distress and embarrassment in her face. "A thousand pardons! The fault
is not yours, but your country's, that it has not taught its children to
honor its benefactor as she deserves. I am glad that it has been given
to me to tell you the story of one of the most beautiful things that
ever happened in Switzerland--the founding of the Red Cross. You will
remember it with greater interest, I am sure, because, while I talk, the
cross of the Swiss flag floats over us, and it was here in this old town
of Geneva the merciful work had its beginning."

Lloyd settled herself to listen, still stroking Hero's back with her
slipper toe.

"He was my friend, Henri Durant, and in the old days of chivalry they
would have made him knight for the noble thought that sprang to flower
in his heart and to fruitage in so worthy a deed. He was travelling in
Italy years ago, and happening to be near the place where the battle of
Solferino was fought, he was so touched by the sufferings of the wounded
that he stopped to help care for them in the hospitals. The sights he
saw there were horrible. The wounded men could not be cared fo