The American nation will come into its own, as did respectively two great nations of Europe, when she wipes out from the scroll of history its foulest blot,—by giving national recognition to a national heroine; the American Red Cross will come into its own when it shall repossess the name Clara Barton; the American people will come into their own when they patriotically recognize, and sacredly cherish, that immortal Mother-Spirit which, after a half century of heroic sacrifices in the war of human woes, passed triumphant through the archway ’twixt earth and heaven. If these pen pictures give to the boys and girls of America inspiration to loftier patriotism and higher ideals in achievement; if truth in the biography give renewed impulse to American Red Cross philanthropy; if through this volume immortal deeds, and a name unsullied, be treasured for world-humanity then Clara Barton’s dying message to the author shall not have been in vain. [Illustration: CHARLES SUMNER YOUNG ] The only picture of myself that I have cared anything about at all is the one taken at the time of the Civil War (1865), in which I am represented in the uniform of a nurse. If my friends had let me have my way, I would never have had another picture taken. (_Frontispiece_) CLARA BARTON. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I Babyhood Impressions 21 II School—Childish Memories—Military 24 III On Her Favorite Black Horse 28 IV Phrenology—Read Her Characteristics—Basis of Friendship 30 V “Spontaneous Combustion” Laid to Clara Barton 34 VI Christmas—a Christmas Carol 36 VII “Button”—“Billy”—Clara Barton Ownership 38 VIII Pauper Schools; from Six to Six Hundred 43 IX Child Love—Joe and Charlie—Appreciation 45 X Temperance—Clara Barton and the Hired Man—Stranger than Fiction 48 XI Looking for a Job—Equal Suffrage 51 XII Credulous Ox—Innocent Child—Clara Barton, a Vegetarian 55 XIII Fell Dead on the Ground beside Her 57 XIV Wickedness of War—Settles no Disputes 59 XV Her Wardrobe in a Handkerchief—The Battle Scene 63 XVI The Bravery of Women—Clara Barton’s Bravest Act 66 XVII Yes, and Got Euchred 69 XVIII To Dream of Home and Mother 71 XIX Tribute of Love and Devotion 74