HOW THE RED CROSS CAME TO BE

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 afterward¹ 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 dying² 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 cease³ 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 entirely⁴ the helping⁵ 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 accomplished⁶ 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?

1 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

2 dying   

adj.垂死的，临终的

参考例句：

• He was put in charge of the group by the dying leader.他被临终的领导人任命为集团负责人。
• She was shown into a small room,where there was a dying man.她被领进了一间小屋子，那里有一个垂死的人。

3 cease   

n.停止，终止；v.停止

参考例句：

• The two parties made a bargain to cease fire.双方达成了停火协议。
• You will never cease to learn as long as you live.活到老，学到老。

4 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。