When she was only seven years old Clara Barton knew a great deal about fighting Indians. Why shouldn't she? Her father, Captain Stephen Barton, had fought with General William Henry Harrison in his campaign against Tecumseh. Captain Barton delighted to tell his youngest daughter exciting stories of the Indian war. It was an excellent way to teach her history and geography. Little Clara loved it.

She had lots of teachers. Besides her father, there were her two sisters Sally and Dorothy, and her brother Stephen, all of whom were real teachers, and of course there was her mother. Her brother David romped with her outdoors and taught her to ride like a boy.

Clara had few playmates of her own age, but she loved animals and had a wonderful way with them, especially when they were ill or hurt. At one time she was taking care of every lame dog and sick cat in the neighborhood—and curing them, too.

Before she was eleven she had a chance to try her nursing skill with a human patient. She was just as successful. You begin to see why, many years later in the Civil War, she could quiet wounded soldiers and ease their suffering.

As a little girl she was excessively shy and timid with strangers, especially with other children. Though she was brave about riding horseback and a tomboy at games, she could not...

From the dust jacket