The Glasgow courier., 1918-05-31

sion Of shells, combined to turn their
expected night of ease into one Of la
Dor. Into this happy home scene
burst Red Cross doctor. 1--WE must
get out at once he cried. The Ger
mans are breaking through
"The girls jumped to their feet.
They were angry. Try to spring
something startling on your wife or
sister when she is drying her hair,
and you'll see. "'And what's to be-
come of our wounded?' Indignantly
asked the Maid of Pervyse, though
she was not called that till later.
We'll get out those we can; others
we must leave" replied the doctor.
Hustle! Hurry!'
"'We'll leave none," responded the
Maid, still angry. Where are our
men?'
"They are being thrust back. Come
grab what you can and rum
"'Me run!' gasped the Maid, per-
fectly regardless Of her pronouns. III
teach these Germans. Come along,
Min,' and out she ran to the hospital,
without waiting for Min, who couldn't t
make up her mind to do. You know
how Red Cross nurses look up to doc
tors as the center of knowledge.
"The Maid did not know that Min
was not following. Arrived at the tent
she snatched up a convenient sword
and revolver and ran out into the road.
The night was not dark and when our
retreating men beheld slender figure
clothed in pajamas, slippers, with hair
floating around her shoulders, sword
in one hand and a revolver in the
other, barring their way, they forgot
their hurry and stopped to stare.
"Where are you big lubbers going ?
she yelled. Don't you know we have
a hospital full Of wounded here?
the mercies Of the Boches? Shame on
you! About face and drive those
Fritzies back!"
Somebody wanted to argue, to ex.
plain, but she tore at him and gave
him a wallop with the fiat end of the
sword. I'll give you the edge next,
she yelled. Now you boys turn about
and do your duty!'
"No, the Maid didn't faint. It was
all part of days work. She finished
drying her hair, scolded Min, and
they had q good nights rest. But the
Maid of Pervyse became famous in
the army though l never heard that
she was mentioned in general ORDERS
The little anecdote brought about q
better feeling and everybody Joined
in to enlighten the newcomer on the
grand and noble and self-sacrificing
generous, untiring and unselfish work
Of the Red Cross doctors, druggists
stretcher bearers, ambulance drivers
and-God bless 'em-the nurses
Flirt? Yes-with death. Gossip with
the wounded? Yes-about their
homes, their sweethearts, their moth
ers, anything to lessen the pain OF
wounds or to smooth the last hours.
The French officers whose mothers
and wives and sisters had entered the
Red Cross service at the outset of the
war, told him how these gentle and re.
fined women had borne the shock OF
the first sight of bloody and mangled
men brought into their hospitals, and
how hard it was for them to stand up
under this terrific strain until they
became somewhat accustomed to the
grewsomeness of their tasks. The
Belgian told how his own beloved
queen had assembled her women and
led them in the task of women in the
war. The Englishman told stories OF
the individual bravery Of his own
countrywomen, and how at last, his
government had begun to confer wal
medals upon them. And the Ameri'
cans had as much to say of their vol
unteers, and how many more were to
came, and more after that.
Then we all went back to the Off.
GERS hall, the shells were falling
thicker and faster, and drank stand.
ing toast to the Red Cross, to the
Maid of Pervyse, and to all good wo'
men.