(原版)澳大利亚语文第三册 LESSON 25
LESSON 25 FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE
1. Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, a city of Italy, in the year 1820. Her father was a rich man, who owned a fine estate [1] in Hampshire; and he was careful to have his little girl well taught. Florence was clever and bright, and learnt. her lessons well.
2. From childhood she was good and kind to the poor people who lived near her English home. At an early age she began to read about diseases of the body; for she wished to help those who were ill, and had not so many comforts as she had.
3. Her first patient was a dog. His name was Cap, and he was a good collie, who helped a shepherd to bring in his sheep. One day Cap was hurt, and the shepherd feared that the poor dog's leg was broken, and that he would have to be killed.
4. When Florence heard this, she went to the shepherd's cottage with a friend, and asked to see the dog. Poor Cap seemed to be in great pain. She knelt down and patted him, while her friend looked at his leg. He knew a good deal about dogs; so he was able to tell her that the bone was not broken, and that, with care and rest, Cap would soon be quite well again.
HER FIRST PATIENT WAS A DOG.
5. As the dog still seemed in much pain, Florence asked what could be done to ease him. "Bathe the leg with hot water," said her friend; and at once Florence put a kettle on the fire, and when the water was hot, she bathed poor Cap's leg.
6. This gave the dog so much ease from pain, that in a very short time he was licking her hands, and wagging his tail, which, of course, was his way of saying "Thank you."
7. When she was older, Florence took a great interest in hospitals. She was not content with seeing how such places were managed in England; so she went abroad, and for some time worked in a hospital in Germany.
8. After that, the great war between England and Russia broke out in 1854, and thousands of our soldiers lay sick, wounded, and uncared for. Florence Nightingale took out a band of brave women to nurse the soldiers. Many of the men never spoke of her without a prayer for her and for the good work she did.
9. Night after night she passed through the wards [2] , carrying a lamp in her hand. She spoke a kind word to one, eased a bandage for another, and cheered others who were sad. One dying boy, it is said, wanted to see her pass, so that he might be able to kiss her shadow, as it moved across his pillow.
10. When the war was over, the people made her a present of a very large sum of money; but all of this she gave away, to found the "Nightingale Home" for the training of nurses. Although often ill herself, she always did what she could to help the sick and suffering, and won the respect [3] and love of all by her noble work.
11. Queen Victoria thought so much of Florence Nightingale that she wrote herself to thank her. In 1908 King Edward sent her the Order of Merit. This high honour comes only to a few men and women who have done some very great work; and Florence Nightingale was the first woman to receive it. She died in 1910, full of years and honour.
A lady with a lamp shall stand In the great history of the land.
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[1] estate: Landed property.
[2] wards: Rooms in a hospital.
[3] respect: Good wishes; regard.
