Jane Eayre Fryer

“ THE RED CROSS FLAG
When we say we love our American flag, we mean that we love what our flag stands for. We mean that we love our people and the land on which we live.
But there is a flag which means that we love all people who need us as good neighbors, no matter where they live, no matter who they are.
May that flag some day fly in every country of the world to show that all boys and girls have learned to be Good Neighbors.
The Red Cross flag is the second flag of American citizens. Do you know how many members the American Red Cross would have, if every American citizen were a member? ”

“ They do not save little things. Few people stop to think how long it takes grains of wheat to grow into a loaf of bread. Did you ever think how hard somebody had to work to get the wheat grains ready to make the bread?”
“No,” acknowledged Robert, “I don’t believe I ever did.”
“If people did think, we should not be stuffed every day with bread enough to feed many a poor family.”
“Oh, not that much, surely?” questioned Robert in surprise.
“Yes, sir,” declared the garbage can, “that much. I ought to know! I have been a garbage can all my life.” ”

“ It is said that by street accidents alone in New York City one person is killed every 14 hours, and one person is injured every 23 minutes.
Would you give your eyes or your life for all the money in the world? One of your legs is worth a whole woodpile of crutches, isn’t it?
Two out of every three accidents can be prevented by Safety First; by keeping your eyes open and your wits about you. ”

“ The recent war was the greatest of all wars, not only because more men and nations were engaged in it than in any other war of history, but also because, as a result of it, people have seen a vision of a different kind of world from the world of the past, a world in which nations shall unite for purposes of peace and good will as they formerly united only for war against an armed foe. In working for the children of other nations you will come to understand them better and they will understand and appreciate you more. ”

“ He climbed the wall of the playground, and stood there all ready to open fire, when a voice startled him, a sort of shivering whisper. “Better not, Bob! better wait a bit!” said the voice.
Bob dropped the stone and looked about; but there was no one near him except the snowman shining weirdly in the pale moonlight. However, the words set Bob to thinking, and instead of breaking Mr. Gregor’s windows, he went home again and got into bed. ”

“ How does the Red Cross help the people whose homes have been destroyed by fire? Can you tell about the San Francisco earthquake in 1906?
The Explosion at Halifax in 1917.
Who were the first to send doctors and nurses, and medicine and food to the suffering people of Halifax?
Yes, the Red Cross. I think if the great Red Cross could be made into one picture it would be a picture of the good neighbor. The good neighbor takes what is needed to a neighbor who is hurt, or sick, or in need, and stays to do what can be done for the sufferer. ”

“ This is the trap they laid for Daniel. They went to the king and said:
“King Darius, live forever. All the nobles and princes of the kingdom desire to pass a law that whoever shall pray to any god or man for thirty days, save to thee, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions. Now, O king, sign the writing that it be not changed, according to the laws of Babylon which alter not.” ”

“ Jack knew the man in the car—one of his heroes, the battalion chief. Right behind came engine number 29, smoking and puffing, and hosecart number 21, and ladder-truck number 12, crowded with men. The clanging gongs echoing through the quiet street sounded like sweet music to the anxious boy. ”

“ If there were but ten thousand boxes of matches in our country, think how careful we would be not to waste one match. But few people think about so simple a matter. Yet matches are made from wood; and forests have to be cut down to make the matches we use.
Old rags and old rubber do not seem to be of any value; yet in every city there are men who grow rich by collecting them.
In some schools the children bring old newspapers on a certain day, and you would be surprised to learn how much money one school made in this way for new playground games. That was thrift. ”

“ If this city is our home, we should keep the streets clean; for the streets are like the hallways of the home, and everyone likes to have a clean home.
Every time we go to school, to the store, to church or Sunday-school, or out to play, we go on the street. The streets are as important as the houses. ”

“ February third has recently been set aside in many places as Thrift Day.
Thrift means wise management.
A thrifty person never wastes what could be saved by thoughtfulness.
A thrifty person is one who does not waste anything, but gets the full value of everything.
A thrifty person sets traps to catch the waste, and changes it into things worth having.
Those who know, say that American people are the most wasteful of all people in the world.
They tell us that we waste money, food, forests, time, energy, and thousands of the little daily supplies which we might save. ”

“ I try to carry you and your burdens without a murmur, and wait patiently for you during long hours of the day and night. Without the power to choose my shoes or path, I sometimes fall on the hard pavements, and I must be ready at any moment to lose my life in your service. ”

“ Our policeman.
Who turns in the fire alarm
Soon as the fire is sighted?
Sees that no one comes to harm,
And many wrongs are righted?
Our policeman.
Who patrols his daily beat,
Our friend so true and steady?
Guards the children on the street,
A soldier ever ready?
Our policeman.
—J. E. F.
[Pg 126] WHAT THE POLICEMAN DOES FOR US
The policeman protects our homes from danger.
He is a soldier of peace, a home-guard, always on duty day and night to guard the peace and safety of the families in his care. He often risks his life, and sometimes loses it, in performing his duty. ”

“ People who save money always have money to spend.
The spending of money is quite as important as the saving of it. Money should be spent for food to nourish our bodies, for garments to clothe them, and for houses to protect them. ”

“ To-day it is a common sight to see the street cleaners. Many men are at work from sunrise to sunset, cleaning away the dirt and helping to make our city healthful and pleasant to live in.
From whom does the money come to pay these men? It is not from the mayor or those who are in charge of the work. The money really is paid [Pg 162] by the people who own property in the city. The men working for the city are public servants. They are working for every man and woman, for every boy and girl in the city. ”

“ If any one is sick or injured on the streets, he calls the ambulance, sends for the doctor, and renders first-aid himself until help arrives. When children or older people are lost or missing, it is the policeman’s duty to help find them.
Any person in trouble on the street will find a friendly helper in the nearest policeman.
His duty is to guard the safety and comfort of all the citizens of his city, to protect them and their homes at all times, so that they can be free to go about their business without fear of harm. ”

“ It was terribly hard for Nolan, but he translated these speeches, and told the negroes Vaughan’s answer in some fashion.
As they were rowing back he said to a young midshipman of whom he was fond, “Youngster, let that show you what it is to be without a family, without a home, and without a country. And if you are ever tempted to say a word or do a thing that shall put a bar between you and your family, your home and your country, pray God in His mercy to take you that instant home to His own heaven. ”

“ In some of the cities of the Far East, animals are depended upon as garbage collectors. Hungry dogs and cats, and in some places, even pigs, rove the streets, picking up for food the refuse which is thrown out.
It is no wonder that dreadful diseases break out among the people, is it? How unhealthful our own cities would be if we had no garbage collectors. ”

“ You are paid for your labor or your goods, not in other labor or goods, but in money, which you can carry in your pocket or keep in the bank. And with this money you can buy whatever you need.
Money enables you to leave in the bakery the three hundred loaves of bread you earned, and to buy a loaf as you need it.
Money, then, takes the place of goods, because it can be exchanged for them. To lose or waste money is the same as losing or wasting the goods that money will buy.
A family would be considered foolish to throw enough money to buy a loaf of bread into the river. ”

“ Treat a horse as you would like to be treated yourself. There is never any need for any one to beat or abuse a horse, for there is no creature living more faithful and loving, if you are only kind and patient with him. Teach him to love and have confidence in you, and give him time to find out what you want, then he will serve you not only willingly but gladly and proudly. The best charm any man can use with a horse is kindness. ”

“ If you save ten cents a week you will have your first dollar in half the time, or in ten weeks.
If you are able to save twenty-five cents a week you will have your first dollar in one-fifth of the time, or in four weeks.
When you put this dollar in the savings bank you have started a bank account, which is something to be proud of.
If you save regularly it will not be long before you have another dollar to add to the one already in the bank.
Money is saved a little at a time.
A mile is walked one step at a time.
A house is built one brick at a time, one nail at a time. ”

“ The Street Cleaner is a Safety-First Man because he
protects our health by keeping the streets clean
The building watchman walks from room to room of the great store or manufacturing plant all night long. If fire breaks out or thieves break in, he knows just what to do. The track-walker is the special guardian of the railroad tracks. His watchword, like the engineer’s, is safety first.
These are only a few of the brave men who believe in safety first and who often risk their lives in serving us. Can you name others?
[Pg 192]
The Garbage Collector is a Safety-First Man. ”

“ Upstretched hands supported him; his feet touched the ground—Shorty was saved.
Then the people cheered and cheered again; and well they might, for they had witnessed a thing that makes every heart beat high with pride—the speedy rescue of lives by heroes who freely risk their own in the performance of duty.
By this time the efforts of the firemen began to tell; the water began to conquer the flames, the fire was soon under control, and the danger was over.
The chief, who now had time to look about him, spied Jack at the fire line. ”

“ Now, by the blessings of God and through the faithful performance of duty by our soldiers and sailors and the soldiers and sailors of the countries by whose side we fought, a great victory has been won and the war is over, but I am sure that you wish to continue to be useful to your country and to children less fortunate than yourselves. ”

“ They are getting their parents interested in the fight for clean streets.
They are seeing that the paper from their own homes is tied up so that it will not blow over the streets, that ashes are not piled up in boxes, and that covers are kept on garbage pails.
There are many ways in which they can help. They can see that papers are thrown in the waste cans, or in cans in the school-yard. When they buy candy they can remember not to throw the wrappers in the street.
Can you tell why clean, well-paved streets make it easier to have cleaner houses and cleaner clothes and better health? ”

“ They are poorer than the poorest boy or girl here today. No matter how hard they work, they cannot buy an apple or a stick of candy, or even a lump of sugar; and so, because they have no money, I have been in the habit for a good many years of talking for them.
Ever since I was a boy, I have been very fond of dumb animals. As a lad, I hardly ever went by a kind, good-looking horse or dog without stopping to have a talk with him.
Boys who are taught to feed birds, and to pat the horses, and to speak kindly to all lower creatures become a good deal better fellows. ”

“ I see you understand!” cried the garbage can. “Not only is what you say true, but the fact is that the poor people who waste food are often kept poor because they throw away what they could save. A slice of bread a day amounts to about a dollar and fifty cents a year! ”

“ She never lets anything go to waste; she is so very thrifty that when men help her she uses waste so fast that it pays a thousand fold.
“So the men who buy the fertilizer made from city garbage are buying it for thrifty Mother Nature to use as food for plants. But we have talked too long, son; so good night, for you know
‘Early to bed and early to rise
Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.’” II
Robert was scarcely asleep before he dreamed that he was in charge of all the garbage collectors in the city, and that he needed a new collector for a certain ward. ”

“ Why is Rat-Prevention Day really a fire prevention?
How does Rat-Prevention Day mean safety first?
How do Fire-Prevention Day and Rat-Prevention Day help give us a clean city?
Cleanup Day keeps rats and mice away. How?
Why are they dangerous to health?
Do you keep a cat or dog policeman?
[Pg 204] HOW TO FIGHT FLIES
Breeding Place
Sickness and death are traced directly to the fly. The story is disgusting, but it is true. It lies within your power to guard your family and yourself from this known carrier of disease. Will you not protect yourself and help in fighting this menace to health? ”