Edmundson Memorial School of Nursing - Bluff Yearbook (Council Bluffs, IA)

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, , THE BLUFF A A FABLE FOR NURSES A story told by Major Julia Stimson at the Capping of The Army School of Nursing, the Class of '28, Once upon a time there was a Princess who lived in a beautiful country. She was a very young and lovely princess, and wore a beautiful crown that was made ot gold and was filled with precious jewels-diamonds, pearls, rubies and emeralds. Now the princess was a very human little princess even though she was very wise and very good, and her days were filled with deeds of unselfishness and kindly acts. and she was much beloved by the people of her country. She smilingly went about among them, loved by old and young. sick and poor, binding up their wounds. caring for their needs and going about her father's business with a high heart. In ber land there was no trouble nor sorrow and no want that she did not know about, and in all ways did she try to relieve, so much so that people throughout the king- dom knew her well, and there was none who did not cherish her. When she went through the streets and lanes of the villages and towns, rich and poor brought their little children to gaze upon her and her shining crown and her beautiful robes became as symbols. But the heart of the princess was not altogether happy, because, first, she found that wearing ot' the crown made her conspicuous, second, that it was so beautiful it had to be borne very carefully, third, it had to be kept on straight, and, fourth, she had to walk with gentle dignity a.nd care where so ever she went so that the precious jewels would ever glow brilliantly. One day when she was thinking about the burden of her crown and wishing that she might be like other girls her fairy godmother asked her why she was so sad, and she answered her: Oh, godmother, why can't I be like other girls? Why do I al- ways have to wear this shining crown so that people know who I ani wherever I go? Why can't I dance and play as others? It is such a burden to keep the jewels in the crown secure, clean, and radiant. Then the fairy godmother said: My child, I wonder if you understand the gift of the crown and the meaning of the jewels? The crown is to show that you are the King's daughter and that you belong to all the King's people, that they may see you more plainly, that they may love, and adore you, and follow your helpful words of courage and strength. It is the great symbol of the trust that you must guard. What do the jewels mean? The diamonds in your crown mean honesty and the pearls are pearls of silence, and the blue stones are sapphires of kindness, the glowing red ones are rubies of sympathy, the green ones emeralds of courage, and the purple stones are amethysts of dignity, and the sparkling yellow jewels are topaz of unselfishness. Of course, no daughter of the King can let the diamonds of honesty get scratched and marred, nor the pearls of silence dulled with gossip and unkind talk, nor the opals of honor blemisbed by too much thought of self, nor can the crown be worn in any but a proud and dignified way. But, of course, it is a burden to keep it shining and held high. Now what can I think of that the burden may not be too heavy and you may not feel that you are too different from those other girls of whom you speak? Then the fairy godmother disappeared from view. Soon she appeared again and said: My child, I have thought of something. Here I have a gift for you, some- thing shining and white that you may wear. Something not so heavy as a crown. Something studded with invisible jewels because of the traditions and history back of it. It is woven of threads of honesty, kindness, sympathy, courage, dignity, unself- ishness, humor, sewn together with silence, and it is light and easy to wear. I give you this nurse's cap because nurses are daughters of the King who are set apart for a special business. But there is one thing that you must do if you would be worthy of this cap. You must see to it that the face beneath the cap is the kind of face that 5 .

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THE BLUFF A BINDER - Mc CARGER CG. I I N S U R A N C E Council Bluffs, Iowa 21 Pearl St. Telephone 219 74

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THE BLUFF could wear a crown. It must be serene, full of lovely thought, conscious of its high calling, full of health and strength and seriousness of purpose. Then the little princess heaved a great sigh of joy, because she felt that the cap would be a lovely thing to wear, and from that day to this a nurse's cap has meant to loving hearts and seeing eyes a crown of glory, a badge of service. an emblem of loy- alty, and a sign of the King's daughter, and it may be seen wherever there is pain and suffering and wherever little children need guiding hands and laden mothers need strength and help, and always to the understanding heart there may be seen jewels in the fabric of the capgdiamonds of honesty, pearls of silence, sapphires of kind- ness, rubies of sympathy, emeralds of courage, amethysts of dignity, topazes of unselt- ishness, and sparkling opals of humor. The Nurse HE world grows better, year by year, Because some nurse, in her little sphere, Puts on her apron and smiles and sings And keeps on doing the same old things-- Taking the temperature, giving the pills To remedy mankind's numerous illsg Feeding the baby, answering bells, Being polite, with a heart that rebels. Longing for home and all the while Wearing the same professional smile,--- Blessing the new-born babe's first breath, Closing the eyes that are still in death, Taking the blame for the doctor's mistakesg Oh dear, what a lot of patience it takes--- Going off duty at seven o'clock. Tired, discouraged, and ready to drop. But called back on special at seven-fifteen, With woe in her heart which must not be seen, Morning and evening, noon and night, Just doing it over and hoping it's right. When we lay down our caps and cross the bar, O Lord, will you give us just one little star To wear in our crowns, with the uniforms new, In that city above where the Head Nurse is You?