A SANE FOURTH OF JULY
“SOAMI, what are the girls going to do in the parade—on your float, I
mean?” asked Ibee, yawning sleepily, as he stretched out in a steamer
chair near the hammock in which Soami rocked on the porch of the Brave
family’s cottage.
“Just—as—though—I’d—tell—you,” yawned Soami in imitation of Ibee’s
manner.
“Say, go on, tell me, won’t you?” said Ibee. “I’ll tell you a little
about ours if you do.”
“Yum, yum,” sang Soami. “I might possibly tell you a little—you tell
first.”
“Has Shesa anything to do with your plans?” asked Ibee.
“Oh, so she’s going to give you lessons in bandaging, too!” exclaimed
Soami, realizing the next instant that she had given a secret away, but
the “cat was out of the bag.”
Then Ibee began to laugh. “Caught you this time, Sister,” he teased.
“Shesa wouldn’t give me a hint.”
“Anyhow, I think you were awful!” said Soami. “I’ll watch out for you
after this.”
“Tell me more? Please do,” begged Ibee, but Soami had gone indoors
where she felt safer.
* * * * *
Shesa Brave taught the boys and girls so well that within the week they
were quite familiar with the use of—
TRIANGULAR BANDAGES
Bandages cut in the form of triangles are the most
useful first-aid bandages, for they are very readily
adjusted, and may be applied to so many different uses;
for instance:
To hold dressings (compresses) in place.
To support broken or fractured parts of the body
(sling).
We will have on hand for our uses:
One large triangular bandage, made from a piece of unbleached muslin
one yard square.
Cut the muslin across diagonally, as shown in “A.”
Two smaller triangular bandages, made by cutting a large triangular
bandage across as in “B.”
Of course any piece of goods may be used for a bandage, even
handkerchiefs or torn clothing; but we are speaking about the best kind
of bandages to have ready for use.
NOTE.—For triangular bandage for doll twenty-one inches
high, cut a piece of soft muslin or lawn sixteen inches
square. Cut across diagonally for one large triangular
bandage. To make the small triangular bandage, cut
across the remaining triangular piece.
Triangular bandages are used—
1. Unfolded.
2. Folded.
When the triangular bandage is repeatedly folded on itself it becomes
the “cravat” bandage.
The triangular bandage, either unfolded or folded, may be used on any
part of the body. The smaller triangles are used for the hands and feet
and the jaw.
NOTE.—In the ready-made first-aid packets will be found a triangular
bandage, on which are printed sketches of the manner in which the
bandage is applied.
[Illustration: TRIANGULAR BANDAGES]
[Illustration: TRIANGULAR BANDAGES]
You may see how these bandages are used by looking at the picture
(page 83) of Rose Mary, Mary Frances’ big dolly, which she bandaged so
skilfully that all her friends felt certain that she had been taught
by fairy teachers.
[Illustration: THE GIRLS APPEARED READY FOR THE PARADE]
If you practice putting these kinds of bandages on your dolls perhaps
you will be able some day to help somebody who gets hurt, and seem
yourself like a fairy to the person whose pain you helped.
The children became so enthusiastic in practising the various methods
of bandaging that it grew to be quite a joke in their homes. Many
times they waylaid the various members of their families, whom they
wouldn’t let go until they were bandaged to look like heroes from the
battlefield.
The boys tried in vain to find out what the girls’ class had planned
for their Fourth of July “float.” They taxed their brains guessing, but
no one was more surprised than they when the girls appeared ready for
the parade, all dressed in nurses’ outfits, decorated with a red cross,
each carrying a big doll, bandaged, head, hand, arm, foot, in first-aid
triangular bandages. In the center of the group, Mike, the Brave
family’s pet bulldog, was comfortably perched, swathed in bandages.
Mike wore a large placard which read:
“See what fire crackers and toy pistols may do to you!”
He seemed to enjoy this particular Fourth, however, more than any other
the Brave family could remember.
The boys did have three “real cases” for their first-aid hospital tent.
A very foolish youth, notwithstanding the Mayor’s warning, shot off
blank cartridges from a revolver, frightening a horse nearby, which
broke its halter and ran away, throwing the young man down so hard that
he had to be taken to the first-aid tent with a broken arm.
Ibee Brave and Tom Holden happened to be near, and were very proud as
they bore the sufferer to the improvised hospital.
They hadn’t noticed in their excitement that a little boy had been
wounded with the powder from the shot, and felt mortified when two
members of the girls’ class followed them into the tent with the little
patient.
Miss Helpem sent for Doctor Quickenquack, who set the big boy’s broken
arm and treated the little fellow’s powder wounds.
“The worst of it is, young man,” said the doctor to the big boy, as he
set the arm, “that not all the punishment came to yourself. If these
powder wounds become serious for that youngster, you will be blamed.”
“I didn’t realize, Doctor,” replied the young man. “I’ll never need any
further lesson—after all this, and after I pay my fine.”
The other “case” was a lady who fainted when she saw the accident, and
was quickly revived in the tent.
“I really believe that this is the best Fourth of July celebration our
town has ever known, Doctor,” said the Mayor, complimenting Doctor
Surecure upon the success of the day. “‘A sane Fourth’ as you said,
will give more pleasure, if people will co-operate, than all the din of
firecrackers and thunder of powder. I’m sure we owe you and your able
first-aid classes our vote of thanks.”
“Miss Helpem deserves all the credit for the first-aid help,” replied
the doctor.
“Indeed no, thank you, Doctor,” laughed Mary Frances Helpem, coming
up at that moment. “To the boys and girls of the classes belongs that
praise.”