Book IEIl§.^jt_^S 7 
 
 CopyiightK?_____J_3j-i? 
 
 CjQEmiGHT DEPOSm 
 
The Sorrows of a 
 Red Cross Nurse 
 
 By 
 HERMAN FREDERICK HEGNER 
 
 iARnctveRiTAnt 
 
 BOSTON 
 
 RICHARD G. BADGER 
 
 THE GORHAM PRESS 
 
Copyright, 1919, by Herman F. Hegner 
 All Rights Reserved 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 M\ 14 i9i9 
 
 MADE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
 
 Thb Goream Press, Boston. U. S. A. 
 
 ICI.A525403 
 
To the Noble Wives and Mothers 
 Who offered their Loved Ones 
 Upon the Altar of World Democracy 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 Thousands of our soldiers, and their Allied 
 comrades, treasure in their hearts the sweet image 
 of some Red Cross nurse who pulled them out of 
 the shadows to go over the top again. Nor will 
 they ever forget the cheerful smiles that helped 
 them through their dark hours, the sympathetic 
 voices that read the dear home letter to them, and 
 the occasional patriotic and popular songs that 
 cheered their convalescence. Among these brave 
 young women who consecrated their lives to deeds 
 of mercy were many faces touched by a shade of 
 sadness. The tragedy of their own hearts deep- 
 ened the sympathy and love that ministered to the 
 needy. 
 
 "The Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse" is the 
 story of one of these ministering angels whose own 
 sadness added a touch of glory to her work. The 
 struggle between sorrow and loving service in her 
 heart proved, however, a losing battle until the 
 patriotic vision of World Democracy lifted her 
 above the clouds of grief. 
 
 In the revealing light of pure patriotism millions 
 of wives and mothers who laid their loved ones 
 upon the altar have likewise risen triumphant over 
 sorrow. It is to these brave and loyal souls that this 
 poem is lovingly dedicated. "The Sorrows of a 
 Red Cross Nurse" also typifies the meaning of the 
 World War through these four years of frightful- 
 ness. Paralyzed at first by the horror of it the 
 World-Mind, as revealed in the simple and epoch- 
 making words of President Wilson and other 
 statesmen, has gradually reached the mountain 
 height of World Democracy. 
 
 — H. F. H. 
 
THE SORROWS OF A RED CROSS NURSE 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 The tragic death of Jules Chapelle 
 
 Most sadly I'm constrained to tell — 
 
 A Belgian peer, who traveled far 
 
 And woed a bright New England star 
 
 With beauty rare and voice so sweet 
 
 That thousands worshiped at her feet. 
 
 He won her heart within a year. 
 
 They planned to wed where they could hear 
 
 His old ancestral chapel bell 
 
 A long and happy life foretell: 
 
 So to his native Liege away 
 
 They sped to greet their wedding day. 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 Bright gleamed the rugged castle walls, 
 And welcomes shone from stately halls 
 To peasant cottage. Happy girls 
 In Sunday frocks and raven curls 
 Strewed fragrant flowers up the way 
 To glorify their wedding day, 
 And twined them 'round the altar where 
 The priest invoked the nuptial prayer. 
 
 lO 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 But when they spoke the sacred words 
 That Heaven's guardian saint records 
 They listened — would the magic bell 
 A life of wedded bliss foretell? 
 'Twas silent! but the distant sound 
 Of thunder shook along the ground! 
 Pale faces whispered in dismay — 
 "It is the Kaiser on the way 
 To Paris!" Lo, a Teuton shell 
 Crushed in the belfry, and the bell 
 Came crashing through the chapel side 
 Upon the altar, and the bride 
 Swooned where her dying bridegroom bled 
 And stained her veil a crimson red! 
 
 II 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 She laid her widowed heart to rest 
 Beneath his ancient family crest 
 And fled to France 'mid war's alarm 
 To wear the Red Cross on her arm, 
 And all the horrors that befell 
 She left her diary to tell, 
 Inscribed unto the Goddess far 
 Of Liberty, her guiding star. 
 
 12 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 I 
 
 Dear Goddess: 
 
 Is my humble part 
 To bind the flag around my heart, 
 My bleeding heart, and sadly bear 
 The red cross I am proud to wear? 
 My bridal veil is stained with red 
 Where gushed the life blood of my dead, 
 My Belgian bridegroom, noble, brave. 
 Who sleeps in yonder tear washed grave! 
 The long, long days have come and gone 
 And still my life is throbbing on 
 In anguish, pain, and dumb despair 
 Because my heart is bleeding where 
 Fair Belgium's martyred children lie 
 Beneath the war god's blood stained sky — 
 Cease, sorrow, cease! be silent, pain! 
 Let my young heart be glad again! 
 
 13 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 I've tried so hard to live and bear- 
 The red cross in my soul I wear! 
 Amid the din of battle strife 
 The vision leads; my wretched life, 
 A living cross, I daily bring 
 To scenes of human suffering. 
 
 H 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 But still doth Jules' dear face appear, 
 And in my soul I seem to hear 
 A voice that cries — "The earth must be 
 Made safe for world democracy!" 
 And then I feel that I must bear 
 This searching message everywhere 
 But know not how. How can I speak, 
 A helpless widowed bride so weak! 
 How can I make the people hear 
 The dying cry that pierced my ear 
 When cold in death my bridegroom lay 
 Beneath God's altar that cruel day! 
 
 15 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 Last night the vision haunted me. 
 From troubled dreams I 'woke to see, 
 With beating heart and feeling tense, 
 The war lord's mighty armaments 
 Pass in parade — while in the skies 
 Great vultures with their bloody eyes 
 Screamed loud; "The fittest must survive. 
 The vulture brood will be alive 
 Until the end!" Then Freedom sang; 
 Through all the world her echoes sprang 
 And hurled the vultures from the air! 
 I felt those echoes, sweet and rare, 
 Within my soul, insistent, strong. 
 Burst into patriotic song! 
 But when I woke I felt so weak, 
 Great tears were running down my cheek. 
 For how could I, a wretched thing. 
 Forget my sacred grief and sing? 
 
 i6 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 I'm writing in an arbor here. 
 The lily buds are just as dear, 
 The blushing roses just as red — 
 They do not know that he is dead! 
 Nor dare I tell them, for they bring 
 A balm to ease my suffering. 
 They seem to breathe into my ear 
 The words I dearly loved to hear 
 When Jules placed on my yearning breast 
 The violets I loved the best. 
 "They speak the language of your eyes," 
 He whispered — how I love and prize 
 His precious words, they greet me here 
 Among my flower friends so dear; 
 For, somehow, he is with me yet — 
 And, for a moment, I forget! 
 
 17 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 This morning trouble thus took wing 
 
 And strangely I began to sing 
 
 America — alas, 'twas then 
 
 That sorrow sought her nest again. 
 
 But music would not let me go, 
 
 I felt great echoes through me flow; 
 
 And then, at last, my soul was free. 
 
 Those sympathetic chords in me. 
 
 Those vibrant chords, insistent, strong, 
 
 Burst forth in patriotic song! 
 
 i8 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 Dear Madam B across the way 
 
 O'erheard the song and came to say, 
 With gentle voice and accents kind, 
 "Dear child, let Loving Service bind 
 Your bleeding heart, and nobly lift 
 Humanity w^ith your great gift. 
 Your voice is pure and sweet and rare, 
 Your songs will help our soldiers bear 
 Their pain — you must not hide your light! 
 We need your voice to win the fight 
 And send our heroes back again 
 A mighty victory to gain." 
 
 19 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 And, goddess, could I ever choose 
 
 Such welcome counsel to refuse, 
 
 Or, in my grief, neglect to hear 
 
 What in my vision seemed so clear? 
 
 And so I've joined the souls that wear 
 
 The red cross, and the maidens fair 
 
 Who sooth the fevered brow of pain 
 
 And double share of blessings gain. 
 
 My feet I consecrate to go 
 
 In mercy down each suffering row. 
 
 And join the kindly voices sweet 
 
 That soothe ; and to the smiles that greet 
 
 Our convalescing heroes there 
 
 And give brave souls new strength to bear, 
 
 ril add my special gift of song 
 
 To help my country's cause along. 
 
 'Tis thus I'll do my little part — 
 
 I'll bind the flag about my heart 
 
 And sing our nation's songs so dear 
 
 Our wounded soldiers' hearts to cheer. 
 
 God grant that I may sing them well! 
 
 Your loving daughter, 
 
 — June Chapelle 
 
 20 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 II 
 
 Dear Goddess: 
 
 When his wan face lay 
 In Belgian soil that cruel dark day, 
 And banks of fragrant flowers sweet 
 Lay on the fresh mound at my feet, 
 I thought my aching heart would break, 
 And prayed for God to come and take 
 My life and let the rootlets bind 
 Our hearts together. It was kind 
 Of Heaven to refuse my plea — 
 Our soldier boys are dear to me, 
 I sing the songs they love to hear 
 Their convalescing souls to cheer. 
 And hover o'er their beds of pain 
 To win them back to life again. 
 
 21 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 Oh that my lips should ever tell 
 The horrors that about them fell 
 When first the war lord shook his mane 
 And loosed this fearful hurricane! 
 The northern sky was black with woe — 
 We saw the bloody rivers flow ! 
 Grim specters grasped with bony hands 
 Great scythes that swept the stricken lands; 
 And steel-ribbed vultures from the air 
 Hurled death and terror everywhere, 
 While grinning skulls spit deadly flame — 
 'Twas thus the ruthless Terror came! 
 Five million victims snatched from sleep! 
 Five million wives to starve and weep! 
 And frightened hordes of orphans fair, 
 Robbed of sweet home and love and care — 
 These, these, the war lord's fearful toll 
 Of helpless life and blasted soul, 
 Aye, these, a fearful, fearful sight, 
 Gleamed ghastly 'gainst the whirling night ! 
 And it was doubly hard to sing 
 Because this spectral, gruesome thing, 
 With bloody talons, lingered near — 
 The very stones were cold with fear! 
 
 22 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 You know the rest; those battle lines, 
 From deadly marsh to fortressed pines, 
 Like some bruised serpent's writhing tail, 
 Refused to die — of what avail 
 Our blows, when but the fading gold 
 Could make that writhing serpent cold? 
 Speed, Western Eagle, speed on high 
 And pierce the serpent's deadly eye! 
 
 23 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 Last night I dreamed the planet, Mars, 
 
 Arose and marshalled all his stars. 
 
 And thought, "Are Freedom's stars all there. 
 
 And will my Jules arise to bear 
 
 His flag, through deadly shells, on high 
 
 To victory — and still not die?" 
 
 And then I longed on wings of light 
 
 To pierce the dismal realms of night 
 
 And beg the warrior stars to tell 
 
 Where I can find my Jules Chapelle; 
 
 And, longing thus, my soul grew strong, 
 
 And suddenly burst into song. 
 
 And through my grief, half song, half prayer, 
 
 I breathed these words into the air: 
 
 24 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 Jules Chapelle 
 
 Where can I find my Jules Chapelle? 
 
 His old ancestral chapel bell 
 
 Was crushed with grief to see us part, 
 
 The stars of Heaven envy me 
 
 His image treasured in my heart — 
 
 Speak, speak, kind friends, and quickly tell 
 
 Where I can find my Jules Chapelle. 
 
 25 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 Refrain : 
 
 Ye tyrants, with your deadly keels, 
 And ruthless airships strong, 
 Ye autocrats, whose iron heels 
 Dance to the war god's song — 
 O God of mercy shrive ye well! 
 Ye killed my Jules Chapelle! 
 
 26 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 Where can I find my Jules Chapelle? 
 
 Beneath God's sacred shrine he fell, 
 
 And stained my bridal veil with red, 
 
 As cruelly, o'er my swooning breast, 
 
 I felt the life blood of my dead — 
 
 Speak, speak, kind friends, and quickly tell 
 
 Where I can find my Jules Chapelle. 
 
 27 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 Refrain : 
 
 Ye tyrants, with your deadly keels, 
 And ruthless airships strong, 
 Ye autocrats, whose iron heels 
 Dance to the war god's song — 
 O God of mercy shrive ye well! 
 Ye killed my Jules Chapelle! 
 
 28 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 Scarce had the echoes died away 
 Than heaven grew more light than day 
 And thy great torch, a-blazing far, 
 Extinguished every warrior star. 
 Then came a kind sweet voice and low 
 That murmured, "Do not sorrow so, 
 My child, your gift of song we need 
 Our wounded hero-souls to feed — 
 Go, show your light, you must not fail, 
 Go tell the soldiers your sad tale!" 
 And truly, though the joy is brief, 
 In singing I forget my grief — 
 I've sung a hundred times, and more; 
 I've told my story o'er and o'er 
 Thy holy vision to obey. 
 And still I'm singing every day! 
 Pray God to keep me strong and well, 
 Your loving daughter, 
 
 — June Chapelle 
 
 29 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 III 
 
 Dear Goddess: 
 
 How the long days roll 
 Their restless waves into my soul 
 And cast their shells upon the sand. 
 I stand alone upon the strand 
 And seek a fount my soul to ease 
 Where nature shrives God's unities. 
 And then I find my arbor seat 
 Our fragrance breathing friends to greet. 
 
 30 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 But still my heart is never glad. 
 In gladness I am always sad, 
 For sorrow has espoused the day 
 The war god tore my love away; 
 And every night and every morn 
 The progeny of grief is born 
 And sorrow's infant brood of care, 
 With sad weird faces fills the air. 
 
 31 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 But often when the sun sinks low 
 
 And God's cathedral windows glow 
 
 I somehow feel my Jules is there, 
 
 And lo! my soul is winged with prayer! 
 
 Then when the moon looks through the trees 
 
 And zephyrs fan the evening breeze, 
 
 I suddenly begin to weep, 
 
 And, weeping, sob myself to sleep. 
 
 32 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 But in my dreams dark shadows fall — 
 I seem to hear the distant call 
 Of voices, friends of long gone by 
 Speak to my heart; and then I cry, 
 **Oh, take me from lone sorrow's peak 
 The fellowship of souls to seek!" 
 
 33 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 But when I find sweet friendship's beach 
 The gladness that my soul would reach 
 Is driftwood on a wave washed shore 
 That floods into the deep once more, 
 And memory's heaving, restless tide 
 Comes rolling in on every side, 
 And joy's brief footprints in the sand 
 Are buried — all alone I stand, 
 While from the deep sad voices cry 
 And storms of grief go rushing by! 
 
 34 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 One night when sleep thus deluged me 
 With anguished dreams I woke to see 
 Thy beauteous guardian form appear. 
 The torch of truth dispersing fear 
 Illumed my soul and showed the way 
 And where my duty lay each day; 
 How every grief and wrong I bore 
 Would help my country win the war; 
 And lo! a pure revealing light, 
 A patriotic vision bright, 
 Illumed my mountain peak, and peace 
 Bade sorrow's restless voices cease! 
 And that transcendent healing ray 
 Now leads my soul from day to day. 
 In sorrow I am not so sad; 
 Remembered joys now make me glad; 
 The morning star in grief's dark skies 
 Gleams where my martyred bridegroom lies 
 Hail, victory! proclaim the dawn! 
 The night of grief at last is gone! 
 
 35 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 And, Goddess, from my mountain height, 
 I see by the revealing light 
 The unity of God's great plan 
 And feel the brotherhood of man. 
 Fve sung and nursed and labored sore 
 On twenty battlefields — and more; 
 Fve helped the wounded soldiers rise 
 To drive the war god from the skies 
 And fight for world democracy. 
 Tradition can no longer be 
 Man's guiding star — o'er earth's dark ways 
 We've made the torch of Freedom blaze! 
 
 36 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 The world has reached the mountain height 
 Where in the pure revealing light 
 Of thy great torch our eyes can see 
 The dawn of World Democracy. 
 Oh, may we soon behold the morn 
 That this new world of love is born; 
 For then across life's stormy sea 
 My yearning heart will turn to thee, 
 With thee, in my own land to dwell, 
 Your loving daughter, 
 
 — June Chapelle 
 
 37 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 IV 
 
 Dear Goddess: 
 
 It has come at last, 
 The war god from the sky is cast. 
 The nations of the earth are free 
 To form a world democracy! 
 Tm in Versailles — 'tis heaven here, 
 The golden age is surely near. 
 A world-united Parliament, 
 To which the nations all have sent 
 Their greatest minds, has met to find 
 A Constitution of Mankind; 
 And they have brought me here to sing 
 In honor of their opening. 
 
 38 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 Last night once more thy vision fair 
 Of Freedom cried — "Arise, and bear 
 The flag of Nations! 'Rise and sing 
 The Anthem of the World! 'Twill ring 
 From land to land and sea to sea 
 For brotherhood and liberty!" 
 And lo! with far exalted gaze 
 I saw o'er ocean's waterways 
 Great merchant ships in triumph bear 
 Earth's mighty commerce everywhere, 
 And in the entrance to each land 
 I saw Bartholdi's statue stand. 
 
 39 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 The outlook faded then — but see! 
 Thy beauteous form still beckoned me, 
 A sky blue banner in her hand 
 Inlaid with flags of every land. 
 **This Flag of Nations you must bring 
 To yon great hall", she cried, "and sing 
 Fair Freedom's anthem of the world 
 When this pure banner is unfurled!" 
 And then I heard a marv'lous thing, 
 The very heavens seemed to ring 
 And angel voices echoed long 
 The world's new patriotic song: 
 
 40 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 ANTHEM OF MANKIND 
 
 Our country of the World 
 Thy noble flag unfurled 
 Proclaims thy fame, 
 Let all the nations be 
 Allied for liberty, 
 A World Democracy, 
 In thy great name. 
 
 41 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 Our Country of the World 
 
 The germ of peace lies curled 
 
 In thy wise laws: 
 
 Let freedom rule the sea; 
 
 Let no race alien be; 
 
 Let world-leagued liberty 
 
 Be thy great cause. 
 
 42 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 Our Country of the World 
 The god of war is hurled 
 From his high place; 
 Let arbitration's might 
 Maintain what's just and right, 
 And freedom's torch gleam bright 
 On every race! 
 
 43 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 This morning ere the trance could fade 
 With my own hands I quickly made 
 The Flag of Nations which I bore 
 In triumph through that palace door; 
 Nor can my tongue find words to tell 
 The patriotic zeal that fell 
 Upon that Congress of the World 
 When thy great banner was unfurled; 
 Nor could my voice more ferver find 
 To sing the Anthem of Mankind! 
 
 44 
 
Sorrows of a Red Cross Nurse 
 
 Rejoice! rejoice! the victory's won! 
 We're happy for our work is done; 
 We're happy for we're coming home — 
 And all your soldier boys will come! 
 So watch for us, we love you well, 
 Your loving daughter, 
 
 — June Chapelle 
 
 45 
 
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