In demeanor, Clara Barton was sensitive, shy, warmhearted, and patient. She spoke softly and often with a smile. Yet she was also persistent and fearless, spending much of her life helping others.
Clara was born on Christmas Day in 1821 in North Oxford, Massachusetts. A “Christmas gift” some called her, and the phrase stuck as both affection and prophecy.
For Clara, her defining traits began to show early in life. At age eleven, she became the primary caregiver for her brother David after he suffered a devastating fall from the roof of a barn. The injury left him bedridden with limited prospects for recovery. But Clara diligently tended to him daily, managing his physical needs while also working to keep his mind sharp and his spirits lifted. Under her attentive care over about two years, David slowly regained his strength. While doctors at the time had few treatments to offer, many credited Clara for nursing her brother back to good health.
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