Herbert Leeds Edith Cavell, Her Life Story

Annotation

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. A few years after Mr. Cavell decided to erect a Vicarage proper, which he did out of his own private income, and with assistance from Queen Anne's Bounty. The undertaking imposed a considerable burden on his financial resources, for the living in itself was a poor one. Edith Cavell received her early education at home. She was an apt pupil, with marked tastes and noble ambitions. Even in those days she gave signs of a natural love for tending the sick, and as she grew into her teens this tendency became still more marked. Her youthful sympathy, cheerful disposi tion, and easy ways made her presence welcome at all times in the cottages of the people, and especially so when she came on a little sick visit. She was wonderfully quick in anticipating any little service that might bring ease to a patient, while the bright ness and tenderness of her manner had in them selves a real power of bracing. An amusing story, having also the merit of truth, is told of how on one occasion she offered a man Sixpence if he would take a certain medicine which She was convinced would cure him of his ill. The man did not fancy the draught and declined the offer. He has recently expressed regret that he did not agree to do as asked.