Hurrah for Our Hero!

       The Brave family were not the only people who admired Private Brave's cheerful acceptance of his fate and his determination to make his left hand learn to do the work of two hands.

       One day when he was running the lawn mower over the lawn in front of the house, Doctor Quickenquack stopped in his dollsmobile.

       "Hello, how's the ' General'?" he called. " Can't you jump in and take a ride? Hope you're not too busy to have a little holiday."

       "Thank you, Doctor," said Private Brave, "it's certainly kind of you to ask me. Will you wait until I put this mower away and get my coat? "

       He had to lock the door, for none of the family wore home, but he hopped into the car in a minute's time. The doctor started the engine and away they rode toward Painted River and Looking Glass Lake. It was a beautiful morning and Private Brave enjoyed the ride very much.

       "If you will just let me out here, I'll walk home from this corner," said he as they came to River Avenue.

       "Not much, sir; you're kidnapped," laughed the doctor as he drove on toward the hospital.

       "First, your lunch; then a visit to the boys' ward" said the doctor. "That's your program, sir." 

       Private Brave was delighted with the idea, and how he enjoyed his lunch after the ride!

       When he went with the doctor to the boys' ward, you can't imagine how surprised he was to see all his own family. Not only they were there, but also the boys' class and the girls' class in first-aid.

       Besides these, wore Miss Bossem and Miss Helpem and Doctor Surecure and even the ambulance driver, Billy.

       Doctor Quickenquack led Private Brave under an American flag which was draped in one corner of the room.

       "Dear Private Brave," said Doctor Surocuro, clearing his throat, "it is my pleasure to present to you a gift from some of your many admiring friends."

       Private Brave blushed at the praise, and smiled as Miss Helpem carried forward a box which she placed on the little table beside him.

       He opened the lid and lifted out a beautiful little hand-embroidered silk flag.

       "Perhaps we'd better help you open the box the rest of the way," suggested Doctor Sun-cure. "Let us step into the next room."

       When the doctors and Private Brave came back- what do you think? Private Brave was waving the beautiful little silk Hag in the hand of a new wooden arm, so skilfully made that it had almost human action.

       "Hurrah!" shouted the boys and girls in delight. "Hurrah! Hurrah for Private Brave! Hurrah for Our Hero!"

       "Hurrah! Hurrah!" they shouted together at the top of their lungs. 

He opened the lid and lifted out a beautiful little hand-embroidered silk flag.

"Hurrah for Private Brave! He's

Prepared for less,
Prepared for more,
Prepared for peace,
Prepared for war!

Prepared for well,
Prepared for ill,
Prepared to save
The doctor's bill!

Prepared for calm,
Prepared for strife,
Prepared for anything
In life!

       "Oh, Billy," cried Mary Frances, after it was all over, "I'm so thankful to you for your birthday present."

       "What do you mean?" yawned Billy.

       ''Why, for the day we've just spent together in the playroom," said Mary Frances.

       "Don't know what you're talking about," pretended Billy.

       "Why, Billy!" Mary Frances laughed. "If you will just put a triangular bandage on my hand with your handkerchief, you'll remember."

       Billy put it on beautifully, just as you snw it shown on Mary Frances' doll in the picture.

       "Now, you remember, Mr. Ambulance Driver!" cried Mary Frances, shaking her finger.

       "I don't seem to remember a thing about how I learned," solemnly declared Billy.

       "Why, certainly you do. You learned in the Dolls' Hospital," cried Mary Frances.

       "Oh, maybe but don't tell anybody about it, though I must say that a knowledge of bandaging will be most useful when the boy scouts commence their class in advanced first-aid work."

There they were!

        "Will Miss Bossem be their teacher?" teased Mary Frances.

       "Aw! Stop talking about that doll of yours dressed up as a nurse, Mary Frances! We boys are beyond the doll-baby age!" Billy walked away in pretended disgust.

       "Well," said Mary Frances to herself, "if Billy hadn't known how to put on that bandage I would think I had been dreaming. I know what I'll do! I'll go see if there are any nurses' uniforms in the playroom."

       There they were! Each girl doll had one on, just as she wore it at the Fourth of July celebration.

       "It must have been real!" concluded Mary Frances. "It must have been! That proves it! Besides, here is Private Brave, and in his wooden hand he is holding the flag!

Introduction: Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, Hurrah for Our Hero!