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Riis, Jacob A., 1849-1914

"The Making of an American"


Those little ones at home were wiser than I. At most I had made
out its stomach. This was like cutting windows for souls that were
being shrunk and dwarfed in their mean setting. Shut them up once
the sunlight had poured in--never! I could only drive ahead, then,
until a way opened. Somewhere beyond it was sure to do that.
And it did. Among the boxes from somewhere out in Jersey came one
with the letters I. H. N. on. I paid little attention to it then,
but when more came so marked, I noticed that they were not all from
one place, and made inquiries as to what the letters meant. So I
was led to the King's Daughters' headquarters, where I learned that
they stood for "In His Name." I liked the sentiment; I took to it
at once. And I liked the silver cross upon which it was inscribed.
I sometimes wish I had lived--no! I do not. That's dreaming. I
have lived in the best of all times, when you do not have to dream
things good, but can help make them so. All the same, when I put
on the old crusader's cross which King Christian sent me a year
ago from Denmark, and think of the valiant knights who wore it, I
feel glad and proud that, however far behind, I may ride in their
train.


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