initial commit of ebook 14017HEADmain

1 files changed, 709 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/14017-0.txt b/14017-0.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..78cba0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/14017-0.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,709 @@
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14017 ***
+
+CLARA A. SWAIN, M.D.
+
+First Medical Missionary to the Women of the Orient
+
+by
+
+MRS. ROBERT HOSKINS
+
+1912
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+"The frail little mother of a frail little daughter" did not live
+long enough to see the fullest answer to her prayer that her
+youngest born might "grow up to be a good and useful woman," for
+she passed away before her daughter began her medical career, but
+the prayer was not forgotten by Him who ever hears the cry of
+those who call upon Him in faith.
+
+Clara was the youngest of the ten children of John and Clarissa
+Seavey Swain. She was born in Elmira, N.Y., but when she was two
+years old her parents returned to their old home in Castile and
+here she spent her early life.
+
+
+
+EARLY LIFE
+
+
+She was not a strong child, and being the youngest of a large
+family naturally received much attention, which in after years she
+concluded was not good for her. She once described herself as a
+puny little thing who wanted everything she saw and thought she
+ought to have it. "I had a will of my own," she said, "and my
+mother found it necessary to be very firm with me at times. Once I
+was very rude to her when she did not give me what I wanted, and I
+shall never forget how grieved she was, how lovingly she explained
+to me the necessity for controlling myself if I would be loved by
+those around me." She was six years old when this naughtiness
+occurred. "I promised my mother then," she said, "that I would be
+a good girl, and that I would ask God not to let me be naughty
+again."
+
+She and her sister Hattie, not quite two years her elder, loved
+out of doors a great deal. They were very fond of flowers and
+animals, and, hand in hand, would wander up and down the street to
+stop and admire the flowers in the neighboring gardens, always
+mindful of their mother's injunction never to take a flower
+without permission. Happy indeed were they when they could bring
+home a handful of wild flowers to their mother. "God's flowers"
+they called them, because they did not grow in anyone's garden.
+
+Clara's love for animals led her to pat every dog she met, and
+more than once she caught a stray cat and took it home to pet it.
+A story is told that seeing a lame chicken she wrapped it in her
+apron and took it home and bandaged its leg neatly, tending it
+with such devotion that she soon had the happiness of seeing it
+able to run about to seek its own food. The cousin who told this
+story laughingly said, "She probably used splints, but of this I
+am not sure."
+
+Mrs. Swain's sister Elizabeth lived a mile out of the village,
+while the home of the Swain family was within the boundary line,
+and as the little red school-house was between them the children
+of both families attended this school.
+
+Clara was very fond of her Aunt Post and often went home with her
+cousins, staying with them days at a time. One of these cousins,
+now eighty-eight years of age, writes: "When Clara was seven years
+of age she was a very pleasant child, always eager to help
+someone. She lived with us, off and on, until she was twelve years
+old, when we moved to Michigan. She was as much at home with us as
+in her own home and we were sorry to part with her."
+
+
+
+CONVERSION
+
+
+When Clara was eight years old her sister Ann, six years her
+senior, joined the Methodist Church, and this made a great
+impression on her youthful mind. The consistent life of this
+sister and the sweet and simple religious life of her mother gave
+her many thoughtful hours, and she asked one day, "Why am I not a
+Christian? I want to be good, too." Just before she was ten years
+old, under the influence of a powerful sermon, she felt that she
+must give herself to the Lord to be his child forever. There were
+hours of darkness when she felt that she was too great a sinner to
+be forgiven, but light came at last and she was happy in the
+consciousness that she was an accepted child of God.
+
+From her father's family she inherited a fund of Irish humor,
+while her mother, of good old New England blood, inclined to
+quietness of spirit with earnestness of purpose; and this blending
+of fun and sobriety caused the young Christian much perturbation
+of spirit. Conscientious in the extreme, she had many an hour of
+self-questioning when she feared that, in the exuberance of
+youthful merriment, she had cast a shadow on her Christian
+profession and caused sorrow to the heart of her loving Master.
+Then it was that the wise and tender mother helped her to see that
+it was the duty of a Christian, though only a child, to be
+cheerful and joyous, and that it was possible to please God in her
+play hours as well as in attendance at church or Sunday school or
+prayer meeting,--just to be the happy child that he meant her to
+be, and to ask his help to keep her good and true.
+
+Her school books did not satisfy her mind, and one who knew her
+at that time says she frequently visited the neighbors and
+borrowed books, some of which she read over and over again.
+
+Her love for children led her, when she was about twelve years
+old, to accept the proposal of the wife of the village merchant
+that she assist her in the care of her baby, and the money thus
+earned was used to help her with her studies.
+
+In 1848, Clara's sister Ann went to Michigan to teach, making her
+home with the Aunt Post who had been so dear to the children of
+the Swain family. After two years of teaching she was married from
+her aunt's home to a worthy man who still survives her. Before
+Ann's marriage Clara had gone to visit this aunt and was persuaded
+to stay, and eventually she took a small school near the farm and
+taught for a year. "While she was teaching," wrote one of her
+cousins, "my mother broke her ankle and Clara cared for her almost
+a year. She was a grand nurse, even at that age, and was a great
+comfort to us all; she was so bright and cheerful that we were
+unwilling to have her leave us."
+
+Her talent for nursing was called into requisition soon after her
+return to Castile when the children of the Presbyterian minister,
+the Rev. Mr. Hurlburt, became ill with typhoid fever and she was
+called to assist in caring for them. It was an anxious time for
+the nurse as well as the parents, as one child after another fell
+ill. Two of the children died, and later the father succumbed to
+the fatal illness. The faithful nurse remained with the distracted
+widow and the remaining children can cared for them tenderly as
+long as they needed her services. In an old and well-worn Bible is
+this inscription in her handwriting: "This is the first Bible I
+ever owned. It was presented to me by Rev. and Mrs. Hurlburt."
+
+The sumer of 1855 found Miss Swain, then twenty-one years of age,
+teaching a few private pupils in the village. One of her scholars
+of that summer recently spoke of her loving interest in her pupils
+and her care for their welfare. The following year she went to
+live with some cousins in Pike and attend the school there.
+
+Mr. Swain had a sister living in Canandaigua, who, knowing of
+Clara's strong desire for self-improvement, invited her to come
+there for a year of study in the seminary, an invitation which she
+gladly accepted; and after a year of close study she obtained a
+position as teacher in the primary department of one of the public
+schools. "Clara was determined to get an education and make use of
+it if she could," wrote one of her cousins.
+
+
+
+TEACHING IN CANANDAIGUA
+
+
+In the spring of 1859 began an acquaintance with one who was ever
+after one of Miss Swain's dearest friends. Miss Martha McFarland
+of Albany accepted the position of teacher in the intermediate
+department of the school in which Miss Swain was teaching and they
+at once became friends. As Miss Swain's aunt was soon to leave
+Canandaigua, the two friends secured a pleasant boarding-place,
+and for three years they walked to school together in the morning
+and home again in the afternoon. Bothe were nature-lovers and many
+a delightful hour they spent on their holidays and Saturday
+afternoons and whenever they could find leisure for one of their
+picnic outings. They were both members of the Methodist Church and
+were constant in their attendance at the Sunday services and at
+Sunday school as well as at the midweek prayer and class-meetings,
+and were ever ready to help in all forms of church work.
+
+Through her years of teaching Miss Swain showed the same
+conscientious spirit that was evidenced in her child and school
+life. "Have I done all I ought? Have I been as helpful to my
+pupils as I might be?" she often asked herself. For a time she
+taught a class in Sunday school, and her boys were impressed by
+her consistent life. Later, one of them said, "We noticed that you
+always went to prayer meeting so we thought we would go and see
+what was in it." This class was a joy to her and her pleasure was
+great when one and another gave himself to the Lord for service.
+
+"Miss Swain was ready _in season and out of season_," said one of
+her friends. "One Sunday evening when a company of us were
+together having a sing, she turned to a young man near her and
+bluntly asked, 'Why are you not a Christian?' Taken by surprise,
+the young man had no answer ready and they both went on singing."
+The Rev. Mr. Hibbard was pastor of the Methodist Church in
+Canandaigua and Miss Swain and her friend very much enjoyed an
+occasional visit to the parsonage, where they were always warmly
+welcomed.
+
+
+
+TRAINING IN THE SANITARIUM
+
+
+Notwithstanding her love for children, Miss Swain did not find
+teaching altogether a delight. The inattention of the children and
+the daily routine made her feel irritable, she said, but she kept
+steadily on, hoping in time to carry out a purpose which she had
+in mind of some day becoming a doctor. When an opportunity offered
+for her to take a position in the Castile Sanitarium under Dr.
+Cordelia A. Greene, she gladly gave up teaching and entered upon a
+course of training which, though sometimes irksome, proved more
+congenial than her former occupation.
+
+All the way along, her strong will had availed to overcome
+obstacles, and here, during many weary hours, she comforted
+herself with the thought that she was nearing the goal of her
+ambition. She could not have had a more satisfactory opportunity
+for the training that she needed; for though Dr. Greene exacted
+thoroughness in every line of work, she was so sympathetic and so
+ready to give a word of commendation and encouragement, that her
+pupil could not do otherwise than accede to all the requirements
+of her position. It was not long before doctor and pupil became
+fast friends and the congenial companionship was a life-long
+pleasure to both. "I owe much to Dr. Cordelia," she said many
+times in after life.
+
+
+
+AT THE MEDICAL COLLEGE
+
+
+After three years of study and practice in the Sanitarium she
+applied for admission to the Woman's Medical College in
+Philadelphia, from which she was graduated in the spring of 1869.
+She often spoke of the pleasure she had in lingering in the park
+after class hours, on her way to her boarding-place, and of
+the occasional free and intimate talks with certain of her
+instructors.
+
+She enjoyed the Sabbath services and had many opportunities of
+hearing some of the celebrated preachers of the day. The Rev. Dana
+Boardman seems to have been a favorite with her and she took notes
+of several of his sermons. "Bishop Simpson's Christmas sermon
+(1868) on Luke 2:13, 14, filled my heart with peace and good-will
+to (all) men," she notes. A sermon by Dr. Willett in November,
+1868, on "What do ye more than others?"--Matt. 5:47, and one by
+Dr. McGowan on Mark 10:21, "One thing thou lackest," led to much
+heart-searching. A short time before leaving Philadelphia she
+heard Phillips Brooks preach from Malachi 4:2. "A wonderful
+sermon," she termed it, and she greatly enjoyed a talk by him on
+tithing, which she determined to act upon.
+
+We have no special record of Dr. Swain's years of study in the
+Woman's Medical College, but we may be sure that she improved
+every opportunity to perfect herself in her chosen calling. Her
+instructors were her warm friends and she corresponded with some
+of them after she went to India. Dean Bodley, in one of her
+letters, gave the names of nine young women in the college who
+were preparing for medical missionary work, and Dr. Swain made a
+note of them, saying that she must write to them before their
+graduation. Two of these ladies went to India as medical
+missionaries.
+
+
+
+CALL TO SERVICE IN INDIA
+
+
+The story of Dr. Swain's call to go to India has been told many
+times. Mrs. D.W. Thomas, who, with her husband, had charge of the
+girls' orphanage of the Methodist Mission, had long felt the need
+of efficient medical aid for the women and children of India and
+had been doing what she could to alleviate the sufferings of those
+with whom she came in contact. She had even thought that she would
+herself study medicine when she should go to America for change
+and rest. In the meantime she was instructing a class of the older
+girls in the orphanage in physiology and hygiene, both in English
+and the vernacular, with the hope that some time they might have
+regular medical training. She talked with native gentlemen and
+with English officials of the great need for intelligent medical
+treatment for the women and children of the country, especially
+for those who live in seclusion, and of her hope that a lady
+medical missionary might be sent to India. A native gentleman so
+thoroughly approved of the idea that he offered to defray all the
+expenses of a medical school or class if a lady physician could be
+sent from America to take charge of it.
+
+Mrs. Thomas's letter of appeal to Mrs. J.T. Gracey, a former
+missionary, for her assistance in the matter, led Mrs. Gracey to
+inquire at the Philadelphia Woman's Medical College if a suitable
+person could be found among the graduates, who would accept a call
+from the Woman's Union Missionary Society of America to go as a
+medical missionary to India. Miss Clara A. Swain, M.D., was named
+as one fitted by both professional acquirements and Christian
+character for such a position. It required much thought and prayer
+on Dr. Swain's part before she could signify her acceptance of the
+call, and during the three months of delay in giving her answer
+the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal
+Church, of which she was a member, was organized. Naturally she
+preferred to go under the auspices of her own denomination, and
+the Union Missionary Society gracefully and generously accepted
+her decision.
+
+Confident that she was obeying the call of God, she set about her
+preparations for the long journey before her in a cheerful spirit,
+answering the demurs of her friends with, "It is God's call. I
+must go." She was greatly cheered when she found that Miss
+Isabella Thoburn, whose brother (now Bishop Thoburn) had been some
+years in India, was to be her traveling companion. They sailed
+from New York November 3, 1869, and arrived in Bareilly January
+20, 1870, during the annual conference of the Methodist Mission.
+
+
+
+APPOINTMENT TO BAREILLY
+
+
+The two ladies, whose previous slight acquaintance had ripened
+into warmest friendship during their weeks of journeying together,
+had hoped that they might be associated together in mission work,
+but it was not so to be. Miss Thoburn was appointed to educational
+work in Lucknow, and Dr. Swain found that she was to remain in
+Bareilly. This appointment gave her the opportunity to begin her
+medical work at once, for there were not only the girls'
+orphanage, for which Mrs. Thomas had so long desired efficient
+medical help, but scores of Christian women who could not go to
+the city hospital. In addition to these, there was the class of
+fourteen intelligent Christian girls that had for two years been
+receiving excellent preparatory training from Mrs. Thomas, who had
+fully believed that her prayer for a lady doctor would be answered
+and that these girls would yet have the opportunity for the study
+of medicine. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were well acquainted with several
+of the wealthy and influential natives of the city, and Mrs.
+Thomas welcomed the opportunity to introduce her doctor friend to
+these homes.
+
+There was no lack of patients for the new doctor; for in addition
+to her work in the orphanage and her medical class, calls to
+native homes in the city became more and more frequent. At the end
+of the first six weeks after her arrival in Bareilly, Dr. Swain's
+note book recorded one hundred and eight patients. Her report to
+the conference, after a year of such service as she had never
+dreamed of, gave the number of patients prescribed for at the
+mission house as twelve hundred and twenty-five, and of visits to
+patients in their homes, two hundred and fifty.
+
+The young women of the medical class were gaining practice and
+experience by caring for the sick in the orphanage and the
+Christian village, and sometimes accompanying Dr. Swain to visit
+her city patients, and they were also becoming proficient in
+compounding and dispensing medicines. This class, begun March 1,
+1870, was graduated April 10, 1873, having passed an excellent
+examination before two civil surgeons and an American physician,
+from whom they received certificates entitling them to practice in
+all ordinary diseases.
+
+
+
+THE NAWAB'S GIFT
+
+
+The need for a dispensary and hospital became daily more
+imperative, and it was opportunely met in the munificent gift of
+the Nawab of Rampore, who owned an estate adjoining the mission
+premises in Bareilly. The Hon. Mr. Drummond, the commissioner of
+the Northwest Provinces, was interested in mission work,
+especially in the effort to help the women of the city and
+neighboring villages through medical aid, and he agreed with the
+missionaries that the Nawab's estate was just what was needed to
+carry out their plans. He therefore arranged that Mr. Thomas
+should go to Rampore and in a personal interview represent to the
+Nawab his desire to procure a portion of his estate in Bareilly
+which adjoined the mission property, for the purpose of
+establishing a hospital for women.
+
+Accordingly, on receiving an intimation that the Nawab would
+receive them, on October 8, 1871, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and Dr.
+Swain set out for this momentous interview. An interesting
+description of this visit is given in Mrs. Gracey's book, "Woman's
+Medical Work in Foreign Lands," and in Dr. Swain's book, "A
+Glimpse of India." Mr. Thomas's carefully prepared Hindustani
+speech was not finished before the Nawab replied graciously, "Take
+it! It is yours! I give it to you with great pleasure for such a
+purpose."
+
+Mrs. Thomas naively wrote: "We were so amazed at the readiness and
+graciousness of the gift that we nearly forgot to make our salaams
+and express our thanks and gratitude. The Nawab replied that there
+were two great merits in this gift--one for himself and one for
+Mr. Thomas, for taking so great interest in the charitable work.
+Mr. Thomas then asked permission to found the first hospital for
+women in India in His Highness's name, to which he replied, 'As
+you think proper, so do.' So His Highness Mahomed Kallub Ali Khan,
+Bahadur, Nawab of Rampore, has the honor of making the first
+generous contribution toward founding the _first woman's hospital
+in India_. His Highness again expressed the satisfaction he felt
+in bestowing this gift, and said he would send his general to
+Bareilly on Monday to make out the papers and put us in formal
+possession of the property."
+
+Before the party left the Nawab's dominions, the ladies were asked
+to see a sick woman in the Tahsildar's house, and they found her
+very ill indeed. Dr. Swain prescribed for her and for several
+others who asked for medicines; then they returned to the Rest
+House to get their breakfast and talk over the interview, and to
+thank God for his great bounty to the mission work.
+
+Mrs. Thomas wrote: "We were bewildered and overwhelmed to think
+that the possessions which we had longed and prayed for these many
+years were ours. The gift came to us so freely and in such a way
+that we could take no credit to ourselves for having obtained it.
+Like all God's free gifts it was given before asked for; no
+persuasions or arguments of ours would have made any difference.
+God saw our need and supplied it."
+
+The estate consisted of forty acres of land, a fine old kothi or
+mansion, and an extensive garden. The house needed repairs which
+were soon completed and Dr. Swain and Miss Sparkes, who had been
+appointed to take charge of the orphanage, moved into their new
+home January 1, 1872. A part of the house was used for a
+dispensary until other arrangements could be made, and then
+followed busy and often weary days, borne with patience, however,
+for the work was for the Master.
+
+The much-needed and well-planned dispensary building was completed
+in May, 1873, and the hospital buildings connected with it
+received the first indoor patients January 1, 1874. From that time
+on there was no lack of occupants for the rooms. In the published
+collection of her letters, entitled "A Glimpse of India," Dr.
+Swain gives a graphic picture of the buildings, their occupants
+and their mode of life.
+
+Visits to homes in the city were continued, and Dr. Swain and her
+assistants were fully occupied every day. Three of the graduates
+of the medical class were employed by Dr. Swain as Bible women and
+gave much assistance in the religious work connected with the
+hospital.
+
+
+
+FIRST FURLOUGH
+
+
+The anxiety and the responsibility of the rapidly increasing work
+brought weariness of mind and body, and in March, 1876, Dr. Swain
+returned to America for a much needed rest. This was extended to
+the autumn of 1879 when, on September 25, she again sailed for
+India, arriving in Bombay November 6. At the conference held in
+Cawnpore in January, 1880, Dr. Swain received her appointment to
+Bareilly and with gladness of heart took up her old work.
+
+
+
+PHYSICIAN TO THE RANI OF KHETRI
+
+
+In March, 1885, Dr. Swain received a call to a native state to
+attend the wife of the Rajah, and after two weeks of successful
+treatment she was formally requested to remain as physician to the
+Rani and the ladies of the palace. After much thought and prayer
+it seemed to her that it was the Lord's will that she should
+remain and do what she could for him in this place where there
+were no Christian influences; so she consented to the proposal on
+condition that she and her companion be allowed to carry on the
+work as Christians should. To this the Rajah agreed, and Dr. Swain
+signed a contract to remain two years.
+
+In the Blue Book, or Administration Report, of the Khetri State,
+1886, the Rajah wrote: "I cannot look back with greater pleasure
+or satisfaction on anything I have done than on the facilities
+introduced by me for rendering medical aid to the female portion
+of my subjects. It is a patent fact that the Indian woman,
+secluded as she is within the four walls of the zenana, cannot
+fully benefit by any system of medicine; and it was not till the
+generous efforts of Lady Dufferin were turned in this direction
+that the wives and daughters of the richest and most enlightened
+Indians enjoyed a better position than the lowest and meanest of
+their fellows. It therefore gives me genuine pleasure to bring
+prominently to your notice the existence of a regular institution
+in this benighted portion of India, for the treatment of females
+of all classes. I have employed a very competent European lady
+doctor, Miss Swain, M.D., to attend on Her Highness, the Rani
+Sahiba, and, feeling it my duty to place her advice and assistance
+within the reach of all my subjects, have established a regular
+dispensary for women. It was opened June 1, 1885, at the expense
+of the state, and a room in the palace building appropriated to it
+until a more convenient and suitable one could be provided. An
+allowance of Rs. 100 per mensem is fixed for medicines, and is
+found for the present to be sufficient. The average daily
+attendance at the dispensary is five."
+
+Under Section 12, Schools, this report is given:--"I am glad to
+say that the people of my state are beginning to evince greater
+interest in the education of their children than they have done
+before. The greatest desire of Her Highness, the Rani Sahiba, was
+that I should make suitable provision for the education of girls.
+I, accordingly, engaged a competent European lady, Miss P.E.
+Pannell, as mistress, and the Khetri Girls' School was opened by
+Her Highness in April, 1885, in the teeth of opposition from the
+orthodox portion of the community. As was expected, at first every
+effort to teach these girls was frowned upon and considered absurd
+by their relatives and friends. This feeling, however, gradually
+gave place to trust and confidence, and the school is now showing
+some return for all the time and patience spent upon it. The
+number of pupils on the roll is twenty, of which three have gone
+to their _susval_ (husband's home) and three attend only
+occasionally. The average attendance of fourteen girls has,
+however, been regular. Great pains has been taken to teach
+truthfulness, honesty and love for one another. Instruction is
+also given in needlework of various kinds, and other things, the
+knowledge of which is necessary for good housekeeping. The
+improvement made by some of the girls in this direction may at
+once be noticed by a change in the manner of doing nicely the
+little things which go to make up their lives. The school owes its
+existence to the care of Her Highness, who is much interested in
+it."
+
+In addition to her school, Miss Pannell was engaged to teach the
+Rani and some of the court ladies. Dr. Swain and Miss Pannell were
+the only Christians in the state, but their little Sunday service
+conducted for their servants gained attention, and others asked to
+be allowed to attend, some becoming so much interested that they
+procured Bibles and Testaments that they might read the "wonderful
+words" themselves. A supply of tracts and portions of Scripture
+was always on hand, to distribute whenever and wherever the ladies
+felt they would be appreciated.
+
+
+
+SECOND FURLOUGH
+
+
+The serious illness of one of Dr. Swain's sisters decided her to
+return to America, and she left Khetri in March, 1888, having
+spent nearly three years in "seed sowing" as she called it. Her
+own health, too, demanded a change, and in company with a most
+congenial missionary friend she turned her face toward the
+homeland. She returned to India in company with the same congenial
+friend, in time to attend the North India Conference before going
+to her Khetri home, Miss Pannell again accompanying her.
+
+
+
+RETURN TO KHETRI
+
+
+The isolation of their life in Khetri had been at times a great
+trial to both Dr. Swain and Miss Pannell, but they felt that they
+were where God wanted them to be and bore their privations
+bravely. However, at this time Dr. Swain wrote: "After eighteen
+months of the religious life of America and the many precious
+privileges enjoyed there, it seems harder to settle down to the
+life here. I miss the church services much more than I did when I
+was here before." At another time she wrote: "I have sometimes
+felt tempted to give up my work here, but then the thought comes
+to me that I can do more by remaining here, and paying the salary
+of a native preacher to do what I should never be able to do."
+
+A second princess had been born during Dr. Swain's absence from
+Khetri. This occasioned close attendance at the palace, as the
+baby was delicate, and Dr. Swain had an opportunity for Bible
+study with the Rani who enjoyed nothing more than an hour of daily
+study of the Scriptures. The older princess, too, was ready with a
+new Bible verse every day, and a Sunday service was held in the
+Rani's apartments, at which the women of the court and their
+attendants were present. The Sunday Bible class at the home was
+not neglected; it increased in interest and numbers, some of the
+more intelligent of the Rajah's staff occasionally joining the
+company and listening with interest to the hymns and the reading
+of the Scriptures.
+
+The birth of the prince and heir in January, 1893, was a time of
+great rejoicing and much ceremony. Offerings were made to the
+deities day after day, the poor were fed and presents given to the
+Brahmans. The Rani acknowledged her thankfulness to God by a
+donation, in the name of her little son, to Christian work, asking
+that the money be used to support an orphan in the mission to
+which Dr. Swain belonged.
+
+
+
+TRIP THROUGH EUROPE AND THE HOLY LAND
+
+
+Dr. Swain's engagement with the Khetri state expired in October,
+1895, and in March, 1896, she left India, as she supposed,
+forever. "Mother Ninde" and her traveling companion, Miss Baucus,
+from Japan, were among the missionary party of eleven, some of
+whom were anticipating a trip to the Holy Land. In company with
+Miss Baucus, Dr. Swain visited Jerusalem, where they were joined
+by Miss Dickinson of Utica, N.Y., and the three traveled together
+from April 1, 1896 to July 4, when they sailed for America. They
+had visited the places of interest in and around Jerusalem,
+Bethany, Bethlehem, on to Beirut, Damascus, Baalbek, Nazareth,
+Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee, a tour much enjoyed by them all.
+
+At Jerusalem they met a company of Americans, and arranged to
+accompany them to Constantinople. On the way they stopped at Smyrna
+and made a hurried trip to Ephesus, arriving in Constantinople May
+20. There they remained six days and then sailed for Athens. On
+June 2 they began their European tour, sailing on an Italian
+steamer to Brindisi, where they parted with their American
+friends. The three then visited Venice, Munich, Dresden, Cologne
+and Paris, reaching London June 27, and remaining there till July
+4, when they sailed for New York.
+
+"No more sea for me!" was Dr. Swain's reply when asked if she were
+not tired of travel. "I took many rest days while the others were
+sight-seeing, and now I hope to have a good long rest here at the
+Castile Sanitarium."
+
+
+
+TO INDIA FOR THE JUBILEE
+
+
+But to the great surprise of many of her friends, and
+notwithstanding the remonstrances of some who feared she would not
+live to return to America, she determined to go to India to attend
+the Jubilee of the Methodist Mission, founded by the Rev. William
+Butler in 1856. In company with some missionaries under
+appointment to India she sailed from New York, November 6, 1906,
+just thirty-seven years from the time that she started out on her
+untried career. She spent eighteen months among old friends and
+old scenes in India, rejoicing in the great advance in numbers,
+intelligence and spirituality of the native Christians, and had
+the great pleasure of meeting again the young prince of Khetri and
+his sisters--now orphans--and of hearing from them of their
+mother's last days and of her continued love for the Bible, to
+which she had given so much attention while Dr. Swain was with
+her.
+
+
+
+AT HOME IN CASTILE
+
+
+Once more she turned toward the home land, arriving in Castile,
+N.Y., in April, 1908, where she was joined by the friend of her
+early missionary days in India.
+
+Dr. Cordelia Greene, who established the Sanitarium, was succeeded
+by her niece, Dr. Mary T. Greene, who arranged that the two
+friends should occupy rooms in her lovely cottage, Brookside,
+opposite the Sanitarium grounds, where for nearly three years they
+enjoyed the comforts of a home and of congenial society. Though
+living outside the institution they took their meals with the
+Sanitarium family and took part in the daily morning prayer
+service in the helpers' sitting-room and the after-supper service
+for patients and guests in the large parlors, enjoying to the
+full the spiritual atmosphere of the place.
+
+There were quiet hours of delightful study in the Book which each
+had made the guide of her life; social afternoons with friends
+from different parts of the country and from over the seas who
+were taking a rest-time in the lovely village; and pleasant
+evenings before the cheerful grate fire in Dr. Swain's room. These
+were made more heartsome one autumn because of the presence of a
+much-esteemed missionary friend, Miss Knowles, from India, and of
+Miss McFarland, Dr. Swain's dear friend of Canandaigua days, who
+had come to spend a little time with the one whose companionship
+had always been a pleasure, and whose correspondence during her
+absence from America had been a delight.
+
+
+
+"A GLIMPSE OF INDIA"
+
+
+Relatives and friends of Dr. Swain had carefully preserved many of
+her letters; and Dr. Greene, who had long desired that these
+letters should be published, conceived that the favorable time had
+come and urged the immediate preparation of the work. The letters
+were read, extracts made, compiled and edited; and in the summer
+of 1909 "A Glimpse of India" was given to the public. This
+furnished a most interesting record of the busy life of the first
+medical missionary to the women of the orient. As long as Dr.
+Swain was able, she attended the Sunday morning service and the
+Thursday evening prayer meeting, as well as the meetings of the
+missionary and the Ladies' Aid societies of the church. When she
+was no longer equal to the walk to church, she and her friend had
+regular Sunday morning service in their room with hymns, Scripture
+reading, prayer and a sermon, and were often present in spirit at
+the midweek prayer meeting, though their prayers and praises were
+uttered in their room.
+
+
+
+THE LAST YEAR OF HER LIFE
+
+
+The last year of Dr. Swain's life was spent in much weakness at
+times, occasioned by an attack of grippe which would not be
+overcome, but it was not until the first week in December that she
+felt that she could not hope to get stronger. When confined to her
+bed she kept her Testament and Psalms near her, and though seldom
+able to read more than a verse she enjoyed the daily morning Bible
+reading and prayer with her friend.
+
+Loving attendance and the best medical care were given her but
+nought availed, and early Christmas morning, while sleeping, she
+passed from earth to her Father's home above. She was laid to
+rest in the beautiful cemetery at Castile, December 28, 1910.
+
+The prayer of the "frail little mother of a frail little daughter"
+was fully answered in this good and useful life.
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14017 ***