MARY ON HORSEBACK. THREE MOUNTAIN STORIES.

New York: Dial Books for Y:oung Readers. Book. Near Fine. Hardcover. (1998). First Edition, 53pp, illustrated by Peter McCarty. Near Fine in Near Fine dj. From the dj: "Mary Breckinridge, trained as a nurse during World War I, rode on horseback into the isolated mountains of Appalachia and never looked back. Instead she spent her life fording icy streams and climbing untracked mountains to bring medical help to those in need. More nurses on horseback joined Mary, and her great creation, the Frontier Nursing Service, was soon acknowledged as a model for rural health care worldwide. It flourishes today. In these well-crafted stories, Rosemary Wells has created three beautiful realized characters. It is through their eyes that today's young readers will see the enormous goodness and vitality of this under celebrated American heroine." Mary Breckinridge came from a distinguished southern family. Her grandfather was Confederate General John C. Breckinridge, who served as vice-president of the United States under James Buchanan. Her father was the American minister to Russia. She might have married and settled into a life of ease, but she chose to dedicate her life to the people of Appalachia. Since it was established the Frontier Nursing Service has registered 250,000 patients and delivered 25,000 babies. The Frontier Nurses visit an average of 35,000 mountain homes each year. .