’Going along I saw three marquees, on one of which there was written “Soldiers’ Home.”  I peeped in and saw Pearce, of the Gloucesters.  I marched up to him and told him who I was.  Four of them knew me, and we had a good old talk of the home land.  They had just finished a good old Bible reading, and tea came in.  I sat down for tea with them.  At about 6 p.m. we were in the large marquee putting things ready, and about 6.30 it was full of soldiers, perhaps about 600.  Then we had the dear old Sankey hymns.’

Another grows quite eloquent as he writes:—­

’At home I hear there has been much rejoicing, and the reverses have given place to victories.  But the victories have been bought by the sacrifice of human souls.  The altar has been saturated with the blood of fathers and sons.  The bitterness of sorrow has wrung human hearts in the dear old homeland.  In the mansion, in the cottage, in city and in village, tidings of death have found a place.  But Christ, the Prince of Peace, has given peace to many lads on the battlefield.  Words which were apparently sown in the darkness have bloomed in the light.  Life eternal has been accepted, and the life of sin has become the life of joy.  Behind the veil the Master stands and sees the awful strife.  The Divine plan is hidden from view, but our faith can see in the distant years the continent of Africa revealed as a continent of God’s people.

’Men have been, and still are, seeking for fame and glory.  The things of heaven, the Christ who died, have been forgotten in the struggle for things of the world.  Thank God for the many souls who have found Jesus out here.  We feel a mighty power within, and we know it is in answer to the prayers of loved ones in the dear old land.  A wall of prayer surrounds us and we are safe.  I feel that I have let many golden opportunities slip.  The harvest is passing and labourers are few.

     ’The hearts of our Christian lads have been kept true, and God has
     been glorified.’

So testify these Christian men to the power of our holy religion to save and keep.  We thank God that they in their own way have ’kept the flag flying.’

=The Enteric Epidemic.=

But now began another battle—­a battle fiercer and more disastrous to our men than any other in this Boer campaign.  Enteric fever had been dogging the steps of our army all the way from Cronje’s camp, and it overtook it in full force in Bloemfontein.  Very soon the hospitals were full—­crowded—­overcrowded.  A state of things obtained which, whether it be a scandal or not, will be a lasting source of regret to every Englishman, and a dark stain upon the war.