Our kitchen has the woodwork of its roof finished; hope soon to see it completed; glorious anticipation; a masterpiece!

Tramping about from 1.30 to 6.30, and now exceedingly tired.  Wonder how about Sunday’s sermons.

Mr. Becker; funerals—­nine, I believe.

* * * * *

Saturday, September 14.—­Great day; this way:  inspected this afternoon immense new marquee tent put up for hospital; glorious within; charmed; mindful of our sufferings when trying to hold and attend Divine service; idea spontaneous; immediate action; bee-line to Superintendent’s tent; psychological moment; agreeable.  Hurrah!  Strike iron while hot; enlist men to help at 3 p.m.  Resultum:  Fine large tent between the two school sheds; “Alles achter mekaar” (everything in order).  Can have use of school forms, which will seat 300 people.  Position grand; bit aside, but quiet and clean neighbourhood.  Inauguration to-morrow.

And sermon?  That still to be made.  It’s no absolute good; busy whole morning; planned to reserve afternoon for preparation.

Afternoon comes; new church; funerals; final visits, and where does the preparation come in?  No show!  Never mind; too satisfied to grumble to-night; “Alles zal wel recht komen” (all will come right).

No chance for hospital to-day; sorry; Betty Lotz dead; poor child.  Yesterday I still teased her with her cropped hair and the orange she was eating; always so glad when I come; “Betty, gij kan moes mooi hoor als ik lees en bid neh” ("Betty, you listen very nicely when I read and pray").  “O ja, minheer, ik luister baing mooi” ("O yes, sir, I listen very well").

Buried her this afternoon, also seven others; “Dood, waar is uw prikkel?” (Death, where is thy sting?)

She belonged to 627, from which two daughters were buried in the week; parents far away; aunt still very sick.

Found Mrs. Barkhuizen dying; passed away soon after I left.

518, Mrs. Welgemoed, died in night; baby also dying; great sorrow.

Called to console mother whose babe had just died, Mrs. Van der M.

Next door old Mr. R. dying, and, worst of all, unprepared.  Oh! how unspeakably difficult is my work and how fearful the responsibility!

Wonder if he is still alive?  Mr. Otto[44] went to him too, and I asked Mr. Becker to visit him also.

Rather ashamed this morning; had taken down Nos. 268 and 263 some days ago, and never yet been there.  To-day “voorgekeerd” (waylaid).

268, Mrs. Steyn; very sick for one and a half months already; glad I went; in other tent found Mrs. Fourie; heard that her two children already dead; very resigned; glad of my visit even though so late in day.

While in official tent, woman came with note, for maizena, brandy, and milk from doctor; was simply told there was none. (And where are the things that came down lately, with two dozen brandy and 24 dozen milk?)