What horrible thing is dirt!  Surely one of greatest gifts is to be able to appreciate the “clean.”

Funerals again Monday; “Zalig zijn de dooden die in den Heere sterven” (Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord); so many children again.

Visit old Mr. Du Toit on way home.

Now am I positively dead![66] “Mijnheer, min. moet mij tog een ding beloove; om als de oorlog verbij is, die preek van min. te laat druk enz enz, Om te doen gedenken” (Sir, you must promise me one thing, to publish your sermon on ‘To bring to remembrance’ when the war is over).

“Kan jij nou meer!"[67] Really now, after all there is nothing like a good, long, square ear-to-ear grin in this world!

Shall I deny, though, that there is just a wee drop of cheer and comfort, huge as the joke is!

Yesterday fellow who knocked down doctor returned; fined L5; and since Saturday no one to do his lines[68].

Found 597 very bad; young girl (Kruger); wants to die.

245, Mrs. Du Preez; great pain; died last night, buried this afternoon.

Two little children remain behind; saddening.

Buried six this afternoon; “Ik ben verstomd, ik deed mynen mond niet open, want Gij hebt het gedaan” (I was dumb.  I opened not my mouth because Thou didst it).  Saw motherless boy and girl weeping at grave (Mrs. Oliver, 107, 62, 50).

In 62 the thinnest, skeletonest babe ever seen.  How old and withered up these little mites become!

Asked Dr. M. visit 262, and try and get her admitted to hospital.

Next morning actually—­I repeat actually[69]—­I found her there.  Am wonderfully thankful; now the old grandmother can take her rest; poor old soul; so faithful; so willing, and so gentle always.  One can understand better such sayings as “Faithful unto Death” when you watch those around sickbeds here in camp.

Found in 167 young mother (babe); arm very bad; no friends; alone; Mrs. Van Staden took mercy on her when she arrived ten days ago; all relatives in Norval’s Pont Camp.  How could she get well here!

Got doctor yesterday to give her note to headquarters, and this afternoon, after repeated visits, at length succeeded in getting her off to Norval’s Pont; poor little soul; may she now find rest for her weary, fainting heart. (Feel rather satisfied with myself when I think of her (Mrs. Van Wyk) and Mrs. Grobbelaar!)

Saw this afternoon most marvellous “en aandoenlijk” (touching) thing in camp.

Mrs. Jacobs, 721; little daughter was shot through stomach on their flight from English, some three weeks ago, and the child lay ’twixt life and death for days; now she is quite well again; too wonderful for words; “Minheer, kijk hier!” (Sir, look here), and the mother unrolled a little flannel vest before my eyes.  The front part had two cruel, ugly holes, one an inch, other almost two in length; the whole was as though dipped in blood.  Let me be dumb—­words would be wicked!