Womans Endurance | Page 8

What, if there was no hope of the
Resurrection and Life Everlasting! What, if there is nothing beyond the
Grave!
The nights here are so awful, and one yearns for day; and then the
fearfulness of being awakened repeatedly in the night by the tramp of
those who carry away the dead to the morgue tents. I woke last night in
such a way, and knew that they were bearing young Herklaas away.
One grows a bit pessimistic under the circumstances. Despite my
services, I had to visit several sick--mostly dying children, with
weeping mothers. It is so hard to pray, and so very wearying. And then,
to comfort and cheer, when your own heart is lead within.
In the hospital there are many sick; am neglecting the hospital, and my
conscience hurts, but am going regularly from to-morrow; must find
time somewhere.

Mrs. De Lint's children are all sick; baby very bad; poor woman; am so
sorry for her; Peter away in Ceylon.
Those deep rings round the eyes, which one sees all about, bear
testimony to nights of watching and of anguish in the heart. May God
take pity!
Monday, September 2.--Bitter day, the bitterest I have yet had;
Superintendent furious because of my last letters[28]. The worst is I see
that I am altogether misunderstood, and that I am suspected now of
interfering and working against the Superintendent. And yet this is not
so, for I would go to-morrow if I knew I was at all hostile to the
authorities. I fear I have been indiscreet in what I wrote; shall have
straight talk to-morrow, and ask Superintendent to let me resign if I
have not his confidence; there must be no suspicion, otherwise I cannot
stay. This matter is a load upon my heart.
Busy day; new tents 63, 552a, 50, 40, all with sick children except 552,
where young man is very sick.
Called to hospital; Mrs. Retief dying; prayer; expired just after. Hurried
to 34, but found I was just too late; Mrs. Ackerman just died.
156; very sad case; mother, Mrs. Joubert, died this morning, and when I
came I found three helpless little ones all alone, and sick too; father in
Bloemfontein Camp; the grandmother will provide, I understand.
Had short conversation with Mr. Branders, Superintendent Sunday
School, and decided to exhort parents to send children to school.
395; Mrs. Botha very ill; twenty-eight days in bed; advise removal
hospital; this afternoon doctor called and said she was dying; she leaves
a baby.
Went to few cases with doctor; very interesting; get on well with him.
Visited 239, Ignatius, with malignant growth on arm; must soon die.

Took doctor to see 36; young girl suddenly sick; great misery there;
bad ventilation; four others measles.
Funerals this afternoon (about nine); "Hetgeen gij zaait wordt niet
levend tenzij dat het gestorven is" (That which thou sowest is not
quickened except it die).
Visited hospital to-day, and mean to go regularly each day.
* * * * *
Tuesday, September 3.--Went to Superintendent first thing to-day;
reasonable[29]; long talk; reconciled; thank God.
Found boy in 34 very, very bad; this afternoon stopped bearers on way
to morgue tents, and learnt that they were carrying him away; poor
little fellow; he suffered so very much!
In 35 there is also great sickness.
27; Mrs. Taljaard; very sick baby; also sick boy; husband commando.
Hospital; read and prayed in the three wards; glad I went; some very
seriously ill; so sorry to hear that Miss Hendriks died this morning; she
was very bad; spoke to her yesterday, and prayed with her; she
enquired restlessly, time after time, "Is dit nog nie vijf uur nie?" (Is it
not yet five o'clock?). At five this morning she passed away.
The men's ward quite full; all ages; all were so glad to have me read
and pray.
541; Mrs. Steyn; two children gone; very sore; glad I went.
500; Mrs. Schoeman; eight children; two sick; husband Ceylon.
503; Mrs. Robertson; baby dead; two boys sick; husband fighting.
In 418 great misery; Mrs. Herbst ill and three sick children.

In 322 called in to pray for dying baby.
Very busy afternoon; always stopped on way and called in.
Neglected 475.
The poor little mites! the horrid, cruel pneumonia! and there seems to
be no saving them when once the pneumonia, grips them.
Mr. Becker took funerals, seventeen; several in blankets.
And so we go forth day by day; the dread whistle; the regular tramp of
the bearers to morgue tents, and the slowly winding procession every
afternoon.
Called hurriedly to hospital twice; dying girl just brought in; could
understand.
Hysterical girl Martie[30], swearing and cursing all round; each nurse
in particular, and the whole lot generally.
Old Mrs. Van Zyl, 492, evidently dying.
Called