Page:Memorials of Capt. Hedley Vicars, Ninety-seventh Regiment by Marsh, Catherine, 1818-1912.djvu/130

Rh great consistency of life and conversation, with his entire devotion to the one cause ever set before him — I seem to be unable to put into words."

The history of this solemn time is more fully given in his own earnest letters,

" I know that what I have to tell you will cause you great anxiety; but the newspapers will give you all particulars, whether I do so or not. The cholera has been raging here. For some time it was with the French alone; but the day before yesterday we lost one man, and since then, nine have been carried off by it. O, dearest friends, pray that this fearful visitation may be the means of awakening solemn thoughts in the stoutest hearts amongst my thoughtless comrades, and leading them for pardon, peace, and safety to Jesus the Saviour of sinners. Do not be alarmed for me. Remember God's delight in answering prayer, and surely no man has such praying friends as I have. How often the happy hours we have passed together come before me, and I wonder whether we shall ever have them over again!  Should I die now, you know my only ground of hope, my only confidence, my only assurance is in the cross of Jesus Christ and in the knowledge that 'the precious blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin:' — words as full of sweetness and of consolation to me now as on the day when they were first made to my soul, 'the power of God unto salvation.' Death in this form, at all events, has its gloom even for Christians, but then the sting, yes the sting, is for them completely taken away."

" Death has been busy amongst our poor fellows since I last wrote to you. Twenty-seven have died in seven days. I am quite well, thank