Page:Memorials of Capt. Hedley Vicars, Ninety-seventh Regiment by Marsh, Catherine, 1818-1912.djvu/133

126 who listened most attentively and seemed to be the most interested.

"In my own soul I have enjoyed a peaceful happy time leaning on Jesus. It is true this is a spiritual desert, but seldom have I had more hungerings and thirstings after Christ and holiness. With David I can say, 'My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee, in a dry and thirsty land where no water is.' But you have taught me not to be selfishly engrossed with my own spirit, but to seek to have my soul drawn out to the hungry, to seek diligently after wandering sheep; and the deeper one's anxiety the deeper one's interest and delight in the work. Your precious letters help and sustain me. God bless you for them. N—— is most interesting to me now. Trusting in the strength of Jesus, I believe his mind is made up 'to follow the Lord wholly.' He comes to my room every evening, and we generally walk together. Four companies have gone to the hills for change of air. I never was better in my life, though, of course, not quite so strong as when I left old England."

" About seventy of my hundred and seven comrades who have died of cholera were men whom I well knew, as they entered the service about the same time that I did. I do hope that some, nay, that many, amongst them were enabled to look to Jesus in their last moments. God grant we may find such to have been the case when we all meet at the last day.

"Poor Cottrell has been ill again, but is recovering. The Scripture reading is in the ward where he is, and he is very attentive, as indeed they all are. The day before yesterday, whilst going round the wards, I noticed one poor young fellow who had been