Page:Memorials of Capt. Hedley Vicars, Ninety-seventh Regiment by Marsh, Catherine, 1818-1912.djvu/135

128 really strong desire to save souls, to win fellow-sinners to the cross of Jesus Christ, not as a mere duty, but as the heart's delight. I cannot express how deeply grateful I feel towards you, best and dearest of all my earthly friends. But God knows and hears my poor prayers for you.

"You will be thankful to hear there is a decrease of cholera. The last man we have lost (one of the Light company) was admitted into hospital last night. Poor fellow, he suffered most dreadfully; it was quite painful to stand by his bedside. I remained with him for nearly an hour, and spoke to him from time to time of Jesus Christ. But whenever the cramps came on, his screams quite drowned my voice. On leaving him I shook hands with him (his were black and cold), and told him to 'behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world,' to look to Jesus, whose blood cleanseth from all sin. When I mentioned the name of Jesus he gave me such a wonderful look, full of peace and resignation. In less than four hours afterwards his soul had fled.

"Only fifteen are in hospital now with cholera; the fever hospital is still crowded; but I should think no disease, except the plague, can be so horrible as Asiatic cholera. I saw its ravages in Jamaica, but that which has raged here seems to have been of a more virulent nature, and death has come on more rapidly; it so alters the countenance that often I have been quite unable to recognize dying men whom I found, on asking their names, that I knew very well.

"My Scripture-reading and Prayer Meeting at the hospital is better attended than ever. Last Sunday I read the twelfth chapter of Hebrews in one of the wards; and after talking to the men about it, felt my heart drawn out earnestly in prayer for their souls. My chief my only subject with them, is, and it is a theme of which I hope never to grow tired. May