Page:Memorials of Capt. Hedley Vicars, Ninety-seventh Regiment by Marsh, Catherine, 1818-1912.djvu/188

Rh Spirit pour abundantly upon all who shall bend the knee on that day the spirit of grace and supplication.

"God bless you, dearest and best of all my earthly friends, for all your care for the bodily and spiritual comfort of me and my regiment. The two boxes sent in December have arrived, and their contents are invaluable. How kind of that lady at Torquay to cut up her own fur cloak into chest-preservers for us soldiers! When they arrive, will it not be a sort of sacrilege to wear them? I should like to send my Christian love to her, and to those who meet with her to pray for us. Also, do not fail to give it to Mrs. Harrington. Tell her the needle-books, with scissors, &c., will be capital presents. I cordially appreciate her sympathy for us in not calling it by the good old name of  ' housewife, '  which would indeed have been a mockery of the miseries of a camp. I am afraid one of my late letters, written rather in a desponding frame of mind (partly arising, perhaps, from a good deal of exertion whilst I was still very weak) will distress and make you anxious. I would not willingly cause you one moment's pain or uneasiness. I am now quite well and strong again, thank God! and full of peace and joy in my soul.

"I had another visit this evening from Mortimer Lovell. The duties of private soldiers are so heavy now that I hardly thouuht he would have come here again so soon from his distant part of the camp; and I don't believe he would, but tor your blessed letters to him, which he had left behind with me, and I know I would have gone any distance rather than have lost one of them. I took him in to my excavated abode, and we sat together by the fire for upwards of an hour. I really believe him to be now a true hearted, humble-minded Christian. He told me of his having distributed the cards of prayer and tracts which I gave him to the patients in the hospital tents, and that they