THE Prussian General Baron von Dyhern at the battle of Bergen on April 13th, 1759, was fatally wounded and given up by the doctors. Nobody would tell the old soldier how it stood with him. But what none of the doctors dared express, was done by his faithful valet.
“General!” he said, “prepare yourself, the bugle for departure is sounding.”
“I won’t hear anything of that,” was the rough answer.
“But, General” continued the undaunted servant, “have I ever been found unfaithful in your service?”
“No, no,” replied the dying man, “but what do you mean by that?”
“Well, it would be the first and greatest unfaithfulness, were I not in these your last moments, to care for your soul —an unfaithfulness that I could not answer for to God, to yourself, to your God-fearing mother or to my own conscience. I must tell you, because the others are afraid to. Yes, you stand before the gates of eternity, and have not a moment to lose. Cause the chaplain to be brought, that he may direct you to the right way.”
This earnest warning aroused the general. He became thoughtful, admitted thankfully the right of that faithful man, to care for his master even to the brink of the grave; he had the chaplain brought to him, and departed happy and blessed believing in Christ Jesus.
ML 02/11/1912